Aug. 17, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Aug. 16, 1948, the XF-89 Scorpion made its first flight, flown by Northrop test pilot Fred C. Bretcher. The twin-jet night fighter was selected by the Air Force after a fly-off with the XF-87 and the Navy’s Douglas XF3D-1 Skyknight because of its potential for development.
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.
Aug. 10, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Aug. 8, 1955, the X-1A was lost after an explosion took place while still mated to its mother ship at an altitude of 30,000 feet, just 70 seconds before launch. NACA pilot Joe Walker escaped unharmed from the cockpit, whereupon the research plane was jettisoned over the bombing range. The
Sept. 12, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Sept. 15, 1942, contractor personnel were removed from the Materiel Center Flight Test Site prior to the arrival of the secret XP-59 and a group of 11 Bell Aircraft Corp. employees took over the site.
Aug. 30, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Aug. 29, 1947, Capt. Chuck Yeager made his first powered flight in the Bell X-1, taking the compact orange aircraft to Mach 0.85.
Aug. 24, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Aug. 23, 1991, the Flags of Honor memorial was dedicated to the men and women of Edwards AFB who had come together from every state in the nation to serve their country. This memorial was donated by the Edwards AFB Civilian-Military Affairs Support Group.
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 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
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 27, 2017 This week in Edwards history On July 26, 1958, test pilot Capt. Iven Kincheloe Jr. was killed following an unsuccessful ejection when his F-104 suffered an engine failure on takeoff. A Korean War fighter pilot, Kincheloe had been assigned to Edwards in the mid-1950s as a test pilot where he flew many of the new “Century” series