Edwards AFB

 Edwards is the perfect place to safely test America's aerospace systems thanks to our wide-open spaces. Here we make history every day, and have for more than 60 years.  Hundreds of significant aviation "firsts" have been accomplished at Edwards. This is where Capt. Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier on Oct. 14, 1947, and where other X-planes pushed that record to two, three, four, five and six times the speed of sound and beyond. It is here that the X-15 probed the threshold of space and where the space shuttle first landed on its initial return from earth's orbit.  Today, our combined workforce is still at the cutting edge of aviation technology, developing, testing and evaluating the newest weapon systems and aircraft to ensure reliability for America's war-fighters. Edwards is the test-bed for today's premiere aerospace technology programs including the Global Hawk, Hypersonic flight, and of course the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  As aviation-friendly as our unique geography is, there is no more valuable asset than the 13,000 people who live and work here. The nation's brightest minds make up a treasured national resource for developing and advancing aviation capabilities across all disciplines.  Valuable partnerships with the Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate, the U.S. Marine Corps, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, and many, many others make Edwards a center of excellence for America's aerospace future.  We are proud of the Edwards heritage and very happy to have you here with us for our continuing journey. We hope you will take a moment to appreciate the unique beauty of the area and explore all that the high desert has to offer. From Rosamond to Boron and East Edwards; from California City to Little Rock; from Lancaster and Palmdale to Mojave, Tehachapi and Acton, we have a wide range of superior recreational activities to offer.  From the Poppy Festival to Willow Springs' auto racing; from the Lancaster Jethawks minor league baseball to the winding draw of Mojave off-road excitement; and from the Antelope Valley Fair to the Los Angeles nightlife and shores of San Diego, the Edwards experience is one we know you'll enjoy.