Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards Air Force Base is a USAF 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, USA at {{coor dm|34|57|N|117|52|W|}}. An airbase since 1933, Edwards' has long been a home for flight research and testing and has subsequently been home to many of the aviation's most important and daring research flights.

Related Topics:
USAF - Airbase - Kern County - Los Angeles County, California - Antelope Valley - Rosamond - USA - Aviation

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Originally known as the Muroc Army Air Field, the base was renamed in 1950 in memory of 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.

Related Topics:
1950 - Test pilot - Glen Edwards - Northrop YB-49 - Endorheic - Salt pan - Playa - Runway

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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 Edwards has been the site of many aviation breakthroughs as a result.

Related Topics:
United States Air Force Test Pilot School - NASA - Dryden Flight Research Center - United States military - 1950s

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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 Scaled Composites 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership.

Related Topics:
Chuck Yeager - Bell X-1 - North American X-15 - Space Shuttle - Scaled Composites Voyager - Murphy's law

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