John B. McKay

John Barron McKay ( born December 8, 1922 in Portsmouth, Virginia; † April 27, 1975 in Lancaster, California ) was an American test pilot.

Career

During World War II he served in the Pacific as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. In 1950 he graduated from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from.

NACA

As of February 1951, he worked for NACA and flew experimental aircraft such as the Douglas Skystreak, Douglas Skyrocket, X - lB and the X - lE there.

NASA

John B. McKay was one of the first pilots who became the X -15 program at the Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base NASA in California, parked. As a civilian test pilot and aeronautical engineer, he completed between October 1960 and September 5, 1966 28, a total of 30 flights in the X- 15th

Family

John McKay was married and had eight children.

Awards

For his service in World War II, he was awarded the Air Medal and received the Presidential Unit Citation. He was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor in 1996. He received his astronaut wings like the other two civilian pilots posthumously until 24 August 2005.