Company pilot William Bridgeman makes the first flight of the Douglas X-3 Stilleto research aircraft at Edwards AFB, Calif. Although it will never achieve its design goals, the X-3 does prove useful for developing titanium machining and construction techniques, and it will provide much design data for short span, low aspect ratio wing, high speed aircraft.
Air Force Special Operations Command recently fired small cruise missiles off an AC-130J gunship for combat operations in Africa, verifying the new weapon for broader operational use.
