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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Brian K. Hutchinson

Philip ("Flip") Johnson had 20 years of active duty with USAF, which included Advanced Flight Instructor, T-33/F-86 Gunnery Instructor, and B-57 nuclear alert in Korea. After his graduation from the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB in 1962, he was assigned to Wright-Pattern AFB where he flew the NKC-135 Zero G airplane, B-47 ECM projects, and most of the RB-57D High Altitude Reconnaissance development projects, including the initial Satellite Photo-Recon Equipment development. He then transferred to Edwards AFB where he flew as project pilot on the following: X-21 Laminar Flow Control tests, C-133 All Engine Out Landing Tests, C-133 Catastrophic Loss Investigation & Solution, Breguet 1150 Flutter & Structural tests, Handley-Page Jetstream initial flight tests in England, C-130 One & Two Engine Inoperative VMCA tests, and the U-2 High Altitude Clear Air Turbulence investigation. In addition, he flew pace/chase as required in the T-37, B-57, and B-58.
He retired from the USAF in 1970 and joined Douglas Aircraft, flying as an engineering pilot on the DC-10 Winglet Limited Performance/Stability & Control evaluation, the DC-9-50 Development/Certification program, was primary pilot on Ship #3 of the MD-80 Development/Certification program which included the two-man crew certification, and many other DC-9 and DC-10 programs. He became the MD-80 Project Pilot in 1985 and flew as pilot in command on the following development & certification programs: P&W JT8D-219 engine, the Digital Flight Guidance Computer System, the Bendix Brake System, Composite Rudder/Ailerons Structural & Aerodynamic Damping Tests & certification, and the FOD Reduction/Thrust Reverser Modification program; he became Chief Pilot of MD-87 Development/Certification. He was a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and served a year as SETP Legal Officer.