TOW ROPE TAKEOFF QF-106A 59-0130 Jan 18, 1998. The Kelly Space & Technology (KST)/USAF Eclipse project’s modified QF-106 and a USAF C-141A takeoff for the project’s first tethered flight on December 20, 1997. The successful 18-minute-long flight reached an altitude of 10,000 feet. NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, hosted the project, providing engineering and facility support as well as the project pilot Mark 'Forger' Stucky.
F-106A 59-0130 was the primary demonstrator of the NASA Eclipse Program at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, CA after modifications to convert the QF-106 drone into the piloted EXD-01 (Eclipse Experimental Demonstrator -01) experimental airplane being towed during takeoff behind a C-141A Starlifter. The Eclipse Project NASA pilot here is Mark 'Forger' Stucky, an ex-Marine test pilot. [NASA photo by Jim Ross]