Robert L . Stephens Robert L . " Silver Fox " Stephens ( 1 December 1921 – 21 May 1984 ) was an American United States Air Force test pilot who set several speed and altitude records while testing the Lockheed YF - 12 and SR - 71 . Biography . Early years . Robert L . Stephens was born and raised in Gilmer , Texas graduating from Gilmer High School in 1939 and from Texas A & M University in 1943 with a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering . The son of Mr . and Mrs . Vernon J . Stephens , he entered the Army Air Corps shortly after the start of World War II and flew P - 47 s in combat during the conflict . After the war , he earned a master ' s degree in aeronautical engineering from Princeton University . Test pilot . Stephens rose to the top of his profession as a test pilot for some of the most exotic aircraft in the USAF inventory . In 1949 , he graduated from the Air Materiel Command Experimental Test Pilot School at Wright - Patterson Air Force Base with Class 49D . He was called the " Silver Fox " due to his prematurely gray hair which he kept in a neatly trimmed crew cut . In 1952 , Stephens arrived at Edwards Air Force Base , California to serve as Chief of Fighter Operations . From 1963 to 1968 , he served as test director of the YF - 12 and SR - 71 test force . He was the first military pilot to fly the YF - 12A interceptor and the SR - 71 reconnaissance aircraft . Stephens flew nearly all jet fighter aircraft of the 1940s and 1950s era from the F - 80 Shooting Star to the F - 106 Delta Dart . He flight tested the YF - 100A , YF - 102 , XF - 104 , X - 5 , X - 1B , Navy F2H3 , F4D , the F - 94 series , F - 86 , F - 89D , F - 89H , and YF - 101 . He served as test director for the F - 104 program and performed the first wingtip fuel tank jettison test . On this flight , the fuel tanks slammed into the fuselage of the F - 104 instead of falling free . Stephens made an emergency landing and saved the aircraft . Working with Lockheed engineers and other aviation consultants , he helped solve this and other problems with the F - 104 . On 1 May 1965 , at Edwards Air Force Base , pilot Stephens and fire control officer Daniel Andre , established four world speed and altitude records in the YF - 12A . They averaged 2 , 070 miles per hour over a 17 - kilometer straight away course , then held 80 , 257 feet to establish a world record for sustained horizontal flight . These records stood until 1977 when they were surpassed by an SR - 71 . After retiring from the military , Stephens was the U . S . representative for the German jet engine firm , MTU . Personal life . Stephens died in 1984 and was buried in Gilmer City Cemetery . He is survived by his widow , Joy , and three daughters . Honors . Stephens was awarded the following medals for his military service : Legion of Merit , Distinguished Flying Cross , and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal . He was also honored with the 1965 Thompson Trophy , 1965 Mackay Trophy , Flying Tiger Trophy , Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Gold Medal , Henri De La Vauix Medal , Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement , and the city of Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor . On June 18 , 1966 , a parade was held in Gilmer , Texas to celebrate " Bobby Stephens Day " . On October 20 , 2000 in Gilmer , Texas the Gilmer Airfield officially changed its name to " Fox Stephens Field " , in honor of Colonel Stephens . Stephens was a member of the International Order of Characters and was a Fellow and past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots .