Free Republic

EDWARDS AFB - When the first C-17 aircraft took to the air in September 1991, the airplane was expected to have the typically short life of a developmental vehicle, then retire to a museum or some similar fate. However, some 16 years and 1,000 flights later, the airplane known as T-1 continues to contribute to the success of the cargo aircraft program. "T-1 has really been an amazing test vehicle," said Lt. Col. Robert Poremski, director of the C-17 Integrated Test Team at Edwards Air Force Base, T-1's home since it first flew from The Boeing Co.'s manufacturing plant in...

PALMDALE - The once top-secret Blackbirds on display in Palmdale have a new nest mate: the F-117A Nighthawk, also known as the stealth fighter. The dart-shaped aircraft, the fourth of its kind built and used solely for testing, was moved into display position Monday at Blackbird Airpark, taking its place beside other former "black" aircraft, the SR-71 and U-2. "Look at how many black airplanes you can come see right here," said Fred Johnsen , curator of the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, of which Blackbird Airpark is a satellite. Escorted by members of the 410th Flight Test Squadron,...

Flight testing is expected to resume as soon as next week at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center on an unusual aircraft shape intended to provide a more efficient means of cargo transport. The X-48B is a prototype scale model of a blended wing body aircraft - described as a cross between a conventional aircraft and a flying wing - believed to offer greater fuel efficiency by providing more lift and better aerodynamics. The aircraft is shaped as an elongated triangle, with a smooth line from the fuselage extending out into the wings. The shape is "a very efficient way of...

Aside from a few antennas and a small, spinning cylinder on the roof, the black Chevy Tahoe looks about like any other you might find on the road. A peek inside, however, shows this is something completely different. This Chevy is filled with computers, sensors, motors and other electronic equipment to make it a completely autonomous vehicle, capable of safely navigating city streets on its own - braking at stop signs, navigating lane changes and avoiding other cars and objects. The vehicle, the creation of a team of Cornell University students and recent graduates, is one entry in the DARPA...

MOJAVE - Northrop Grumman Corp. will assume complete ownership of Mojave-based Scaled Composites under an agreement signed July 5, company officials said Friday. The agreement will increase the defense giant's ownership from 40% to 100%, said Dan McClain, corporate director of media relations for Northrop Grumman. Terms of the deal were not released. Scaled Composites President Burt Rutan and the executive team will remain in place, McClain said, and the company will continue to operate as a separate entity within Northrop Grumman. "We don't expect any operational or management changes," said Kevin Mickey, chief financial officer for Scaled Composites. Founded...

PALMDALE - The featureless black mask hid his face, but everyone in the crowd knew exactly how he felt. Iain Carson threw his arms toward the ceiling, letting a joyous shout erupt from inside. With a 15-9 victory over Eugene Park, Carson earned himself a brand new epee - the first place prize at the Duel at the Oasis fencing tournament at Oasis Park Recreational Center in Palmdale on Saturday. "(That was) the best I've done," Carson said. Carson was the top seed after pool competition, and didn't lose a single bout in the tournament. The only bout Park lost...

United Airlines will begin service from L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport to San Francisco on June 7, officials announced Monday. It will mark the return of commercial passenger service to the terminal adjacent Air Force Plant 42, following a brief period of limited service that ended a year ago. The twice-daily roundtrip flights will provide passengers with connections to more than 200 United domestic flights from the airline's San Francisco hub, as well as numerous flights throughout Asia, Mexico, Canada, London and Sydney, United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said. Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that owns and operates the Palmdale, Los...