Alvin M. Johnston

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Alvin M. "Tex" Johnston (August 18, 1914 - November 14, 1998) was a test pilot for Bell Aircraft and the Boeing Company. He is best known for rolling the Boeing model 367-80 (better known as the Dash-80, the prototype of the KC-135 Stratotanker, which was the basis for the 707) in a demonstration flight over Lake Washington on August 7 1955. The maneuver was caught on film and is frequently shown on the Discovery Wings cable channel in a three-minute short as part of the Touched by History series.

Prior to Johnston's career at Boeing, he flew for Bell Aircraft. Most notably, he flew the X-1 on May 22, 1947.<ref name="dryden_flight_summary">"NASA - Dryden History - Historic Aircraft - X-1 Flight Summary."</ref> Johnston also flew the P-39 Airacobra during the prototype phase.

[edit] References

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[edit] Further reading

• Johnston, A.M. and Barton, C.. Tex Johnston: Jet Age Pilot. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Press, 2000. ISBN 1560989319.

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