Aviation News - June 2016

E

dwards AFB is a famous name in

aviation, and today is still at the

forefront of aerospace research

and test work.

This enormous base in California’s

Mojave Desert, about 100 miles (160km)

northeast of Los Angeles, makes use of

two huge natural resources: Rogers and

Rosamond dry lakebeds. The former is the

larger of the two, though both have been

used for emergency and test landings.

The Space Shuttle also used Rogers

dry lakebed as well as the base’s more

conventional runways.

Rogers, covering about 44 sq miles

(114km), is next to the main Edwards

complex and has eight runways criss-

crossing its surface. Rosamond dry

lake, southwest of Rogers, covers

21 sq miles (54km) and has two

runways.

EDWARDS AFB

HOME OF

USAF TESTING

Erik Bruijns and Mark de Greeuw report from the Edwards AFB, California,

which has been synonymous with fl ight test and research for decades.

42 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft June 2016

42-47_edwardsMFDC.mfDC.mf.indd 42 04/05/2016 16:54