[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 139 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2098-E2099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT CARDENAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 14, 1999

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, to quote one of our Nation's greatest 
Presidents, Ronald Reagan:


       Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes 
     just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day 
     going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in 
     number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the 
     world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter--and they're 
     on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs--with 
     faith in themselves and faith in an idea--who create new 
     jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They're individuals and 
     families whose taxes support the government and whose 
     voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art and 
     education. Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their values 
     sustain our national life.

  San Diego is fortunate to have many heroes in our community. I would 
like to take this opportunity to highlight one of our local heroes and 
honor his sacrifice and achievements.
  Many of you may already know the story of Brigadier General Robert 
Cardenas (USAF retired), one of the greatest test pilots of all time. 
While General Cardenas is well known for being the pilot of the 
aircraft that dropped the

[[Page E2099]]

X-1 being flown by Chuck Yeager, he also was the test pilot for the 
``Flying Wing'', the Northrop YB-49, in 1947 and 1948. The Flying Wing 
was a revolutionary aircraft at the time and to be chosen as a test 
pilot was a great honor. It was also a very dangerous assignment. 
General Cardenas, in an interview described one particular test flight 
where ``he found himself at the controls of an airplane that was 
pointing almost straight up; refusing to respond to the controls, it 
was falling tail-first at 5,000 feet per minute. The aircraft then 
tumbled over backwards.'' General Cardenas managed to land the aircraft 
safely. In January 1949, General Cardenas flew the YB-49 on a high-
speed exhibition run to Washington, DC, and where a famous picture of 
the YB-49 flying over the U.S. Capitol was taken.
  The Flying Wing project was eventually canceled and the plane was not 
duplicated until the current B-2 aircraft. It is safe to say, however, 
that without test pilots like General Cardenas who were willing to risk 
their lives, we would not have the B-2 today. General Cardenas is a 
true American Hero and our country owes him a debt for his 
contributions to the development of our national security.

                          ____________________