|
~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 |
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
