AFMC Command News

  • New VISTA paint scheme gets artist's approval

    Renowned aviation artist Mike Machat officially endorsed his latest work for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School March 7 when he applied his signature to the school’s NF-16D VISTA in-flight simulator.The VISTA is sporting a new paint scheme designed by Machat. The one-of-a-kind aircraft is a staple

  • Innovative solution reduces cost of runway repair

    After years of heating up in the summer and freezing in the winter, the North Base runway developed severe cracking and was closed in October 2016. Traditional repair methods such as sealing the cracks would only last a few months and full replacement would have cost $20 million. The 412th Civil

  • Innovation success: Reusable containers save thousands

    At the Joshua Tree Dining Facility, Styrofoam containers have been the container of choice for grabbing a meal on the go.Recently, the cost for these containers was set to increase from $8,000 per month to $24,000 per month as a result of an increase in price and usage. In the long run, these costs

  • 418th FLTS begins KC-46A Phase III testing

    The 418th Flight Test Squadron and Global Reach Combined Test Force had a busy and successful 2018. The squadron oversaw “revolutionary” flight control upgrades for C-17 Globemaster IIIs in landing and air refueling modes; the final parachute certification air drops of NASA's new Orion space

  • KC-46 hits milestone at Edwards AFB

    Fielding began last week on America’s newest air refueling tanker aircraft – the KC-46 Pegasus. Operationalizing a new military aircraft does not happen often, but when it does, it typically goes through Edwards Air Force Base – the center of the aerospace testing universe. Regardless of whether it

  • Joint Simulation Environment inches closer to reality

    The 412th Electronic Warfare Group is one step closer to bringing the Joint Simulation Environment to life at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The 412th EWG recently began work to pave the way for ultimately building a new facility to house the JSE.

  • Commentary: KC-46 milestone at Edwards AFB

    Fielding began last week on America’s newest air refueling tanker aircraft – the KC-46 Pegasus.  Operationalizing a new military aircraft does not happen often, but when it does, it typically goes through Edwards Air Force Base – The Center of the Aerospace Testing Universe. Regardless of whether it

  • Joining forces: Test team completes fourth Orange Flag of 2018

    In the skies above California, an F-35 and F-16 from Edwards Air Force Base are joined by an F-15E and F-22 from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, along with a Navy F-18 from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 out of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake,

  • Squadron gets new lab space to improve instrumental role in test mission

    Data collection is the number one goal in flight test. With that said, Edwards AFB squadrons cannot take just any plane out of the air and conduct flight test missions. They have to be specially instrumented to record and transmit data during test sorties. This means taking planes apart for

  • KC-46 completes Phase II receiver testing

    ABOVE: A KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft connects with an F-15 Strike Eagle test aircraft from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, last month. The flight test was part of KC-46 Phase II receiver certification testing, which has been completed according to a Boeing company statement Dec. 3. The

  • Fall back: Goodbye daylight saving

    Daylight saving time ends Nov. 4. Time will be set back one hour at 2 a.m. to standard time.Beginning in 2007, Congress established that daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Before then, daylight saving time dates have varied as Congress

  • Armed Forces kick off National League Championship Series game

    A contingent of U.S. servicemembers participated in the opening ceremony of Game 3 of Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Oct. 15.The ceremony culminated in a flyover of a C-17 Globemaster

  • Team Edwards lands ‘First Man’ screening

    Edwards Air Force Base personnel were given the opportunity to see an advance screening of the new film, “First Man,” at the Cinemark 22 movie theater in Lancaster, California, Oct. 10.

  • Wing exercise focuses on full spectrum readiness

    The Air Force wants Airmen to be war-ready. That’s why from Aug. 7-9, approximately 80 Airmen prepared to go to war in Test Wing Readiness Exercise 18-03. While many Edwards Airmen are not strangers to deploying, this exercise focused on full spectrum combat readiness, according to exercise