Feb. 28, 2018 This week in Edwards history On Feb. 28, 2007, a film crew arrived to film scenes of the blockbuster movie, "Transformers." In the scene, one of the characters transformed himself into an F-22A Raptor, another "first" for the advanced fighter, and the first time a real (versus computer-generated) Raptor was used on film.
Feb. 21, 2018 This week in Edwards history On Feb. 23, 1989, a two-seat F-16B Air Defense Fighter test aircraft successfully launched an AIM-7 Sparrow missile that destroyed a target drone off the California coast.
March 7, 2018 This week in Edwards history On March 8, 1979, Space Shuttle Columbia arrived at Edwards AFB on a trailer after a 38-mile journey from the Rockwell International plant in Palmdale, California. The trailer traveled through Lancaster, California, then to Edwards. The orbital vehicle was delivered to NASA’s then Dryden Flight
Jan. 9, 2018 This week in Edwards history On Jan. 9, 1943, the first flight of the Lockheed XC-69 took place from Burbank, California, to Muroc Army Airfield. It was piloted by company test pilots Edmund Allen and Milo Burcham. The four-engine, propeller-driven aircraft was designed by Kelly Johnson and developed from the Lockheed L-049
Jan. 17, 2018 This week in Edwards history On Jan. 17, 1990, NASA selected Maj. Eileen M. Collins, a student in Class 89B of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, as a space shuttle pilot candidate. Collins was the first woman to be selected for the job. Learn more about her from this NASA factsheet
Dec. 13, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Dec. 12, 1987, flight testing of the B-1B Lancer automatic terrain-following system began.
Dec. 19, 2017 This week in Edwards history On Dec. 23, 1974, the Rockwell International B-1A Lancer made its first flight from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, landing at Edwards AFB. The aircraft commander was Rockwell test pilot and retired Air Force Col. Charles Bock, Jr. He was accompanied by Air Force pilot and B-1 Joint Test
May 1, 2018 This week in Edwards history On April 30, 1966, Air Force Flight Test Center test pilot Col. Joseph F. Cotton saved XB-70 Valkyrie #2 from destruction following an in-flight emergency in which the landing gear failed to lower into position. He crawled to a relay box containing two malfunctioning terminals and short-circuited
April 17, 2018 This week in Edwards history On April 20, 1987, the new control tower was officially opened with the takeoff of an F-15. The new facility, stressed to withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake as well as 120+ mph winds, replaced the ten-story red and white structure that had been a landmark since 1956. Today, the cab of the old
July 25, 2018 This week in Edwards history On July 25, 2000, the F-22 Combined Test Force's Raptor 02 successfully launched an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile over the China Lake Test Range. The test confirmed the F-22’s ability to launch an air-to-air missile from an internal weapons bay.