McCook Field Test Pilot Years

1919–1922
Fleet’s years at McCook Field placed him at the center of America’s boldest aviation experiments — and nearly cost him his life.

McCook Field Test Pilot Years

1919–1922

The Experimental Heart of Early U.S. Aviation

After World War I, the United States concentrated its most advanced aeronautical research at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio. It was the birthplace of:

structural load testing
spin and stall research
new materials development
aerodynamic innovation
prototype evaluation and stress testing

This was where the Army pushed aircraft — and their pilots — to the edge of what was possible.

Fleet became deeply involved in the operations there, contributing to flight evaluations, engineering studies, and safety reforms.

Testing Aircraft at the Limits

McCook pilots routinely flew prototypes that had never been fully tested, often with unpredictable results. Fleet participated in flights that examined:

climb performance
stall and spin behavior
high-altitude capability
engine reliability
control responsiveness
stress distribution across new wing designs

These tests were demanding and sometimes perilous.

The Tailspin Incident — A Narrow Escape

One of the most dramatic moments of Fleet’s career occurred during a high-altitude test flight. After climbing to the aircraft’s operational ceiling, he lost consciousness from oxygen deprivation — a common hazard in the era before reliable equipment.

When he regained awareness, the aircraft was in a steep, accelerating spin.

Fleet’s recovery, executed under extreme physical strain, became one of the defining stories of his McCook years. It highlighted both the dangers pilots faced and the need for more rigorous safety protocols.

Human Moment — Dorothy Fleet’s Memory of That Day

In Our Flight to Destiny, Dorothy recalled listening to her husband recount the incident years later. She noted how calm his voice remained as he described regaining consciousness with the earth spiraling upward toward him. What struck her, she wrote, was not heroism but his analytical focus: even in danger, he studied what the airplane was doing.

That mindset — curiosity over fear — defined the test pilots of McCook.

Building a Foundation for Future Designs

Fleet’s hands-on experience at McCook shaped his later achievements in profound ways:

he learned how prototypes fail
he saw the limits of early aerodynamics
he worked with engineers who were rewriting aviation science
he observed firsthand the consequences of design flaws
he understood exactly what pilots needed in the cockpit

These insights later influenced every Consolidated aircraft — especially the PBY Catalina and the B-24 Liberator.

Why McCook Mattered

McCook Field represented aviation at its most experimental. It demanded:

courage
precision
deep engineering intuition
willingness to face unknown risks

Fleet brought all of this to his later work as a designer, manufacturer, and aviation leader.

The lessons he learned over Dayton’s skies became part of the foundation for American military aviation.