Aviation News - May 2016

T

he US Navy’s VX-30 Bloodhounds

weapons test squadron at Point

Mugu, California, is involved at the

cutting edge of new technology

and equipment. It is assigned to the Naval

Test Wing Paci c and is a component of the

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division

(NAWCWD). The Bloodhounds’ mission is

to provide research, development, test, and

evaluation of manned and unmanned  xed

and rotary wing aircraft, as well as weapons

systems to the US Navy and other entities

within the Department of Defense. VX-

is one of the most unusual squadrons in the

navy due to the variety of tasks it performs

and because it has 11 different departments

spread across Point Mugu, which is part of

Naval Base Ventura County. The unit has

a diverse personnel make-up with some

of the most junior Operational Specialist

Seaman to the most seasoned naval test

pilots, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) officers, government

civilian staff, including engineers and support

personnel, and various contractors providing

maintenance. The squadron is also critical

in the continual operation of the Navy’s Sea

Range adjacent to the base. It is the world’s

largest instrumented over-water range,

encompassing 220,000 miles (569,797km),

providing extensive test and training

capabilities for the US Navy, Department of

Defense and allied forces.

Scott Dworkin details the

wide-ranging and important

work of one of the US Navy’s

premier test squadrons.

VX-30 BLOODHOUNDS

DIVERSIT Y IN TEST

20 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft May 2016

20-27_vx30DC.mf.indd 20 06/04/2016 17: