India, Feb. 28 -- Boeing test pilot Steve 'Bull' Schmidt is a calm, cool and collected man, traits that serve him well on the job. Several times per month he flies fighter jets, just off the production line, to determine if the new aircraft can safely do what they were designed to before the military customer takes delivery.
"Flying the F/A-18 Super Hornet is the culmination of a lot of work that happens beforehand," Schmidt said. "The engineers and mechanics on the floor are the ones who put it all together, so the high quality is really a reflection of their efforts and the team overall." Schmidt has made more than 400 production first flights in his career, including the T-45, F-15, T-X and F/A-18. The next jet to be added to Schmidt's...