Air Force Test Center

The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is a major United States Air Force organization responsible for research, development, test and evaluation of aerospace systems. Headquartered at Edwards Air Force Base in California, it works across the life cycle of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, propulsion and flight systems, avionics, weapons, software, sensors and associated support equipment. Its work ranges from early engineering experiments and prototype flight testing to developmental testing, follow-on evaluation, modeling, simulation and support for systems already entering service. The center grew out of the flight-test activity established at Muroc Army Air Base during the Second World War. Muroc was selected as a secluded Mojave Desert site for testing the Bell XP-59A Airacomet, the first American jet fighter. After the war, the installation became a principal proving ground for new aircraft and experimental vehicles. It supported testing of successive generations of fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, missiles and research vehicles, and it became closely associated with the American X-plane program. The site was renamed Edwards Air Force Base in 1951 in honor of test pilot Captain Glenn Edwards, who died in the crash of a Northrop YB-49 flying wing. The formal Air Force Flight Test Center was established on 25 June 1951. During the following decades, its test organizations evaluated aircraft such as the Century Series fighters, the F-15 Eagle, the B-1 Lancer, the B-2 Spirit, the F-117 Nighthawk, the F-22 Raptor and prototypes for the Joint Strike Fighter program. Edwards also hosted high-profile research involving the Bell X-1, North American X-15, XB-70 Valkyrie, YF-12, SR-71 and Space Shuttle. The facility’s test history includes the first piloted supersonic flight and numerous altitude and speed achievements. AFTC’s role is broader than flight operations at Edwards. It operates or supports major ranges and test infrastructure, including the Edwards Flight Test Range and Utah Test and Training Range, and includes organizations at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee. Its activities cover aircraft and weapons integration, electronic and avionics testing, flight-control evaluation, mission-system assessment and test-support engineering. The center also operates the United States Air Force Test Pilot School, which trains test pilots, flight-test engineers and flight-test navigators in disciplined methods for evaluating new systems. On 6 July 2012, the Air Force Flight Test Center was redesignated the Air Force Test Center. The change reflected an expanded mission and the consolidation of related test organizations, including the former Air Armament Center at Eglin and the Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The center is now part of Air Force Materiel Command’s test and acquisition structure. Its workforce includes military personnel, federal civilians and contractors. AFTC supports the Air Force, other Department of Defense organizations, NASA and allied programs, while retaining Edwards as one of the world’s most important locations for aerospace flight testing.

Flight testing at what is now Edwards Air Force Base began during the Second World War at Muroc Army Air Base. On 17 February 1942, an Army Air Forces headquarters and air-base unit moved from Wright Field to the remote Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range to support secret testing of the Bell XP-59A jet aircraft. The prototype arrived in September 1942, and its first official flight followed on 1 October. Although the Airacomet did not become an effective frontline fighter, the program gave American aircrews and engineers practical experience with jet propulsion and exposed the technical challenges of transitioning from piston-powered aircraft. Muroc’s importance expanded rapidly after the war, when flight testing became its primary mission. The installation evaluated the Lockheed P-80 and a succession of experimental and operational aircraft, including the Convair XP-81, Republic XP-84 Thunderjet, F-84, F-86, F-94, F-100, F-102, F-104, F-105 and F-106. On 14 October 1947, Captain Chuck Yeager flew the Bell X-1 beyond the speed of sound, establishing the base as a central location for experimental flight research. The site also supported flying-wing, bomber, interceptor and propulsion programs. The death of Captain Glenn Edwards in the crash of a Northrop YB-49 on 5 June 1948 led to the renaming of Muroc Air Force Base as Edwards Air Force Base in 1951. On 25 June of that year, the Air Force Flight Test Center was established after the installation moved into the Air Research and Development Command structure. In the 1950s and 1960s, the center supported the Century Series fighters and increasingly ambitious X-plane programs. The North American X-15 explored hypersonic and near-space flight; Major Robert White reached an altitude above 314,000 feet in 1962, Joe Walker exceeded 350,000 feet in 1963, and William Knight achieved the X-15’s celebrated Mach 6.72 speed record in 1967. The center’s activities expanded into aerospace and space-related testing. The Aerospace Research Pilot School trained military test pilots for the space program before later returning to its Test Pilot School designation. Edwards supported evaluation of the XB-70, YF-12, SR-71, B-1 and a range of rocket, re-entry and research systems. In April 1981, Space Shuttle Columbia completed its first landing at Edwards after returning from orbit. During the same broad period, the center tested stealth and precision-strike systems, including the B-2, F-117, air-launched cruise missile and LANTIRN-related technologies. The 1990s brought evaluation of the YF-22 and YF-23 prototypes and testing of unmanned systems such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk. Edwards and associated Air Force test organizations also contributed to the Joint Strike Fighter competition, including flight testing of the X-32 and X-35 prototypes. The resulting F-35 Lightning II became a multinational, tri-service aircraft program. Other unmanned aircraft, including the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, were tested at Edwards before entering extensive operational use. On 6 July 2012, the Air Force Flight Test Center was redesignated the Air Force Test Center. The new structure brought together broader test responsibilities associated with Edwards, Eglin and Arnold, including aircraft, weapons, armament, propulsion and engineering evaluation. AFTC now provides developmental and follow-on test and evaluation for manned and unmanned aircraft, avionics, weapons and software. It also operates important range, laboratory, mission-control and simulation assets and administers the Air Force Test Pilot School. Its historical role and continuing mission make it a central U.S. institution for converting aerospace research and prototypes into deployable military capabilities.

• 2012

  Center receives its current designation

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Air Force Flight Test Center became the Air Force Test Center, reflecting an expanded multi-installation mission.

• 2000

  Joint Strike Fighter prototypes fly

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The X-32 and X-35 prototypes made their first flights in the Joint Strike Fighter competition.

• 1998

  Global Hawk testing begins

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Testing of the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft began at Edwards, supporting development of a major high-altitude reconnaissance platform.

• 1981

  First Space Shuttle landing at Edwards

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Space Shuttle Columbia landed at Edwards after its first orbital mission.

• 1967

  X-15 sets aircraft speed record

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  William J. Knight reached approximately Mach 6.72 in an X-15, a record cited in the center’s historical record.

• 1962

  X-15 reaches the edge of space

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Major Robert White flew an X-15 to more than 314,000 feet, demonstrating the center’s role in aerospace research.

• 1951

  Air Force Flight Test Center established

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The formal center was established on 25 June, and Muroc Air Force Base was renamed Edwards Air Force Base in honor of Captain Glenn Edwards.

• 1947

  Bell X-1 breaks the sound barrier

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Captain Chuck Yeager piloted the Bell X-1 beyond the speed of sound at the Mojave test site.

• 1942

  Muroc flight-test activity established

  [1]Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A unit moved to Muroc to support secret testing of the Bell XP-59A, beginning the installation’s modern flight-test lineage.

A national-level U.S. military test and evaluation organization that provides independent engineering, range, flight-test and training capabilities for advanced aerospace and weapons systems.

• Aerospace test service

  Developmental flight testing

  AFTC plans, conducts, analyzes and reports flight tests for new and modified aircraft, including fighters, bombers, transports, research vehicles and unmanned aircraft. Testing can cover handling qualities, performance, propulsion, flight controls, mission systems and operational suitability.

• Defense test service

  Weapons and avionics evaluation

  The center evaluates aircraft weapons, radar, navigation, electronic systems, software and targeting equipment. Its infrastructure supports integration testing and assessment of upgrades intended to improve mission effectiveness under realistic flight and electromagnetic conditions.

• Professional training

  U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School

  The school trains test pilots, flight-test engineers and flight-test navigators in engineering-based methods for planning and executing aircraft and systems evaluations.

• Testing infrastructure

  Test ranges and infrastructure

  AFTC operates and supports ranges, laboratories, simulators, mission-control facilities and specialized environments such as the Benefield Anechoic Chamber. These assets allow aerospace systems to be evaluated across flight, ground, electromagnetic and simulated mission conditions.

• 2012

  Broaden the flight-test center into a multi-installation test organizationStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force reorganized its test structure to bring related flight-test, armament and aerospace engineering responsibilities under a broader center construct.

  Action taken

  On 6 July 2012, the Air Force Flight Test Center was redesignated the Air Force Test Center, with responsibilities extending across Edwards, Eglin and Arnold-related organizations.

  Aftermath

  AFTC became a larger Air Force Materiel Command test organization covering aircraft, weapons, propulsion and associated aerospace systems.

  Source

1. 1Air Force Test Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Air Force Test Center official websiteaftc.af.mil