Jan. 26, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Jan. 27, 1950, a ceremony was held in connection with Armed Forces Day to rename the base in honor of Capt. Glen W. Edwards. Edwards’ father, other family members and dignitaries were in attendance at the ceremony. One interesting fact is that the original plaque had a misspelling of Capt.
Feb. 2, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Jan. 31, 1977, the first space shuttle orbiter, Enterprise, arrived. As many in the Antelope Valley witnessed, it was conveyed at 3 mph from Rockwell International’s assembly facility at Palmdale aboard a 90-wheel transporter. The unpowered version of the shuttle was housed at Dryden (now
Jan. 19, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Jan. 21, 1984, the first launch of an anti-satellite missile from an F-15 took place over the Pacific Ocean. The ASAT missile was launched at a specified point in space; no actual target was involved.
July 22, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history July 20, 1982 - The first flight of the F-16XL took place. General Dynamics modified a FSD F-16 to answer a U.S. Air Force requirement for a dual-role, longer-range fighter to support future air combat requirements. The F-16XL featured a cambered, cranked-delta wing with a sharp leading-edge sweep
Aug. 2, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history August 6, 1980 - A B-1 Lancer Combined Test Force crew completed an 11-hour sortie in B-1 No. 4. This was the longest nonstop flight ever logged by a B-1.
Aug. 31, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history Sept. 3, 1985 - Space Shuttle Discovery landed on lakebed Runway 23 following a successful mission to deploy three satellites and an on-orbit satellite repair task. Shuttle pilot Col. Joe Engle (United States Air Force Test Pilot School Class 61) carried an Air Force Flight Test Center flag and a
Aug. 11, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Aug. 12, 1972 the McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle successfully passed its first flight performance milestone six weeks ahead of schedule. This milestone consisted of Mach 2 flight and altitude and g-load targets.
May 25, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On May 25, 1999, the F-117 test force completed the Single Configuration Fleet program. The SCF provided a uniform radar absorbing material coating for the entire F-117 fleet, significantly reducing costs and maintenance hours.
May 11, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On May 10, 1972, Fairchild Republic’s YA-10A Thunderbolt II made its first flight, flown by company chief test pilot Howard “Sam” Nelson. The twin-engine, twin-tailed ground attack aircraft was designed around the GAU-8 Avenger 30mm rotary cannon.
Oct. 13, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history: Yeager breaks sound barrier On Oct. 14, 1947, on his ninth powered flight in the airplane, Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager piloted the Bell X-1 “Glamorous Glennis,” named after his wife, to a speed of 699.4 mph at 43,000 feet (Mach 1.06), and became the first to exceed the speed of sound. This X-1 flight established that