2008 Robert N. Burton

ROBERT BURTON
NOMINATION FOR KELLY JOHNSON AWARD
NOMINATION FOR DIRECTORS AWARD

With more than 40 years of experience in both the acquisition and construction of military aircraft, Robert Burton has extensive experience in the flight testing of naval and air force aircraft and strong technical background in test and evaluation of V/STOL and STOVL on land and at sea. Previously he has been assistant engineering manager Flight Test at BAE Dunsfold, and STOVL Flight Test Manager and deputy Flight Test IPT lead for the X-35 CDA at the Skunk Works. Currently he is the STOVL Flight Test Senior Staff Manager F-35 at LM Aero Ft. Worth which he has performed since 2001.

The first time he ever flew was on a Test Flight in a Hercules doing supply drops. Since then he has over 450 flight test observer hrs in 30 different military aircraft types. He has received letters of appreciation for services to NAWC from the Admiral in charge. He was a crew member for heaviest-ever landing of a Buccaneer on board HMS Ark Royal. Awards include the prestigious Collier Trophy for the STOVL X-35B flight trials and the LM Aerostar Award for X-35 CDA trials.

As an active member in the Society of Flight Test Engineers, he has been Session Chairman for 2001, 2002 Society of Flight Test Engineers Symposium, a Director on International Board of Society of Flight Test Engineers 1998-2002 and the Secretary of International Board of Society of Flight Test Engineers from 2002- 2006. He served on the 2005 Symposium Planning Committee and is currently serving on the 2008 Symposium Planning committee.

His educational background includes an HNC in Mathematics, Statistics & Computing plus endorsements in Numerical Analysis & Statistics and an HNC in Mechanical Engineering.

Below is a summary of his career experience:

Nov 2001 to Present

STOVL Flight Test Snr Staff Manager

JSF ITF Ft. Worth

Appointed to post in November 2001 on down-select of F-35 to be the Joint Strike Fighter. See attached job description.

July 1997 to October 2001

STOVL Flight Test Manager and Deputy Flight Test IPT Lead

JSF X-35 CDA Skunk Works Palmdale

As a member of the BAE team evaluating participation in X-35, he visited Palmdale and Ft. Worth to determine best fit for inter-company integration. He was recruited to join the JSF team at Palmdale as deputy Flight Test IPT lead and STOVL Flight Test Manager for X-35 Concept Demonstrator Phase. He successfully completed the CDA phase to present the X-35B as the STOVL aircraft for the new millennium and represented Team JSF as STOVL lead at award ceremony for Collier Trophy.

June 1990 to June 1997

Assistant Manager Flight Test – Harrier and Hawk

British Aerospace Dunsfold, UK

He was responsible to the Flight Test manager for the direction of all trials of Harrier, Hawk and Sea Harrier aircraft at Dunsfold. He served as company representative on visit to Rota, Spain to discuss with Spanish Navy the First of Class trials for operations of “Matador” from their new ship “Principe d’Asturias”. Invited by NAWC as consultant, to USG ship trials to produce Ship Operating Bulletins for AV-8B on “Principe d’Asturias” and “Guieseppe Garibaldi” for Spanish and Italian Navies respectively. He was a Consultant for the initial trials of the Pegasus 408 in the AV-8B at EAFB. Trials lead for Sea Harrier undercarriage loads on ramps trials at sea. He was invited by RAF Central Tactics and Technical Organization to be consultant for their ship trials of GR 5 operations on HMS Illustrious. Trials lead for Service release of GR 7 operations at sea 1996.

April 1985 to May 1990

Head of Aerodynamic Flight Test

British Aerospace, Dunsfold, UK

He was recruited by British Aerospace to return to UK to work for them on the construction and initial flight trials of Harrier GR5. Responsible for handling qualities and performance trials as part of stores clearance for Harrier GR5, clearance trials of Sea Harrier FRS 51 for Indian Navy, expansion of stores operating envelope of the “Matador” (Harrier AV-8S) for the Spanish Navy, development trials for Sea Harrier FRS 2 and initial clearance trials of AMRAAM on Sea Harrier. He flew on PFAT flights of various marks of Hawk training aircraft and flew in development trials of special ferry configuration of the Harrier TMk 4. May 1982 to March 1985 Senior Air Vehicle Engineer NAWC-AD Strike Attack Test, Patuxent River, Maryland, USA In 1981 was part of the UK evaluation team of YAV-8B, and subsequently went to Pax River in 1982 as UK representative on AV-8B NPE I& II. Managed the Handling and Performance Section for Strike Attack Directorate and acted as Trials Conductor for UK oriented flight trials. He served as Trials conductor for the High AOA trials of the AV-8B at Edwards Air Force Base was Test consultant for VX-5 IOT&E evaluation of AV-8B at Yuma, Arizona. Before returning to UK, he drafted the CA release document for the UK version of the AV-8B.

May 1974 to May 1982

Flight Test Engineer

A&AEE Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, UK

When ‘C’ squadron disbanded, he moved to Fast Jet Squadron to work on Hawk and Harrier. He also performed as Project Manager for Phantom F-4 trials. Covered the initial flights of Hawk aircraft at Dunsfold and worked on Controller of Aircraft (CA) Release trials at BD. Trials officer for stores clearance trials for Harrier, MOD observer of initial Ski-Jump trials of Harrier at RAE Bedford. In 1975 took Harrier GR3 to HMS Ark Royal for CA Release trials for ship operation. He was Trials Officer for Hot Weather trials of Hawk in Malta. Organized and executed in-the field flying qualities and performance trials of Harrier operations from PSA short strips (expeditionary operations) in Germany. Trials Officer for CA Release of Air-to Air Refueling from Victor K Mk 2 tanker. Selected to the Empire Test Pilot School to be on No. 5 Flight Test Engineer Course and graduated in Dec 1978. He worked with British Aerospace on ship trial development work on a modified Harrier that was the prototype for the Sea Harrier. As Trials Officer for Initial Sea Harrier FOCFT on HMS Invincible this led to Sea Harrier FRS Mk 1 CA Release for Ship Operations. He organized and executed CA Release trials of Harrier GR3 operations off Ski Jumps(Land Based & on HMS Hermes) to support Falklands operations.

February 1970 to May 1974

Flight Test Observer

A&AEE Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, UK

Moved to Naval Fixed Wing ‘C’ Squadron to work on Buccaneer S Mk2 and Phantom F-4 land and ship based trials. This included follow-on stores clearances and clearance of Martel on Buccaneer at sea as Trials officer. Trials officer duties included handling qualities and performance and stores carriage trials of Pavespike/Paveway on Buccaneer at contractor’s site and single–engine approaches at tropical conditions, and APCS trials for F-4K. He also served as Trials officer for evaluation of AR-5 Chem/Bio equipment in Phantom F-4M and Trials Officer for Heavyweight Operations of Buccaneer in Cyprus.

October 1967 to February 1970

Scientific Assistant

A&AEE Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, UK

He began career in Flight Test at A&AEE Boscombe Down in 1967, initially in the Bomber and Transport Section. He worked on Belfast Autoland system, C- 130 MSP airdrops and ULLA over snow, CA Release trials of Nimrod MR 2. He was Trials Officer for evaluation of the Shorts Skyvan as alight military transport and Trials Officer for evaluation of BN Islander for Beaver replacement. He was also Assistant Trials Officer on fly-off evaluation between NA Rockwell Turbo Commander and HP Jetstream for RAF Multi Engine Pilot Trainer and a Data Analyst of Performance data on HS 125.