Between his J-3 Cub solo flight in June 1942 and his retirement, Fitzhugh Fulton piloted 231 individual aircraft types, logging over 16,000 hours. Fulton was born on June 6, 1925 in Blakely, Georgia. After attending Auburn University he joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, receiving his wings on December 23, 1944, flying transports and bombers. During the 1948 Berlin Airlift, he made 225 trips in C-54s. During the Korean conflict, Fulton flew 55 missions in B-26 Invaders. He completed the Air Force experimental test pilot's program in 1952, was involved in testing the B-36, as well as flying the B-29 "mother" ship for Bell X-1, X-2 and D-558 tests. He also flew the B-47, B-57 and B-52. His "mother" ship experience led him to the X-15 program, where he would pilot the NB-52 drop plane for 93 of the 199 X-15 missions. In 1956 Fulton was sent to Britain to test the Vickers Valiant and the Avro Vulcan, a delta-wing strategic bomber. This prepared him for testing the supersonic Convair B-58. In 1962 Fulton flew a B-58 with an over five ton payload to over 85,000 feet, setting world records that remain today, resulting in award of the Harmon Trophy. Fulton retired from the Air Force in 1966, joining NASA, where he tested the XB-70 as well as the YF-12A. Fulton also tested the Space Shuttle/Boeing 747 vehicle. Fulton retired from NASA in 1986, joining Scaled Composites, where he tested the Advanced Technology Tactical Transport, including its first flight. He passed away on February 4, 2015.
Inducted in 2014.
Portrait Location: Hall of Fame Hallway

Induction Video