2010/2011 SETP PRESIDENT
BILLIE FLYNN (F)
LOCKHEED MARTIN
Billie Flynn is a test pilot for the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas. His education includes a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada, MS in Mechanical Engineering from California State University Fresno, MS in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from the University of Ottawa.
He served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 23 years and flew the CF-18 Hornet operationally in Canada and Germany. In January 1989, Billie attended USNTPS, Class 96. From 1990-94, he flew as the Canadian Forces exchange test pilot at the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base. F-16 testing included PW-229 and GE-129 engine development, Digital Flight Control System Improvements, as well as high angle of attack and out-of-control testing for numerous F-16 configurations. He also conducted thrust vectoring research as a project pilot on the F-16 Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring aircraft. Following his tour in the US, Billie returned to Canada and completed various staff assignments.
In 1997, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta. During that period, he commanded the Canadian Task Force in Aviano, Italy during Operation Allied Force. He flew 25 combat missions over Kosovo and the former Republic of Yugoslavia. His unit received Battle Honours from Queen Elizabeth II, the first such distinction for a Canadian fighting unit since WWII. Following his tour as CO, he retired from the Canadian Forces and joined EADS in Manching, Germany where he flew as a project pilot for the EuroFighter 2000 Typhoon, F-4E/F, and Tornado ECR/IDS. EuroFighter testing included all disciplines of flight testing on the Developmental and Initial Production Aircraft. In 2003, Billie joined Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas as a test pilot for the F-16 E/F Super Viper. Testing spanned early envelope expansion through extensive flight control system development, systems integration and production delivery of this new F-16 derivative. From 2009-2010 he flew as a project pilot conducting Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance research at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. He recently began flying for the F-35 Lightning II program. He has over 4,700 hours in more than 70 types of aircraft.
Billie was inducted as a Fellow in 2008. He is married to Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette; they have two sons.
