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.

Facilities

Dryden Flight Research Center

Contained inside Edwards Air Force Base is NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) where modern aircraft research is still active (e.g. the Boeing X-45). The DFRC is home to many of the worlds most advanced aircraft. Notable recent research projects include the Controlled Impact Demonstration and the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment.

Related Topics:
NASA - Boeing X-45 - Controlled Impact Demonstration - Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment

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AFRL test area

The Air Force Research Laboratory maintains a rocket engine testing site behind Leuhman Ridge, just east of Roger's Lake. Initially constructed for use in the Apollo Program, the test site has multiple facilities for testing full-size rocket engines and components. Since then, the Rocket Test Facility has tested booster rockets for ICBMs and the Space Shuttle. The site has recently benefited from an $18.5 million upgrade completed in 2003. The facility now boasts multiple test stands, and the only U.S. Government test stand capable of holding 1 million pounds-force (4.5 MN) of static thrust.

Related Topics:
Air Force Research Laboratory - Apollo Program - ICBM - 2003 - Pounds-force - MN

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Main Base

Edwards Main Base includes the Dryden Flight Research Center at its north end and is directly connected to the South Base. The Main Base airfield has a control tower, a TRACON (callsign Joshua), and a Radar Control Facility (callsign Sport). Its ICAO airport code is KEDW (IATA: EDW). As a military airbase, civilian access is severely restricted, but is possible with prior coordination and good reason. There are two lighted, paved runways:

Related Topics:
Control tower - TRACON - Radar Control Facility - ICAO airport code - IATA - Runway

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• 04/22 is 15,013 x 300 ft (4576 x 90 m), an extra 9,000 ft (2700 m) of lakebed runway is available.
• 6/24 is 8000 x 300 ft (2400 x 90 m); 5000 x 50 ft (1500 x 15 m) useable — (this runway is technically part of the South Base)

There are seven other official runways on the Rogers lakebed:

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• 17/35 is 7.5 mi (12.1 km) long (primary runway)
• 05/23 is 5.2 mi (8.4 km) long
• 06/24 is 1.4 mi (2.3 km) long
• 07/25 is 4.0 mi (6.4 km) long
• 09/27 is 2.0 mi (3.2 km) long
• 30 is 2.0 mi (3.2 km) long (runway 30 rolls out onto the compass rose, so its corresponding, unmarked, runway 12 is never used)
• 15/33 is 6.2 mi (10.0 km) long
• 18/36 is 4.5 mi (7.2 km) long

The Rosamond lakebed has two runways painted on it:

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• 02/20 is 4.0 mi (6.4 km) long
• 11/29 is 4.0 mi (6.4 km) long

North Base

North Base, sometimes called Operable Unit 10, is located at the north-west corner of Rogers lake and is the site of the Air Force's most secret test programs at Edwards. The site has one 6,000 x 150 ft (1830 x 45 m) paved runway, 06/24, and is accessed from the lakebed or via a single controlled road. Despite its apparent proximity on a map, the North Base can hardly be seen from the Main Base because of haze. Even on exceptionally clear days, no detail is visible, making the base ideal for secret development.

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