FReeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Edwards Air Force Base, California ~ 09 FEB 10

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | laurenmarlowe

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~

Road Trip: Edwards Air Force Base, California

Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley. Edwards is home to the 412th Test Wing and is currently operated by the 95th Air Base Wing.

The base is strategically situated next to Rogers Dry Lake, a desert salt pan; its hard playa surface provides a natural extension to Edwards' runways. This large landing area, combined with excellent year-round weather, makes the base a perfect site for flight testing. The lake is a National Historic Landmark.

Designated as the Air Force Flight Test Center, 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.

The Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the Air Force Materiel Command center of excellence for research, development, and test and evaluation of aerospace systems for the United States and its allies.

It also operates the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and supports non-military government agencies. The combat, combat support and training capabilities of most of the Air Force's weapons systems were first proven here, giving the AFFTC a direct link to each of the Air Force's core competencies.

After President Nixon announced the Space Shuttle program on January 5, 1972, Edwards was chosen for Space Shuttle orbiter testing. The prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise was carried to altitude by the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and released. In all, 13 test flights were conducted with the Enterprise and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to determine their flight characteristics and handling.

After Space Shuttle Columbia became the first Shuttle launched into orbit on April 12, 1981, it returned to Edwards for landing. The airbase's immense lakebeds and its proximity to Plant 42, where the Shuttle was serviced before re-launch, were important factors in its selection and it continued to serve as the primary landing area for the space shuttle until 1991.

Since then, Kennedy Space Center in Florida has been favored, but Edwards AFB and the White Sands Space Harbor continue to serve as backups; Shuttles have landed at Edwards as recently as August 9, 2005 (STS-114) and June 22, 2007 (STS-117) due to rain and ceiling events at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility.

The most recent projects at Edwards are the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-22 Raptor, RQ-4 Global Hawk, YAL-1 Airborne Laser and B-52 synthetic fuel program. In addition, the C-17 Globemaster III flight test program is another major project at Edwards AFB. As well, the Department of Defense's massive development on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has seen significant testing of prototypes at Edwards.

Learn More About Edwards Air Force Base HERE!

The Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Museum is an Air Force Field Museum operating within the guidelines of the USAF Heritage Program. Its mission is to collect, interpret, preserve, and display the material history of the AFFTC, Edwards Air Force Base and its antecedents, and the history of USAF flight testing.

There are currently over 80 aircraft in the museum's collection, with 40 on display (36 at Edwards and four at the AFFTC-managed Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale) and the remainder in storage or restoration. Other artifacts in the collection include aircraft propulsion systems, missiles, hardware, life support equipment, technical drawings, test reports, personal memorabilia, photographs, and wind tunnel models.

Visit The Air Force Flight Test Center Museum HERE!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

 

 

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless Our Republic

Prayers going up

[SandRat]

In

[oldteen]

IN!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note that tonight’s thread was authored by laurenmarlowe. Please thank her.

Thanks, unique, for the road trippers!

Road Trip: Edwards Air Force Base, California

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies’ military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD

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To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

[AZamericonnie]

Thank you for this evening's road trips ladies! *hugs*

[AZamericonnie]

Good evening Hope...hand over heart & prayers up! *hugs*

[ConorMacNessa]

REQUEST PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD!

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!

OUR TROOPS ROCK!!!!!!!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[SevenofNine]

HEY KATHY I think Tomkow is in trouble in FRANCE

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7189090/Burka-wearing-gunmen-raid-French-bank.html

[AZamericonnie]

Hiya Teen! A good day for you?

More rain your way?

We had a pretty good rain night before last. *hugs*

[Kathy in Alaska]

Honoring Our Heroes

2LT Rebecca USA (daughter of U S Army EOD)
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
AbnSarge USA
Allegra
Anoreth USCG (daughter of Tax-chick)
aviator USAF
Brett USN (CindyDawg)
Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee)
Cannoneer No. 4
CAPT Future Snake Eater USA (RightOnline)
CAPT Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou)
Chris USA (amom)
Chuck USA (RightOnline)
COL Mike (gpapa)
CMS USA
ConorMacNessa USN USMC
David USAF (LUV W)
Defender2
Deven USA (Shimmer)
Ethan USMC (georgiabelle)
Fred (DocRock)
GulfWar1Vet USA
IS2 Brianne USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
IS2 Heather USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
Jade Falcon USN
JemiansTerror USA (Jemian)
Jet Jaguar USAF
Joel (NEMDF)
Jonathan USMC (AZbushgal)
Josh USN (doug from upland)
Karen USA (fatima's granddaughter)
Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Kevin USMC (skimask)
Kevin and David USA (vigilante2)
Laurita USA
LCPL Carter USMC
Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
LT David (Coldwater Creek)
M1911A1 USMC (M0sby)
M1Tanker
Major joma89 USAF
MEG33's Navy Grandson
Michael USAR (RightOnline)
Mike1Sg USA (mystery-ak)
Milo828 USA (mystery-ak)
Nate USN (sneakers)
Old Sarge USA
OneLoyalAmerican USCG
PFC Alan USA (brother-in-law Stonewall Jackson)
PFC Dan USA (son of swmobuffalo)
PFC Jake USMC (son of Enough_Deceit)
Pvt Alex USA (son of Enough_Deceit)
Robert, Jeremy, Daynnis USA (SoldierDad)
Sat-Com Chris USA (son of KC Burke)
SGT Ev USA (Mozie)
SGT Gray USA (colorcountry’s son)
SGT Sean Reed (preed)
Son USCG (GodBlessUSA)
SPC Mike USA (AbnSarge)
SPC William Akin USA (Step-son of BlueLancer)
SrA The Black Knight USAF
SSG Brian USA (repubmom)
SSG Dustin USA (SIL of U S Army EOD)
SSG Dusty USA (MountainDad)
SSG Mitchel USA (tina07)
SSG Spencer USA (grame)
SSGT Don May Jr USMC (debm29palms)
SSGT John Linde USA (JFoxbear)
Terrence USN (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
The Sailor
tongue-tied USN/USA
Tonkin USN/USCG
txradioguy USA
USAFSecurityForces (son of visualops & TheStickman)
Valerie USAF (Shimmer)
Victor and Tony D USMC (weldgophardline)
William USA (jackv)

 

[SevenofNine]

Didn’t go through Mexico City had earthquake

RodrigoBNO the The building swayed for 40 seconds... it was the most terrible sensation... sorry for yellin... =)

joebrooks RT @mpoppel: Moderate earthquake shakes Mexico City, no reports of damage - http://bit.ly/d1NtdF

[oldteen]

I was a good day...thanks for askin’. We’re gonna get hit again soon. Guess that’s what winter brings. ((((AZ))))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Night Owl!

[SevenofNine]

Is this kinda oyxmoron

BreakingNews During his new radio show ‘Suddenly Chavez,’ president declares ‘electric emergency’ in oil-rich Venezuela http://bit.ly/dgggsP

[Kathy in Alaska]

From Xerox ~ Let's Say Thanks to our Troops

Simple. Easy. Involve your kids.
We can each send thanks every single day.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Families, for your service to our country.

Thanks, unique, for the perfect woohoo.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, AZ, for the “white” tribute. (Back at work in the blind...LOL!)