Test pilots fly experimental aircraft and provide feedback to engineers. They require extensive experience, skill, and follow precise test plans. Test pilots must be safety conscious and methodical. The profession originated in WWI and evolved to become more responsible. Test pilots must be able to handle sensory input and respond immediately to problems. Their work contributes to the development of all types of aircraft.
A test pilot is a pilot who flies experimental aircraft and aircraft in development, carefully documenting the flight experience to provide feedback to the engineers working on the aircraft. Working as a test pilot requires extensive experience, a high level of skill, and the ability to accurately follow test plans and report on their results. While test pilots are often viewed as daredevils by the general public, they are actually very methodical, safety conscious, and deliberate, as a simple mistake can be very dangerous on a new aircraft.
This profession traces its origins to WWI Britain, when companies working on military aircraft needed pilots to test them. Well during World War II, most test pilots were thrill seekers, as aircraft technology in general was so new that flying experimental aircraft was seen as crazy pursuit. However, as planes became more refined, a different type of test pilot evolved, and the military and private companies began looking for more responsible men and women to test their planes.
When a test pilot is assigned a task, he is given a precise test plan. The test plan dictates a series of maneuvers the aircraft must be performed through, and often includes a series of questions the pilot is supposed to answer. The pilot is usually recorded during the flight and readings are also recorded on the aircraft’s monitors.
Test pilots generally take the time to become thoroughly familiar with the aircraft they are testing while it is still on the ground, and remain vigilant in the air for any signs that the aircraft may be developing a problem. Test pilot judgment is a critical factor: Pilots can shoot down planes if they feel unsafe, for example, or opt for a maneuver for which the plane doesn’t seem equipped.
Some notable test drivers include: Chuck Yeager, Fritz Wendel, Neil Armstrong, Roland Beamont, and John Lankester Parker. Test piloting isn’t limited to men: Hanna Reitsh, Hitler’s personal pilot, was also a test pilot who worked for the Luftwaffe’s test plane in World War II. Because many test pilots have prior military experience, and many militaries restrict the opportunities available to women, test pilots are commonly male, but this is not always the case.
You can make a good test pilot if you are able to handle large amounts of sensory input, chaotic situations, and highly rigid, controlled work environments. Working as a test pilot can certainly be interesting, and fun to have on the job, but test pilots must be able to follow instructions precisely and respond immediately to problems with their aircraft. The work of test pilots directly contributes to the development of all types of aircraft, from experimental military bombers to commercial jets that crisscross the globe with passengers and cargo every day.
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