Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos
Home Previous Post Next Post
Follow @fightersweep

This Day in Aviation History: December 6, 1959 Navy F4 Pilot Sets Zoom Climb Altitude Record

December 6, 2016 flint-lawrence-e-cdr-usn-6-december-1959-usnavy
FighterSweep Staff No Comments History, Military Aviation, Navy

On December 6, 1959 US Navy Commander Lawrence E. Flint set a new world’s record when he zoom climbed his YF4H-1 Phantom II prototype to an altitude of 98,561 feet or 30,041 meters.

The previous altitude record for turbo jet aircraft had been held by the Soviet Union (USSR) when in July 1959, Major V.S. Ilyushin flying a Tupolev Tu-431 reached an altitude of 94,658 feet or 28,852 meters.

Project Top Flight

To demonstrate the power and versatility of their new fighter jet the US Navy undertook a series of record breaking flights. The program was called Project Top Flight.

yf4h-1_phantom_ii_of_project_top_flight_at_edwardsafb_1959

Navy F4 Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy, via Wikimedia Commons

Commander Lawrence E. Flint, Jr., USN accelerated his aircraft to Mach 2.5 (1,650 mph; 2,660 km/h) at 47,000 ft (14,330 m) and climbed to 90,000 ft (27,430 m) at a 45° angle. He then shut down the engines and glided to the peak altitude. As the aircraft fell through 70,000 ft (21,300 m), Flint restarted the engines and resumed normal flight – Wikipedia

Commander Flint was 39 years old when he made his record  setting flight from Edwards AFB, CA. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation in this achievement.

Awarded for actions during the Cold War

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Lawrence E. Flint, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight on 6 December 1959. As pilot of a Navy all-weather fighter aircraft, Commander Flint succeeded in establishing a new world jet aircraft altitude record of 98,560 feet. Exercising brilliant airmanship, initiative and planning ability, he clearly demonstrated the inherent capabilities and the maximum performance of an extremely important Naval aircraft, and was instrumental in focusing world attention on the continuing and significant development of the science of aviation in the United States. – Military Times

Featured Image Courtesy of the US Navy

Related Posts

  • HiJENKS Missile: Bold Innovation From US Navy and Air Force LabsHiJENKS Missile: Bold Innovation From US Navy and Air Force Labs
  • The little known story of how a US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper shot down another drone with a heat seeking missileThe little known story of how a US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper shot down another drone with a heat seeking missile
  • Navy to retire USS Truman aircraft carrier 25 years earlier than expectedNavy to retire USS Truman aircraft carrier 25 years earlier than expected
  • How do you fight China? Stealth aircraft and submarines would dominate the first days of a Sino-American warHow do you fight China? Stealth aircraft and submarines would dominate the first days of a Sino-American war
  • Watch Northrop Grumman’s experimental X-47B in action: America’s UCAV UFOWatch Northrop Grumman’s experimental X-47B in action: America’s UCAV UFO

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • Acrobatic Couple Criticized for Stunt Beneath Landing Airliner at Maho Beach, Saint Martin
    July 11, 2018

    Acrobatic Couple Criticized for Stunt Under Landing Airliner at Maho Beach, Saint Martin

  • President Joe Biden awards medal of honor to four U.S. Army soldiers for heroism in Vietnam War. Screenshot taken from CBS News
    August 16, 2022

    4 Vietnam War Veterans Get Medal of Honor from Biden

  • blue-angels-reporter-blacks-out-passes-out
    December 5, 2017

    Watch: News Reporter Blacks Out on Ride with US Navy Blue Angels

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Lars Dirch Sørensen This didn't age well.
  • Speir Mor Media Amazing history and pride in the old B-52! And that’s one hell of a range. [...]
  • disqus_lkVjMrnsGt As an 8th grader in 1960 I first became acquainted with the 1952 Washington [...]
  • SWS Irrational fears and misinformation is not a reason to get a waiver from a [...]

© Copyright 2022 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...