Distinguished Lecturer Thomas A. Morgenfeld, Retired Chief Test Pilot
will dissucess his test flights of the YF-22 and X-35
CHIEF TEST PILOT THOMAS MORGENFELD
Biography
Thomas A. Morgenfeld, a 1965 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, was designated a Naval Aviator in 1967.
He had two fleet tours flying the F-8 Crusader, one in Fighter Squadron SIXTY-TWO and one in Fighter Squadron ONE-NINETY-ONE.
There he flew over 120 combat missions and amassed over 500 carrier landings. Between the two tours he attended the United
States Naval Postgraduate School where he earned his MS degree in aeronautical engineering. In 1975 he attended the Empire
Test Pilots’ School in England, winning the McKenna Trophy as top student in his class. In 1976 Mr. Morgenfeld was ordered
to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron FOUR where he participated in several classified test programs in addition to serving as the
F-18 Project Pilot. In 1979 Mr. Morgenfeld went on to USAF exchange duty with the 4477th Test and Evaluation Flight. While there
he became the first Naval Aviator to qualify as an Air Force Aggressor pilot.
Mr. Morgenfeld joined Lockheed in December 1979 as an Experimental Test Pilot in the world famous Skunk Works. There he was assigned
to the F-117 program where he has flown almost 1300 hours in testing that radical aircraft. In 1989 Mr. Morgenfeld went on to the
Advanced Tactical Fighter program where he was primarily responsible for flying the second YF-22A prototype. After Lockheed won
that competition, he was named Chief Test Pilot for the YF-22A follow-on test program. In 1991 he was named Chief Test Pilot for
the Skunk Works and in 1999 was promoted to Director of Flight Operations as well. He was the Chief Test Pilot on the Joint Strike
Fighter program where he performed the first flight on the X-35 and tested all three versions of the airplane. He also served as an
Engineering Technical Fellow of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.
Mr. Morgenfeld, a retired Navy Captain, is a Fellow and past President of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. A native of Hamburg,
New York, he is married to the former Norma K. Shoemaker, also of Hamburg. They have two sons, LCDR Steven A. Morgenfeld USN, a Naval Aviator
serving in HSL-49, and Mr. Michael F. Morgenfeld, the Managing Cartographer for Avalon Travel Publishing.
Abstract:
In 1989 Mr. Morgenfeld went to the Advanced Tactical Fighter program where he flew the second YF-22A prototype.
After Lockheed won that competition, he was named Chief Test Pilot for the YF-22A follow-on test program. In 1991
he was named Chief Test Pilot on the Joint Strike Fighter program where he performed the first flight on the X-35
and tested all three versions of the airplane.
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, social 6:00pm, dinner 6:30pm, presentation 7:30pm
TICKET DEADLINE: Monday, October 11, noon.
WHERE: SKYLER'S RESTAURANT HISTORIC DOWNTOWN, Savannah, 225 East Bay Street
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: Alfred Stanley, x.25781; Shelly Brimmeier x.26508; or any other AIAA officer
Drawing will be held for door prize