Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards Air Force Base occupies a large desert terrain in California and hosts multiple runways alongside dedicated facilities for testing military aviation. The installation includes hangars, workshops, and proving grounds designed for flight trials and technical evaluation.

The site began as Muroc Field in 1933, named after a nearby railway station, and conducted early flight testing in the desert environment. In 1950 the installation was renamed after test pilot Glen Edwards, who died in a crash during experimental work.

The installation maintains the Air Force Flight Test Museum, displaying numerous experimental aircraft and documenting the evolution of military aviation technology.

Access to the installation requires advance security clearance and valid identification documents, with visits generally limited to authorized personnel only. The testing grounds themselves are not open for public visits, and movement within the facility is subject to strict regulations.

Rogers Dry Lake on the grounds forms a natural landing surface that has served for decades as an emergency landing site for space shuttles and a testing zone for experimental aircraft. The hard, smooth surface of the dried lakebed remains usable year-round and provides space for high-speed trials.

Location: Kern County

Inception: 1933

Elevation above the sea: 704.4 m

Part of: Air Force Materiel Command

Website: http://edwards.af.mil

GPS coordinates: 34.92389,-117.89126

Latest update: December 12, 2025 19:52