Herman Salmon

Herman R. Salmon (July 11, 1913 – June 20, 1980), nicknamed "Fish", was a barnstormer, air racer, and test pilot for the Lockheed Corporation. He started work at Lockheed in 1940 ferrying Hudsons to Montreal for the Royal Air Force. In 1945, he was transferred to the engineering test piloting division by Tony LeVier, who was the new head of the department.

As engineering test pilot, he dive tested the P-80 Shooting Star, the XF-90 penetration fighter prototype, and the F-94C Starfire. He certification tested two of the models of the Constellation for the Civil Aeronautics Administration. He made the first flights of such aircraft as the P-3 Orion, YF-104A Starfighter, and the XFV-1 tailsitter, which was named in his honor. Until his retirement, he succeeded Tony LeVier as chief engineering test pilot. In 1980, he was killed in the crash of his own Super Constellation he was ferrying to Alaska. In 1994, he was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor.

References

* LeVier, Tony, with John Guenther, "Pilot". 1954 (reprinted 1990).
* Pace, Steve, "Lockheed Skunk Works". Motorbooks: Osceola WI, 1992.

External links

* [http://www.aviationhalloffamewisconsin.com/inductees/salmon.htm Biography from Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.awoh.org/hon1994_salmon.htm Aerospace Walk of Honor]