C-130J Operational testers propel 'Herc' through Phase 2

After more than 300 hours of Operational Test and Evaluation flight test activities, C-130J test teams from Edwards concluded C-130J Phase 2 OT&E testing on Dec. 21, culminating nearly five years of developmental and operational testing.The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet and

C-17 airdrop sets record, completes next step for Ares I program

Though Edwards, along with the rest of the nation, bid farewell to the space shuttle mission, the 418th Flight Test Squadron and NASA took another step toward the future of America's space program and set a record doing it. An 85,000-pound jumbo drop test vehicle was extracted out of a C-17A at

C-17 biofuel flight tests conclude

The Air Force's ongoing alternative fuels certification efforts reached a new milestone Aug. 27, 2010, when a C-17 Globemaster III from here flew on all engines using jet fuel blended with a combination of traditional petroleum-based fuel, or JP-8, biofuel derived in part from animal fat, and

C-17 Drag Reduction testing aims at saving fuel

From testing synthetic biofuels to "vortex surfing," Edwards AFB is on the forefront of finding new ways to cut fuel costs for the Air Force.The latest venture is currently underway at the 418th Flight Test Squadron where a test team of Air Force and Boeing personnel has just completed the first

C-17 makes first flight on synthetic fuel blend

The Global Reach Combined Test Force began testing a C-17 Globemaster III using a Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel blend here Oct. 18. Flight tests began the following day and was the first time a C-17 was flown using the F-T fuel blend. Another test flight was conducted Monday as part of the Air

C-17 performs final drop in Falcon SLV test phase

Sometimes, test programs have added benefits on top of the intended goal, as was the case when testers here completed the third and final test in phase 2B of the Falcon Small Launch Vehicle program July 26.The Falcon SLV program is a joint effort between the Air Force, the Defense Advanced Research

C-17 performs second test of Falcon Small Launch Vehicle

A C-17 Globemaster III performed the second in a series of tests Wednesday by airdropping a 65-foot, 65,000-pound mockup of a booster rocket over Edwards Precision Impact Range Area.The drop, performed at 29,500 feet above sea level, was part of a project called Falcon Small Launch Vehicle, a joint

C-17 treads into new territory

As important as ailerons, rudders and elevators are to the fundamental movement of any aircraft in flight, its tires are equally important while moving on the ground.Since August, the C-17 Global Reach Integrated Test Team at Edwards AFB has been putting the C-17's new Dunlop tires through the

C-17 uses biofuel for flight tests

C-17s invade Edwards sky

The Global Reach Combined Test Force concluded a colossal mission of performing a formation test with six C-17 Globemaster IIIs March 14 and 17. As the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift fleet, the C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and cargo to main