‘One of the keys is our partnership
with the 59th TES, an associate unit also
assigned to the 53rd Wing but located
here at Nellis in the same building as
us. The 59th doesn’t own any aircraft,
but we are arm-in-arm with them. They
enable and give credence to everything
we do from planning and budgeting
to the expertise they bring with their
engineering and analysis. That partnership
continues throughout the test group.’
Nellis being the ‘home of the ghter pilot’
means it’s a melting pot of experience and
knowledge, either at the Weapons School
or the 57th Adversary Tactics Group and
its 64th Aggressor Squadron. ‘Our ability
to walk down the street and work with
the Weapons School guys — because
they are absolutely the top of their game
when it comes to tactical aviation — is
phenomenal,’ says Darling. ‘We can bring
them down here and show them some of
the new things we’re bringing on board or
new ways of solving a problem. They also
may need help during the course of their
syllabus, so we’ll have the opportunity
to integrate with them from a person
and knowledge standpoint, but also it’s a
chance for us to put some of the tactics or
equipment to use in a realistic high-end
environment and truly make sure it meets
that operationally representative check.’A strong team
A suitable cadre of experienced aircrew is
an absolute must for the kind of mission
the 422 ies. Most of the pilots here haveFEATURE ARTICLE // 422ND TEST AND EVALUATION SQUADRON
54 November 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net