Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Naval air research station in Lexington Park, United States.
Naval Air Station Patuxent River is a United States Navy research and testing facility at the meeting point of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The sprawling grounds host runways, laboratories, hangars, and technical buildings used for testing new aircraft and onboard systems.
The Navy opened the station in April 1943 to bring together different testing programs during World War II. Since then, the facility has continued to grow and serves as a key location for military aviation testing.
The name comes from Algonquin and refers to the river where the facility sits, while the station is now known mainly for technical development projects. Outside the restricted grounds, visitors can view aviation research exhibits at the public museum and learn about the daily life of the teams working here.
Entry to the grounds is limited to authorized personnel, and visitors must present security clearance along with valid identification in advance. The public museum is open for tours on selected days and also requires prior registration at the gate.
The grounds house the Naval Test Pilot School, where pilots from many countries train in intensive courses for flight testing and research missions. Graduates of these programs often go on to work on developing new aviation technologies in different nations.
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