Global Hawk makes emergency landing Published May 29, 2009 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An Edwards RQ-4A UAS made an emergency landing just after midnight here May 28 on Rogers Dry Lake bed, adjacent to the airfield. The block 20 Global Hawk, AF-9, experienced flight control problems while on a local flight test sortie. Pilots performed a unique series of flight control maneuvers and managed to land the aircraft on the lakebed. The RQ-4A sustained damage to its right wing and main landing gear but pilots were able to maintain the UAS's structural integrity and spare its ISR mission systems. Edwards officials are assessing the damage and have appointed a board of officers to formally investigate the incident.