Congresswoman Hill gets inside look at Plant 42 Published Feb. 25, 2019 By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Members of U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and the 412th Test Wing hosted Congresswoman Katie Hill for an informational tour Feb. 21. The newly elected Hill was accompanied by members of her staff and representatives of Palmdale. Before being driven around the sprawling facility, the congresswoman was given an overview of U.S.A.F. Plant 42’s mission and purpose by John Esch, Plant 42 director. The plant is home to some NASA operations, large contractors such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and employs about 9,000 people, making it one of the largest employers in the Antelope Valley. “It truly is a national treasure,” said Esch. The 412th Test Wing Operating Location Air Force Plant 42 provides command and control of the airfield complex and industrial facilities for production, modification, depot maintenance and flight test of U.S. aerospace systems. Hill visited several sites on Plant 42 and had the opportunity to go aboard NASA’s flying research telescope aircraft SOFIA, which stands for Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy. Hill represents the 25th Congressional District in California, which includes the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley and northern part of San Fernando Valley.