This week in Edwards history Published June 13, 2018 By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On June 13, 1962, a test team conducted the first flights of Project Rough Road, an evaluation of the short-field takeoff and landing capabilities of the production C-130B. Test aircraft were loaded to a gross weight of 101,000 lbs and subjected to a variety of hard and soft sand and clay runways.