Edwards Air Force Base is a base located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley, northeast of Lancaster. It was home to many of the 20th century's most important and daring research flights and many of the world's bravest and most able pilots ever seen.
The base is named after test pilot Glen Edwards, who died while testing the Northrop YB-49. Prior to being named after Edwards in 1950, it was known as Muroc Army Air Field. In addition to the air force base, it is home to the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.
It is designated the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC), and is where much of the testing of new aircraft and airborne systems is done. One of the important physical features on the base is Rogers Lake, a dry lakebed that is sometimes used as a landing strip. The lakebed has a black dotted line painted on it to assist in landings.
Notable occurrences at Edwards include Chuck Yeager's famous flight where he broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, the first landings of the Space Shuttle, and the 1986 around the world flight of the Scaled Composites Voyager.
Web Sites and Links
• Dryden Flight Research Center
Dryden is NASA's primary installation for flight research. Projects at Dryden over the past 50 years have lead to major advancements in the design and capabilities of many civilian and military aircraft. Education information, employment details, photo gallery, air show information, and contact link.
• Edwards Air Force BaseUnit whose principal mission is to test and evaluate new military aircraft and systems. Offers news, contracting information, careers, base guide, and multimedia presentation (requires Flash).
• Experimental Aircraft Association - Chapter 1000History and information about this chapter, based at Edwards Air Force Base.
• Southern California Airshow ReviewCoverage of airshows in Southern California by IFPO photographer Brian Emch
