![]() ![]() The "Desert Pirates" are part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group, Nellis AFB, Nevada and the 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida. Established in 1917, it is one of the oldest units of the United States Air Force. ![]() 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron (Tail Code: OT)The 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron provides Air Combat Command personnel to support combined test and evaluation on Air Force weapons systems. These units do everything from providing an on-base grocery store to testing state-of-the-art rockets. There are a vast array of organizations at Edwards that do not fall under the 412th Test Wing. It also performs more than 7,400 missions (including more than 1,900 test missions) on an annual basis. The 412 OS flies an average of 90 aircraft with upwards of 30 different aircraft designs. There are eight flight test squadrons under the 412th Operations Group with as many as 20 aircraft assigned to each. The Wing also oversees the base’s day-to-day operations and provides support for military, federal civilian, and contract personnel assigned to Edwards AFB. The 412th Test Wing plans, conducts, analyzes, and reports on all flight and ground testing of aircraft, weapons systems, software and components as well as modeling and simulation for the U.S. Notable occurrences at Edwards include Chuck Yeager's flight that broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, test flights of the North American X-15, the first landings of the Space Shuttle, and the 1986 around-the-world flight of the Rutan Voyager. 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. The base has played a significant role in the development of virtually every aircraft to enter the Air Force inventory since World War II. The lake is a National Historic Landmark. This large landing area, combined with excellent year-round weather, makes the base good for flight testing. The base is next to Rogers Dry Lake, an endorheic desert salt pan whose hard dry lake surface provides a natural extension to Edwards' runways. He died in the crash of a Northrop YB-49 flying wing near Muroc AFB on 5 June 1948. Edwards became a test pilot in 1943 and spent much of his time at Muroc Army Air Field, on California's high desert, testing wide varieties of experimental prototype aircraft. During World War II, he flew 50 missions in A-20 Havoc light attack bombers in the North African campaign on extremely hazardous, low-level missions against German tanks, convoys, troop concentrations, bridges, airfields, and a variety of other tactical targets. Previously known as Muroc Air Force Base, Edwards AFB is named in honor of Captain Glen Edwards (1918–1948). Air Force Plant 42 Production Flight Test Installation. ![]() Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 5.Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 1.31st Test and Evaluation Squadron Tail Code OT.Edwards Air Force Base ( AFB) (IATA: EDW, ICAO: KEDW, FAA LID: EDW) is a United States Air Force installation in southern California, located approximately 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Lancaster and 15 miles (24 km) east of Rosamond. ![]()
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