U. S. NAVAL TEST PILOT SCHOOL _ NAS PATUXENT RIVER

TPS F-8B 145521 taxiing at PAX River in July 1968. Tail and outer wing panels were red with a black F4D Skyray paint¬ed on the tail. (Barry Miller)

The U. S. Naval Test Pilot School (TPS), is located at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. The mission of TPS is to train experienced Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, and engineers to become qualified for duty at the various Naval research and development facilities, as well as at the testing centers of the other U. S. mili¬tary services and those of foreign allies.

TPS F-8K 145584 on 4-21-71 with red tail, nose and outer wing panels. U. S. NAVAL TEST PILOT SCHOOL is painted on the fuselage under the wing. (Roger Besecker)

TPS F-8K 145580 in storage at the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) on 3-19-72. Tail, nose and out¬er wing panels were red. (D. Slowiak via Fred Roos)

TPS TF-8A TWOSADER
In a effort to sell pilot transition and combat efficiency trainer aircraft to the Navy, Vought modified the 74th pro¬duction F-8A, 143710, into a dual control tandem seat aircraft designat¬ed F8U-1T (TF-8A). As a one-of-a-kind prototype, the Twosader was given to the Test Pilot School and performed extremely well. While at Patuxent Riv¬er the aircraft wore da-glo red tail, nose and wing markings.