June 5, 2017 This week in Edwards history On June 5, 1948, Northrop’s YB-49 No. 2, a prototype flying wing jet bomber, went out of control during its 25th test flight and crashed about 10 miles northwest of Muroc Air Force Base. Three officers and two civilian aircrew were killed. The pilot was Maj. Daniel Forbes, Jr. and the co-pilot was
June 15, 2017 This week in Edwards history On June 15, 1964, the first Douglas B-26K counter-insurgency aircraft was ferried to Edwards to begin limited Category II evaluation for the Aeronautical Systems Center. The B-26K was a modification of Korean War-era Douglas B-26Bs adapted for combat service in Vietnam and later was redesignated
Aug. 3, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Aug. 2, 2006, a C-5 Galaxy taxied across a series of ramps laid out on Rogers Dry Lakebed as part of its Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program. The taxi runs tested the structural integrity and movement of the aircraft’s new engines and pylons under rough conditions.
June 23, 2017 This week in Edwards history On June 23, 1961 Major Robert M. White became the first person to exceed Mach 5 when he flew the X-15 to a speed of Mach 5.27 (3,603 mph). Breaking barriers since 1947 - Celebrating 70 years of supersonic flight.
July 19, 2017 This week in Edwards history On July 17, 1965, the North American XB-70 Valkyrie No. 2 arrived following its maiden flight from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
July 11, 2017 This week in Edwards history On July 14, 2005, a Lockheed F-22 Raptor flown by the 411th Flight Test Squadron made its first Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) drop at supersonic speed. The 1,000-pound GBU-32 separation test vehicle separated successfully, marking a significant increase in the Raptor’s operational
July 4, 2017 This week in Edwards history On July 4, 1982, the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia landed on the main runway in front of President Ronald and Mrs. Nancy Reagan and some 500,000 visitors and guests. After the shuttle’s fourth orbital flight was its first landing on a concrete runway and marked the end of its formal flight test
April 27, 2017 This week in Edwards history On April 25, 1955, a pharmacy and variety store opened in the Wherry Housing shopping area. Today, this building is known as Bldg. 7211 and serves as the location of Outdoor Recreation, the Teen Center, a furniture store and dry cleaners.
May 4, 2017 This week in Edwards history On May 6, 1985, Space Shuttle Challenger landed on lakebed runway 17L.
March 29, 2018 This week in Edwards history On March 26, 1958, the first launch of the Zero Length Launch (ZEL) program of an F-100D took place from a truck-mounted launcher. North American test pilot Albert W. Blackburn was at the controls. A follow-on to the ZELMAL program, ZEL was designed to launch tactical fighter planes in case