Bird's Eye View: Space shuttle boosts Edwards' podcasts

  • Published
  • By Col. Bryan J. Gallagher
  • 95th Air Base Wing commander
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  One week ago, the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed on runway 22. With all the support the base provides the shuttle program, a landing becomes a very exciting time for us. It also puts Edwards under the microscope in terms of the public interest in our base. Nowhere was this more apparent than the public interest in our Web site and podcasts. 

The Edwards audio podcast, which features stories about what is happening on base, reached No. 7 on the Top Government Podcasts ranking on iTunes. Our video podcast, which presents "Dateline Edwards" to a worldwide Internet audience, went from being unranked to No. 62. The number of unique visitors on our public Web site went from an average of 1,500 people to more than 18,000 the day of the landing. 

People outside the base are starting to tune in to what we're doing here at Edwards, and we're doing some really great things in supporting and executing the various missions occurring at the Air Force Flight Test Center. 

If you haven't subscribed to the Edwards audio podcast or the "Dateline Edwards" vodcast, go to www.edwards.af.mil/news/podcast.asp and check out what we're showing the world.

Edwards celebrates Fourth of July in advance 

For many Americans, Independence Day is a day to celebrate our country's birthday. Some people choose to attend parades or large parties. Some go to fireworks demonstrations, and some choose to go to the newest summer blockbuster movie. 

At Edwards, we're offering you the chance to not only attend a huge party complete with a fireworks show but also a movie premiere at the base theater. However, our celebration will happen on Saturday. 

Saturday's celebrations will begin at noon at the base theater with a free screening of the "Transformers" movie, which was filmed in part at Edwards. You will see some of our Airmen performing roles in the background, and you will also see a few of our Airmen who were lucky enough to get speaking roles. 

After the movie screening, our annual Summer Bash event will kick off at Wings Field, and there will be something for everyone. Some of the activities include face painting, a paintball course, a water slide, a fish pond and carnival. 

The celebration also offers live music all day, featuring Mylin, and into evening culminating with a spectacular fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. 

The 95th Mission Support and Services Squadron has done an incredible job setting up Edwards' biggest party of the year, and I'm looking forward to seeing Team Edwards enjoy the festivities. 

See you there!