AFMC Command News

  • Air Force’s top NCO gets look at all things Edwards

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright received a whirlwind tour of the Center of the Aerospace Testing Universe March 18-19.The highest ranking enlisted member in the Air Force got a firsthand look at almost every squadron and unit on Edwards. Wright visited with everyone from security

  • 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

  • Emerging Technologies CTF conducts first autonomous flight test

    The 412th Test Wing’s Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force conducted its first autonomy flight test Feb. 26-28.  The team collected data on the Testing of Autonomy in Complex Environments system, or TACE. The TACE system is test middleware developed by Johns Hopkins University that sits between

  • Test Wing award winners meet Captain Marvel

    Pictured above: The 2018 412th Test Wing Annual Award winners pose for a photo with Brie Larson Feb. 20. Larson plays the title character in the upcoming "Captain Marvel" film set to be released in theaters March 8. Larson was joined by fellow cast members, Samuel L. Jackson, Gemma Chan, Jude Law

  • 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

  • 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,

  • One-day event streamlines hiring process for maintainers

    Nathan Dixon needs maintainers.“I have the largest squadron on Edwards and I have 103 open positions,” said the director of the 412th Maintenance Squadron. Dixon added that it could take up to 225 days to get a new employee on board. With 80 aircraft of all different types and a busy flying mission,

  • 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

  • Edwards test squadron completes Joint Strike Missile test program

    EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A team of U.S. Air Force engineers, test pilots and Norwegian government and industry personnel from the 416th Test Flight Squadron recently completed a large phase of testing for the new F-35A Joint Strike Missile. The JSM is Norway’s advanced anti-surface warfare

  • Colombian military officers get insight into flight test at Edwards

    EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Dozens of Republic of Colombia military officers dropped by Edwards Air Force Base for an up-close look at flight test Sept. 12, 2017. The group visited the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, the 419th Flight Test Squadron and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center.