Darrell Cornell
Encyclopedia
Darrell Cornell was Northrop
's chief test pilot in the early 1980s. He was killed on October 10, 1984 at Suwon
AB, while performing a demonstration flight for the South Korean Air Force
(ROKAF). The F-20
(N4416T) he was piloting stalled after a series of climbing rolls performed with flaps and gear extended. Cornell was not able to recover the aircraft from the uncontrolled stall. Cornell was also the lead test pilot for Northrop
's RF-5E
Tigereye, a reconnaissance version of the low cost F-5E fighter aircraft.
He was featured in the April 1984 issue of LIFE magazine in an article entitled Edwards Air Force Base
Pilots together with Doug Benefieds, Chuck Sewell, Tony LeVier
, and Russell O’Quinn.
Cornell was also an astronaut candidate with NASA
in 1963, although he was not selected to join Group 3. His display performances flying the F-20
in Paris
, France
(Le Bourget
1983) and Farnborough, England
in 1984 are remembered by many as some of the finest ever performed at these airshows.
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
's chief test pilot in the early 1980s. He was killed on October 10, 1984 at Suwon
Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
AB, while performing a demonstration flight for the South Korean Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force is the air force of South Korea...
(ROKAF). The F-20
F-20 Tigershark
The Northrop F-20 Tigershark was a privately-financed light fighter, designed and built by Northrop. Its development began in 1975 as a further evolution of Northrop's F-5E Tiger II, featuring a new engine that greatly improved overall performance, and a modern avionics suite including a powerful...
(N4416T) he was piloting stalled after a series of climbing rolls performed with flaps and gear extended. Cornell was not able to recover the aircraft from the uncontrolled stall. Cornell was also the lead test pilot for Northrop
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
's RF-5E
F-5 Freedom Fighter
The Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and the F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely-used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop...
Tigereye, a reconnaissance version of the low cost F-5E fighter aircraft.
He was featured in the April 1984 issue of LIFE magazine in an article entitled Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
Pilots together with Doug Benefieds, Chuck Sewell, Tony LeVier
Tony LeVier
Anthony W. "Tony" LeVier was an air racer and test pilot for the Lockheed Corporation from the 1940s to the 1970s.- Early life :...
, and Russell O’Quinn.
Cornell was also an astronaut candidate with NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
in 1963, although he was not selected to join Group 3. His display performances flying the F-20
F-20 Tigershark
The Northrop F-20 Tigershark was a privately-financed light fighter, designed and built by Northrop. Its development began in 1975 as a further evolution of Northrop's F-5E Tiger II, featuring a new engine that greatly improved overall performance, and a modern avionics suite including a powerful...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(Le Bourget
Le Bourget
Le Bourget is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.A very small part of Le Bourget airport lies on the territory of the commune of Le Bourget, which nonetheless gave its name to the airport. Most of the airport lies on the territory of the...
1983) and Farnborough, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1984 are remembered by many as some of the finest ever performed at these airshows.