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XP-59A service test aircraft had proved to be rather disappointing, not even up to the standards of conventional piston-engined fighter aircraft already in service with the USAAF. It was considered rather unlikely that any appreciable improvements in the performance of the P-59 would soon be forthcoming, and by the early fall of 1943 the
Airacomet was no longer considered by the USAAF as being worthy of consideration as an operational combat type.
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the latest weapon system technologies. They also host the core facilities that enable flight test and ground test—the Range
Division, Benefield Anechoic Facility, Integrated Flight Avionics Systems Test Facility and the Air Force Electronic Warfare Evaluation Simulator. The Project and Resource Management Divisions provide the foundation for the successful program management of test missions.
254:. It also operates the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. The center provides test infrastructure, overhead support for development, and operational test and evaluation support for aerospace research vehicles. AFFTC resources include the test and evaluation mission simulator, the Benefield Anechoic Chamber, Ridley Mission Control, and the Integration Facility for Avionics Systems Testing.
182:. It conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment. It has test flown every aircraft in the Army Air Force's and the Air Force's inventory since World War II. The center employs nearly 13,000 people, and controls the second largest base in the Air Force.
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On 30 September, Bell's test pilot Robert
Stanley was undergoing some high-speed taxiing trials with the XP-59A when the aircraft "inadvertently" became airborne for a short time, reaching an altitude of ten feet for one-half-mile during high speed taxi tests. However, the first official flight was
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A jet fighter. Muroc was chosen as it was a secluded site in the Mojave Desert out of the public eye. The first XP-59A aircraft arrived on 21 September 1942 for ground tests and it was fitted with a dummy propeller attached to its nose, just in case the curious might see it and start asking why this
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The
Engineering Division and the Electronic Warfare Group provide the central components in conducting the Test and Evaluation mission of the 412 TW. They provide the tools, talent and equipment for the core disciplines of aircraft structures, propulsion, avionics and electronic warfare evaluation of
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The 1990s saw the arrival of the
Lockheed YF-22 and the Northrop YF-23 prototype fighters, both using stealth technology and designed for air supremacy with agility, high-speed and supersonic cruise capability. Global Hawk, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was tested that has subsequently been used
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Lunar
Landing Program ended, the Aerospace Research Pilot School was once again re-designated as the USAF Test Pilot School. The school replaced its space-oriented curriculum with an entire new battery of courses focusing on systems and test management. New aircraft arrived in the 1970s with the
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at
Hawthorne, California, piloted by Northrop's chief test pilot, Max Stanley. At the end of the flight, it landed at Muroc Air Force Base where it was to carry out its test program. On the morning of 5 June 1948, XB-49 42-102368 crashed just north of Muroc Dry Lake. The pilot, Air Force Capt. Glenn
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The USAF Test Pilot School, also part of the 412th Test Wing, is where select Air Force pilots, navigators/combat systems officers, and engineers learn how to conduct flight tests and generate the data needed to carry out test missions. A small number of Army
Aviators and USN and USMC Naval Aviators
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Flying Wing (serial number 42-13603) took off on its maiden flight on 25 June 1946, with Max
Stanley as pilot and Dale Schroeder as flight engineer. On this first flight, the aircraft was flown from Hawthorne to Muroc, a flight lasting 45 minutes. The propeller-driven XB-35 however, was considered
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to a speed of 760 miles per hour, breaking the sound barrier for the first time. In the years since, multiple generations of experimental "X-Planes" have been tested and flown at
Edwards, for the Air Force and other agencies, such as NASA. Simultaneously, the base was hosting testing for proposed
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XP-59 aircraft testing continued at Muroc for the remainder of 1942 and in 1943. The second XP-59A flew on 15 February 1943 and the third late in April. Shortly before the first flight of the XP-59A, the USAAF had placed an order for one hundred P-59A Airacomets. However, the performance of the
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There are eight flight test squadrons under the 412th Operations Group with as many as 20 aircraft assigned to each. The 412 OG flies an average of 90 aircraft with upwards of 30 different aircraft designs. It also performs more than 7,400 missions (including more than 1,900 test missions) on an
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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. Air Force. The Wing also oversees the base's day-to-day operations and provides support for military,
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where they served in the training role. The Airacomets provided USAAF pilots and ground crews with valuable data about the difficulties and pitfalls involved in converting to jet aircraft. This information proved quite useful when more advanced jet fighters finally became available in quantity.
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touched down on Rogers Dry Lakebed, with Astronauts John Young and Robert Crippin successfully landing the first orbiting space vehicle ever to leave the Earth under rocket power and return to Earth aerodynamically for re-use. The "Flying Wing" returned to Edwards in the late 1980s when the
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Effective 6 July 2012, it was re-designated from the Air Force Flight Test Center to the Air Force Test Center, part of a new five-center construct across Air Force Materiel Command. The new name reflects AFTC's expanded mission which includes Eglin AFB and Arnold AFB as well as flight test
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Although the XP-59A provided valuable experience to the USAAF in the operation of jet-powered aircraft, it was basically a flying testbed and not a combat-capable aircraft. The USAAF had to look elsewhere in its search for an effective jet fighter. The first flight of the
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North American X-15A, AF Ser. No. 56-6671, with test pilots at Edwards AFB, California. 56-6671 was extensively damaged during an emergency landing at Edwards AFB on 9 November 1962 with John McKay at the controls. Later modified as an X-15A-2, it is now on display at the
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made supersonic flight commonplace in combat aircraft. The Century Series fighters defined the basic speed and altitude envelopes for fighters that are still in effect today. Meanwhile, the aircraft of the X series continued to set speed and altitude records.
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The center has tested all the aircraft types in the Air Force inventory, and the center's workforce—civilian, military and contractor—work together to flight test and evaluate new aircraft and upgrades to aircraft already in inventory for Air Force units, the
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and Naval Flight Officers also attend USAFTPS. Human lives and millions of dollars depend upon how carefully a test mission is planned and flown. The comprehensive curriculum of Test Pilot School is fundamental to the success of flight test and evaluation.
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and other government agencies. Upgrades to be tested here include improvements to radar, weapons-delivery and navigation systems, and a system to give tactical pilots the ability to strike ground targets from low altitudes at night and in adverse weather.
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extensively for high-level reconnaissance in the skies of Afghanistan and Iraq began testing in February 1998. The MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper attack counterparts, tested at Edwards, today fill a critical role in the Global War on Terrorism.
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With the transfer of Edwards AFB from Air Materiel Command to the newly created Air Research and Development Command, the postwar 2759th Experimental Wing was inactivated, being replaced by the Air Force Flight Test Center on 25 June 1951.
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development. Additionally, the center has played a key role in the development of the Air Force's X-35A and X-32A prototypes for the Joint Strike Fighter program, both making their first flights in late 2000. The resulting
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against the XP-59 to see how well they stood up against the jet. The results were obvious. Also in October 1944, a small detachment arrived at Muroc for experimental work in rocket firing, remaining until the end of 1945.
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The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) conducts developmental and follow-on testing and evaluation of manned and unmanned aircraft and related avionics, flight-control, and weapon systems. AFTC also operates the
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is open to military personnel with credentials to enter the base as well as general public tours offered periodically. The museum also features 40 aircraft on display at the museum or the nearby
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On 6 July 2012, the previous Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) was redesignated as the Air Force Test Center (AFTC). Up until July 2012, the AFTC consisted of two subordinate wings. The
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Following the war flight testing officially became the base's primary mission. Test work on the Lockheed P-80, the successor to the XP-59 was undertaken for the greater part of 1945. The
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Thunderjet arrived at Muroc in 1946 for testing. It was clear by this time that the base's mission would be a proving ground for aircraft and a testing site for experimental aircraft.
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took place on 8 January 1944 with test pilot Milo Burcham at the controls. The XP-80 was eventually transferred to the 412th Fighter Group for tactical evaluation.
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The 1960s ushered in the Space Age. The Test Pilot School was re-designated as the Aerospace Research Pilot School as it began to train future astronauts. The
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is being built in three versions for the Air Force, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps, as well as multiple allied military partners.
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Against the Wind, 90 Years of Flight Testing in the Miami Valley, History office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, 1993
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were selected from the Air Force's test pilot cadre. Additionally, the AFTC assisted with the testing of rocket engines and re-entry vehicles.
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set the standing aircraft speed record of Mach 6.72 (4,520 mph), again flying an X-15. When the space program began a number of
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on 1 October with NACA, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, Royal Air Force, Army, Bell and General Electric personnel on hand.
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K286.69.37, Volume 1, History of the Air Force FLight Test Center, Air Force Systems Command, AFHRA, 1961.
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began flight testing in 1974 with its multitude of highly sophisticated offensive and defensive systems.
357:: (C-130 and special operations and special mission variants; CV-22; KC-135 and special variants; C-17A)
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Along with the X-15, pilots at Edwards were expanding the frontiers of atmospheric flight, testing the
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197:(412 TW) conducted aircraft testing and evaluation at Edwards. In July 2012, the redesignated
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The Air Force Test Center develops, operates and maintains the Edwards Flight Test Range and
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442:***Detachment 3, Air Force Test Center is an unconfirmed designated name for facilities at
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Flight testing began at Muroc Army Air Base (later renamed Edwards Air Force Base) during
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P-59A Airacomet with the short-lived red outlined National markings (June–September 1943).
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1546:. Edwards Air Force Base, California: Air Force Flight Test Center History Office, 2007.
1539:. Edwards Air Force Base, California: Air Force Flight Test Center History Office, 2007.
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Technology pioneered through the AFTC led to remarkable advancements in aviation. The "
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became the first person to fly an aircraft into space on 17 July 1962 when he flew his
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The U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center: Forging Aerospace Power for America
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arrived and began to explore hypersonic and exoatmospheric flight. Major
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to an altitude of 314,750 feet. Flying the same airframe a year later
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201:(96 TW), an amalgamation of the former 96th Air Base Wing, the former
1463:"MAJOR GENERAL DAVID A. HARRIS > Air Force > Biography Display"
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Edwards Air Force Base Guide, Edwards AFB Public Affairs Office, 2013
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4200th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 1 January 1965 – 2 October 1992
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6512th Test Pilot Training Squadron, 1 September 1952 – 1 March 1961
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reached an altitude of 354,200 feet (67 miles). On 3 October 1967
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Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, 25 October 1963 – Present
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federal civilian, and contract personnel assigned to Edwards AFB.
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Re-Designated: 6512th Test Wing, 1 October 1969 – 1 January 1973
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on Edwards and partners with the AFFTC on aircraft development.
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With the decline of the military crewed space mission after the
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Air Research and Development (later Air Force Systems) Command
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Lockheed XP-80A, AAF Ser. No. 44-83021, Gray Ghost in flight.
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439:, Palmdale, California. Aircraft manufacturing facility.***
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Headquarters, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, California
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stealth bomber began testing, and at a remote site, the
189:(95 ABW) provided installation support for all units on
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477th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron (Reduced)
762:. Two major "fly-offs" were conducted, one between the
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Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
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House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
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James O. Young, The U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center
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18th Survival Squadron, 1 January 1967 – 30 June 1975
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3077th Experimental Group, 20 May 1949 – 25 June 1951
1275:"AFFTC to be re-designated as Air Force Test Center"
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6510th Air Base Group, 4 October 1954 – 1 March 1978
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6510th Air Base Wing, 25 June 1951 – 4 October 1954
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Research and Development Command on 23 January 1950
1990:House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
927:Army Air Forces Materiel Command, 17 February 1942
297:annual basis. The aircraft are grouped by mission
221:, Tennessee, also came under control of the AFTC.
1679:Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center
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973:6510th Test Group, 1 July 1959 – 25 October 1963
970:USAF Test Pilot School, 1 January 1953 – Present
817:YAL-1A Airborne Laser undergoing flight testing.
625:outdated and it was replaced by the jet-powered
178:) is a development and test organization of the
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1851:National Museum of the United States Air Force
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930:Air Technical Service Command. 31 August 1944
871:730th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Flight Test)
821:More recently the AFTC has been part of the
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806:systems were also tested during the 1980s.
345:Global Reach (transport and air refueling)
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1530:60 Years of Flight Research at NASA Dryden
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1948:Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
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435:Detachment 1, Air Force Test Center,
274:Headquarters, USAF Test Pilot School.
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304:Global Power (fighters and bombers)
1799:Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex
1794:Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex
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1359:. Flight Test Historical Foundation
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2002:Senate Committee on Armed Services
1784:635th Supply Chain Operations Wing
1779:448th Supply Chain Management Wing
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1505:"MAJOR GENERAL EVAN C. DERTIEN"
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2007:Senate Subcommittee on Airland
1985:House Armed Services Committee
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533:Most of the P-59s went to the
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383:412th Test Management Division
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1740:Air Force Research Laboratory
1281:. 8 July 2012. Archived from
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1009:List of commanders since 2012
785:In April 1981, the wheels of
601:weapon systems including the
403:412th Civil Engineer Division
334:: (F-35 Joint Strike Fighter)
266:Headquarters, 412th Test Wing
1757:Air Force Sustainment Center
1748:711th Human Performance Wing
906:Air Force Flight Test Center
827:Joint Direct Attack Munition
642:Air Force Flight Test Center
629:on 21 October 1947 from the
592:On 14 October 1947, Captain
457:Air Force Flight Test Museum
451:Air Force Flight Test Museum
368:Global Vigilance (unmanned)
252:Utah Test and Training Range
154:Air Force Test Center emblem
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1911:Department of the Air Force
1789:Ogden Air Logistics Complex
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1143:2 years, 346 days
1075:2 years, 364 days
899:Inactivated on 25 June 1951
800:Air-Launched Cruise Missile
412:412th Mission Support Group
392:412th Engineering Division
386:412th Test Management Group
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1916:Secretary of the Air Force
1603:Air Force Materiel Command
1177:3 years, 15 days
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864:Disbanded on 11 March 1944
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726:XB-70A Valkyrie on takeoff
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355:418th Flight Test Squadron
349:412th Flight Test Squadron
332:461st Flight Test Squadron
326:445th Flight Test Squadron
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2403:Officer Training School
1897:United States Air Force
1537:X-Planes at Edwards AFB
1429:12 October 2012 at the
846:activities at Edwards.
406:412th Maintenance Group
293:412th Operations Group.
180:United States Air Force
106:"Toward the Unexplored"
63:United States Air Force
2446:Awards and decorations
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2072:Direct Reporting Units
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544:In the fall of 1944,
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172:Air Force Test Center
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1959:Three-star generals
948:, 1 Jul 1992–Present
657:Wright-Patterson AFB
477:Lockheed Martin X-56
465:Palmdale, California
211:Eglin Air Force Base
2157:Numbered Air Forces
1938:Vice Chief of Staff
1710:66th Air Base Group
1528:Gelzer, Christian.
1064:Arnold W. Bunch Jr.
740:Air Defense Command
697:North American X-15
671:" of aircraft, the
538:412th Fighter Group
409:412th Medical Group
322:: (B-52H, B-1, B-2)
213:, Florida, and the
207:Air Armament Center
2515:The U.S. Air Force
2428:Fitness Assessment
2385:Chief of Chaplains
2304:Civilian auxiliary
2053:Air National Guard
1955:Four-star generals
1774:78th Air Base Wing
1769:75th Air Base Wing
1764:72nd Air Base Wing
1715:88th Air Base Wing
1246:"AFFTC Fact Sheet"
1132:Christopher Azzano
859:, 17 February 1942
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1867:
1866:
1844:
1843:
1675:
1674:
1665:
1652:Wright-Patterson
1601:
1591:
1584:
1577:
1568:
1567:
1542:Young, James A.
1516:
1515:
1513:
1511:
1501:
1495:
1494:
1487:
1481:
1480:
1473:
1467:
1466:
1459:
1453:
1450:
1433:
1421:
1410:
1405:
1380:
1375:
1369:
1368:
1366:
1364:
1349:
1343:
1342:
1340:
1338:
1324:
1318:
1306:
1295:
1294:
1292:
1290:
1271:
1262:
1261:
1259:
1257:
1248:. Archived from
1242:
1191:
1157:
1123:
1089:
1055:
1018:
1013:
1012:
953:Major Components
889:, 29 August 1948
882:, 1 October 1946
796:F-117A Nighthawk
778:. The Rockwell
738:interceptor for
689:F-106 Delta Dart
546:Eighth Air Force
535:Fourth Air Force
161:
124:
121:
119:
117:
33:
21:
20:
2646:
2645:
2641:
2640:
2639:
2637:
2636:
2635:
2616:
2615:
2614:
2609:
2589:
2580:Service numbers
2551:National Museum
2509:Army Air Forces
2476:
2470:
2438:
2432:
2390:Chief Scientist
2380:Medical Service
2375:Security Forces
2322:
2312:
2297:Security Forces
2254:
2151:
2093:
2067:
2027:
2023:
2018:
1899:
1894:
1864:
1855:
1831:
1822:412th Test Wing
1803:
1752:
1734:
1719:
1696:
1666:
1657:
1605:
1595:
1553:
1525:
1520:
1519:
1509:
1507:
1503:
1502:
1498:
1489:
1488:
1484:
1475:
1474:
1470:
1461:
1460:
1456:
1451:
1436:
1431:Wayback Machine
1422:
1413:
1406:
1383:
1376:
1372:
1362:
1360:
1351:
1350:
1346:
1336:
1334:
1326:
1325:
1321:
1316:Wayback Machine
1307:
1298:
1288:
1286:
1285:on 11 July 2012
1273:
1272:
1265:
1255:
1253:
1244:
1243:
1239:
1234:
1222:
1197:
1193:
1192:
1163:
1159:
1158:
1129:
1125:
1124:
1098:David A. Harris
1095:
1091:
1090:
1061:
1057:
1056:
1011:
1002:412th Test Wing
955:
924:
913:Re-designated:
904:Established as
892:Re-designated:
885:Re-designated:
878:Re-designated:
873:, 11 March 1944
869:Established as
855:Established as
852:
744:SR-71 Blackbird
644:
603:F-84 Thunderjet
571:
491:
486:
473:
453:
282:(Tail Code: ED)
280:412th Test Wing
260:
227:
205:and the former
195:412th Test Wing
168:
135:
114:
105:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2644:
2634:
2633:
2628:
2611:
2610:
2608:
2607:
2594:
2591:
2590:
2588:
2587:
2582:
2577:
2572:
2567:
2558:
2553:
2548:
2543:
2538:
2533:
2528:
2526:Airman's Creed
2523:
2521:Air Force Band
2518:
2511:
2505:Army Air Corps
2486:
2480:
2478:
2472:
2471:
2469:
2468:
2463:
2458:
2453:
2448:
2442:
2440:
2434:
2433:
2431:
2430:
2425:
2420:
2415:
2413:Basic Training
2410:
2405:
2400:
2393:
2392:
2387:
2382:
2377:
2372:
2367:
2362:
2357:
2355:Specialty Code
2352:
2351:
2350:
2345:
2340:
2332:
2326:
2324:
2318:
2317:
2314:
2313:
2311:
2310:
2301:
2300:
2299:
2294:
2284:
2283:
2282:
2272:
2271:
2270:
2259:
2256:
2255:
2253:
2252:
2247:
2242:
2237:
2232:
2227:
2222:
2217:
2212:
2207:
2202:
2197:
2192:
2187:
2182:
2177:
2172:
2167:
2161:
2159:
2153:
2152:
2150:
2149:
2147:USAFE–AFAFRICA
2144:
2139:
2134:
2129:
2124:
2119:
2114:
2109:
2103:
2101:
2099:Major commands
2095:
2094:
2092:
2091:
2086:
2081:
2075:
2073:
2069:
2068:
2066:
2065:
2060:
2055:
2050:
2044:
2042:
2035:
2029:
2028:
2021:
2019:
2017:
2016:
2015:
2014:
2009:
1999:
1998:
1997:
1992:
1982:
1981:
1980:
1975:
1970:
1965:
1957:
1952:
1951:
1950:
1945:
1940:
1935:
1933:Chief of Staff
1925:
1924:
1923:
1918:
1907:
1905:
1901:
1900:
1893:
1892:
1885:
1878:
1870:
1861:
1860:
1857:
1856:
1854:
1853:
1847:
1841:
1837:
1836:
1833:
1832:
1830:
1829:
1824:
1819:
1817:96th Test Wing
1813:
1811:
1805:
1804:
1802:
1801:
1796:
1791:
1786:
1781:
1776:
1771:
1766:
1760:
1758:
1754:
1753:
1751:
1750:
1744:
1742:
1736:
1735:
1733:
1732:
1729:
1727:
1721:
1720:
1718:
1717:
1712:
1706:
1704:
1698:
1697:
1695:
1694:
1689:
1683:
1681:
1672:
1668:
1667:
1660:
1658:
1656:
1655:
1654:(Headquarters)
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1613:
1611:
1607:
1606:
1594:
1593:
1586:
1579:
1571:
1565:
1564:
1559:
1552:
1551:External links
1549:
1548:
1547:
1540:
1533:
1524:
1521:
1518:
1517:
1496:
1482:
1468:
1454:
1434:
1411:
1381:
1370:
1344:
1319:
1296:
1279:U.S. Air Force
1263:
1252:on 2 June 2008
1236:
1235:
1233:
1230:
1229:
1228:
1221:
1218:
1215:
1214:
1211:
1206:
1203:
1194:
1186:
1185:
1183:
1179:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1169:
1160:
1152:
1151:
1149:
1145:
1144:
1141:
1138:
1137:August 3, 2018
1135:
1126:
1118:
1117:
1115:
1111:
1110:
1107:
1106:August 3, 2018
1104:
1101:
1092:
1084:
1083:
1081:
1077:
1076:
1073:
1070:
1067:
1058:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1043:
1042:
1039:
1036:
1033:
1030:
1026:
1025:
1022:
1019:
1010:
1007:
1006:
1005:
1000:Re-designated
997:
996:
993:
990:
987:
983:
982:
978:
977:
974:
971:
968:
965:
962:
959:
954:
951:
950:
949:
943:
942:, 25 June 1951
937:
934:
931:
928:
923:
920:
919:
918:
917:on 6 July 2012
910:
909:
901:
900:
897:
890:
883:
875:
874:
866:
865:
861:
860:
851:
848:
838:maintains its
772:Northrop YF-17
732:XB-70 Valkyrie
669:Century Series
643:
640:
638:in his honor.
631:Northrop Field
622:Northrop XB-35
596:, piloted the
587:Republic XP-84
570:
567:
563:Lockheed XP-80
554:P-51D Mustangs
490:
487:
485:
482:
481:
480:
472:
469:
452:
449:
448:
447:
440:
432:
431:
430:
429:
422:
421:
414:
413:
410:
407:
404:
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387:
384:
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379:
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377:
376:
375:
363:
362:
361:
360:
359:
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352:
340:
339:
338:
337:
336:
335:
329:
323:
317:
311:
299:
298:
294:
290:
289:
284:
283:
259:
256:
226:
223:
203:46th Test Wing
199:96th Test Wing
166:
163:
162:
155:
151:
150:
146:
145:
137:
131:
130:
126:
125:
112:
108:
107:
103:Ad Inexplorata
100:
96:
95:
90:
86:
85:
80:
76:
75:
70:
66:
65:
60:
56:
55:
50:
46:
45:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2643:
2632:
2629:
2627:
2624:
2623:
2621:
2606:
2605:
2596:
2595:
2592:
2586:
2583:
2581:
2578:
2576:
2573:
2571:
2568:
2566:
2565:Air Force Two
2562:
2561:Air Force One
2559:
2557:
2554:
2552:
2549:
2547:
2544:
2542:
2539:
2537:
2534:
2532:
2529:
2527:
2524:
2522:
2519:
2516:
2512:
2510:
2506:
2502:
2498:
2494:
2490:
2487:
2485:
2482:
2481:
2479:
2473:
2467:
2464:
2462:
2459:
2457:
2454:
2452:
2449:
2447:
2444:
2443:
2441:
2435:
2429:
2426:
2424:
2421:
2419:
2416:
2414:
2411:
2409:
2406:
2404:
2401:
2399:
2395:
2394:
2391:
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2383:
2381:
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2373:
2371:
2368:
2366:
2363:
2361:
2358:
2356:
2353:
2349:
2346:
2344:
2341:
2339:
2336:
2335:
2333:
2331:
2328:
2327:
2325:
2321:Personnel and
2319:
2309:
2305:
2302:
2298:
2295:
2293:
2290:
2289:
2288:
2285:
2281:
2278:
2277:
2276:
2273:
2269:
2266:
2265:
2264:
2261:
2260:
2257:
2251:
2250:Twenty-Second
2248:
2246:
2243:
2241:
2238:
2236:
2233:
2231:
2228:
2226:
2223:
2221:
2218:
2216:
2213:
2211:
2208:
2206:
2203:
2201:
2198:
2196:
2193:
2191:
2188:
2186:
2183:
2181:
2178:
2176:
2173:
2171:
2168:
2166:
2163:
2162:
2160:
2158:
2154:
2148:
2145:
2143:
2140:
2138:
2135:
2133:
2130:
2128:
2125:
2123:
2120:
2118:
2115:
2113:
2110:
2108:
2105:
2104:
2102:
2100:
2096:
2090:
2087:
2085:
2082:
2080:
2077:
2076:
2074:
2070:
2064:
2063:Installations
2061:
2059:
2056:
2054:
2051:
2049:
2046:
2045:
2043:
2039:
2036:
2034:
2030:
2013:
2010:
2008:
2005:
2004:
2003:
2000:
1996:
1993:
1991:
1988:
1987:
1986:
1983:
1979:
1976:
1974:
1971:
1969:
1966:
1964:
1961:
1960:
1958:
1956:
1953:
1949:
1946:
1944:
1941:
1939:
1936:
1934:
1931:
1930:
1929:
1926:
1922:
1919:
1917:
1914:
1913:
1912:
1909:
1908:
1906:
1902:
1898:
1891:
1886:
1884:
1879:
1877:
1872:
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1852:
1849:
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1842:
1838:
1828:
1825:
1823:
1820:
1818:
1815:
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1800:
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1608:
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1592:
1587:
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1578:
1573:
1572:
1569:
1563:
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1555:
1554:
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1534:
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1527:
1526:
1506:
1500:
1492:
1486:
1478:
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1409:
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1400:
1398:
1396:
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1390:
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1386:
1379:
1374:
1358:
1354:
1348:
1333:
1329:
1323:
1317:
1313:
1310:
1305:
1303:
1301:
1284:
1280:
1276:
1270:
1268:
1251:
1247:
1241:
1237:
1227:
1224:
1223:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:July 30, 2024
1204:
1202:
1201:
1200:Scott A. Cain
1196:Major General
1195:
1190:
1184:
1181:
1180:
1176:
1174:July 30, 2024
1173:
1171:July 15, 2021
1170:
1168:
1167:
1162:Major General
1161:
1156:
1150:
1147:
1146:
1142:
1140:July 15, 2021
1139:
1136:
1134:
1133:
1128:Major General
1127:
1122:
1116:
1113:
1112:
1108:
1105:
1103:June 18, 2015
1102:
1100:
1099:
1094:Major General
1093:
1088:
1082:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1072:June 18, 2015
1071:
1069:June 19, 2012
1068:
1066:
1065:
1060:Major General
1059:
1054:
1048:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1037:
1034:
1031:
1028:
1027:
1014:
1003:
999:
998:
994:
991:
988:
985:
984:
980:
979:
975:
972:
969:
966:
963:
960:
957:
956:
947:
944:
941:
938:
935:
932:
929:
926:
925:
916:
912:
911:
907:
903:
902:
898:
896:, 20 May 1949
895:
891:
888:
884:
881:
877:
876:
872:
868:
867:
863:
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858:
854:
853:
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843:
841:
837:
833:
828:
824:
815:
811:
807:
805:
801:
797:
793:
788:
783:
781:
777:
773:
769:
765:
764:Northrop YA-9
761:
756:
751:
749:
745:
741:
737:
733:
724:
720:
718:
714:
710:
706:
702:
698:
693:
690:
686:
682:
679:, the Mach 2
678:
674:
670:
665:
658:
654:
648:
639:
637:
632:
628:
623:
618:
616:
612:
611:F-94 Starfire
608:
604:
599:
595:
590:
588:
584:
583:Convair XP-81
575:
566:
564:
558:
555:
551:
547:
542:
539:
536:
531:
523:
519:
515:
512:
508:
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495:
478:
475:
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468:
466:
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458:
445:
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438:
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426:
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416:
415:
411:
408:
405:
402:
401:
394:
393:
391:
388:
385:
382:
381:
373:
370:
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333:
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327:
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318:
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309:
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305:
303:
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301:
300:
295:
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286:
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264:
255:
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235:
233:
222:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
188:
183:
181:
177:
173:
167:Military unit
160:
156:
152:
147:
144:
143:Scott A. Cain
141:
138:
132:
127:
123:
113:
109:
104:
101:
97:
94:
91:
87:
84:
81:
77:
74:
71:
67:
64:
61:
57:
54:
53:United States
51:
47:
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
19:
2597:
2575:Thunderbirds
2437:Uniforms and
2089:USAF Academy
1978:2020–present
1808:
1523:Bibliography
1508:. Retrieved
1499:
1485:
1471:
1457:
1373:
1361:. Retrieved
1356:
1347:
1335:. Retrieved
1331:
1322:
1287:. Retrieved
1283:the original
1278:
1254:. Retrieved
1250:the original
1240:
1213:58 days
1208:
1198:
1166:Evan Dertien
1164:
1130:
1096:
1062:
1041:Term length
1038:Left office
1035:Took office
914:
905:
893:
886:
879:
870:
856:
844:
820:
808:
784:
752:
729:
694:
666:
662:
635:
619:
615:B-45 Tornado
594:Chuck Yeager
591:
580:
559:
543:
532:
528:
516:
507:Wright Field
503:World War II
500:
489:World War II
454:
249:
236:
228:
184:
175:
171:
169:
102:
79:Part of
18:
2570:Honor Guard
2531:Core Values
2475:History and
922:Assignments
569:Postwar era
552:along with
548:tested its
89:Garrison/HQ
73:Flight Test
2620:Categories
2477:traditions
2396:Training:
2240:Nineteenth
2235:Eighteenth
1904:Leadership
1363:9 December
1337:9 December
1256:22 January
1232:References
1021:Commander
792:B-2 Spirit
780:B-1 Lancer
760:F-15 Eagle
758:McDonnell
717:astronauts
709:Joe Walker
620:The first
607:F-86 Sabre
444:Groom Lake
193:while the
129:Commanders
2456:Equipment
2439:equipment
2370:RED HORSE
2330:Personnel
2287:Squadrons
2245:Twentieth
2230:Sixteenth
2225:Fifteenth
2033:Structure
1973:2010–2019
1968:2000–2009
1963:1940–1959
1928:Air Staff
1610:Air bases
1209:Incumbent
1029:Portrait
420:(USAFTPS)
136:commander
2604:Category
2546:Memorial
2466:Uniforms
2461:Aircraft
2348:enlisted
2338:officers
2323:training
2210:Eleventh
2041:Commands
1427:Archived
1312:Archived
1289:19 April
1220:See also
766:and the
742:and the
687:and the
598:Bell X-1
374:: (RQ-4)
316:: (F-16)
310:: (F-22)
225:Overview
149:Insignia
99:Motto(s)
2484:History
2215:Twelfth
2190:Seventh
2048:Reserve
1671:Centers
1632:Hanscom
1622:Edwards
850:Lineage
804:LANTIRN
659:, Ohio.
484:History
140:Maj Gen
134:Current
111:Website
49:Country
2541:Symbol
2451:Badges
2343:cadets
2275:Groups
2195:Eighth
2180:Fourth
2170:Second
1647:Tinker
1642:Robins
1617:Arnold
1510:26 May
802:, and
653:NMUSAF
613:, and
59:Branch
41:Active
2334:Rank
2263:Wings
2205:Tenth
2200:Ninth
2185:Fifth
2175:Third
2165:First
2142:PACAF
2132:AFSOC
2117:AFGSC
1840:Other
1627:Eglin
1032:Name
1024:Term
736:YF-12
627:YB-49
511:XP-59
479:(UAV)
258:Units
118:.aftc
2536:Flag
2423:SERE
2127:AFRC
2122:AFMC
2112:AETC
1637:Hill
1512:2021
1365:2016
1339:2016
1291:2022
1258:2009
836:NASA
825:and
774:and
755:NASA
705:X-15
585:and
455:The
244:NASA
176:AFTC
170:The
122:.mil
69:Role
2292:ANG
2280:ANG
2268:ANG
2137:AMC
2107:ACC
1017:No.
655:at
463:in
217:at
209:at
120:.af
116:www
2622::
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2499:/
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2306::
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750:.
683:;
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