Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards Air Force Base (IATA: EDW, ICAO: KEDW) is a United States Air Force airbase located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley, 7 miles (11 km) due east of Rosamond. An airbase since 1933, Edwards has long been a home for flight research and testing and has subsequently been home to many of aviation's most important and daring research flights. Edwards is home to the 412th Test Wing and is currently operated by the 95th Air Base Wing.

Originally known as the Muroc Army Air Field, the base was renamed on December 8, 1949 in memory of U.S. Air Force test pilot Glen Edwards, who died while testing the Northrop YB-49. The base is strategically situated next to Rogers Lake, an endorheic desert salt pan; its hard playa surface provides a natural extension to Edwards' runways. This large landing area, combined with excellent year-round weather, make the base an excellent site for flight testing.

Designated as the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC), Edwards is home to the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. Almost every United States military aircraft since the 1950s has been at least partially tested at Edwards, and it has been the site of many aviation breakthroughs as a result.

Notable occurrences at Edwards include Chuck Yeager's famous flight where he broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, test flights of the North American X-15, the first landings of the Space Shuttle, the 1986 around-the-world flight of the Rutan Voyager, and origination of Murphy's Law. The base is also one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy in the nation, deriving 60 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, and is a lead partner in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership.
 military airbaseNASAdraw only borderUnited States Air Force
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwards_Air_Force_Base
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:  34°53'23"N 117°49'56"W

Comments

  • only place where you can see/hear a jet go supersonic during an airshow