Reeder, J

American test pilot for NASA Langley. Flew the X-5 # 1. One of America’s first engineering test pilots,he test flew 304 types of aircraft over a 42-year career.

Reeder was born May 27, 1916, in Houghton, Michigan. He became interested in flying in 1923 when he saw his first aircraft, a World War I Curtiss flying boat. Reeder's extensive career with NASA and the agency's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics began in 1938 and ended in 1980. Along the way, he captained more than 235 airplanes, 61 helicopters and eight vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. During his tenure, Mr. Reeder rose from junior aeronautical engineer at the full-scale wind tunnel, to test pilot, to head of flight operations and chief test pilot, to assistant chief of flight mechanics and technology.