Bob Gilliland has logged more experimental supersonic flight test time above Mach 2 and Mach 3 than any other pilot. He is a Naval Academy graduate and was a combat jet fighter pilot in Korea, he helped introduce the first American Jets in Europe. As project test pilot for the Lockheed SR-71, he was the first to fly the aircraft. It roared skyward amid the purple-orange blast of maximum afterburner on its maiden flight December 22, 1964. Working with Kelly Johnson, the Skunk Works founder and his small group of engineers, Bob was the first to achieve full envelope expansion of speed and altitude in both the SR-71A and SR-71B. Prior to involvement with the A-11/A-12, YF-12A and SR-71, Bob was a Lockheed company test pilot in the F-104 Starfighter at Palmdale, Edwards AFB and in Europe. He holds the Kincheloe award as top test pilot by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and is currently a trustee of ANA (Association of Naval Aviation). Anyone who has heard Bob’s presentation of The Supersonic Age, The Lockheed Skunk Works or Test Piloting has come away awed, amazed, entertained and educated.
Robert J. Gilliland
