Edwards AFB

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ICAO Code KEDW/EDW
Last Validated 10-2022
City Rosamond, CA
Position 34°54'20"N 117°53'01"W
Runway(s) 04/22, 06/24
Elevation 2302 ft

General

This airbase houses quite a lot of aircraft with almost at least one example of each type, that's used by the USAF (eg. B-1s, B-2, B-52, F-22, F-35s and also still a lot of F-16s) . The flying is mainly done for test purposes by one of the Flight Test Squadrons or by the Test Pilot School, which is also based at Edwards. The NASA-part of Edwards is named "Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center". Due to the fact that Edwards is located on a dry-lake-bed qualifies it perfectly for alternative landing location for the NASA Space Shuttle (15/33 and 18/36). These runways are only used by the air force if there is any kind of emergency. Because the main runways are totally in the middle of the huge complex, it is impossible to spot from outside the base. The northern runway 06/18 is part of Edwards Auxiliary Airbase but is very rarely used. To see something you should take one of the basetours. Alternatively, some old crows can be seen out on the ranges, if you are into wrecks and relics.

Getting There

Edwards AFB is located south of highway 58 (Mojave-Barstow). To get to one of the gates, just follow one of the many signs that are present around the airbase.

Around the Airport

1Air Force tour

Base tours of the air force are still (temporarily) suspended/not resumed due to covid-19 restrictions. They usually visit the Air Force Test Center museum and include a 'windscreen' drive-by of the flightline. Photography during this tour is strictly forbidden (except at the museum). Besides these preserved aircraft, there are also some aircraft preserved around the airfield (at TPS, base ops and NASA). These are visible during the tour as well. The availability / resumption of the tours also depend on the current security level. See the Edwards homepage for more information if and when the resume.

2NASA visitor's centre

Besides the USAF, also NASA used to organise tours. These are discontinued. You can only visit the 'NASA Armstrong visitor's centre' if you are allowd at visitor to Edwards AFB itself.

3Wrecks

In the South and Southeast of the airfield are several wrecks located in the desert. They are reachable by going eastbound just before you arrive at the south gate. The are slightly north of E Avenue B. Take a look with Google Earth to locate these wrecks. Some of the locations are mentioned in the preserved section. The other four can be found west and east of 34°49'6.14"N, 117°50'34.81"W.

This NF-4C (63-7407/ED) is preserved at the on-base Air Force museum in its nice red-white testing c/s. (Niels Hoogenboom)

This testbed F-8A (N810NA) is preserved in the airpark at the NASA-Dryden Visitors Center. (Niels Hoogenboom)

Frequencies

225.400 / 121.800Ground
318.100 / 353.600Tower
120.700Tower
335.600 / 134.050Approach, Radar
269.900ATIS
304.000Command Post
373.150 / 135.825NASA

Based Operators

USAF
18th FLTS, det.1CV-22B
31st TESF-35A
370th FLTS (AFRC)C-12C, KC-135R, F-16C/D
411th FLTSF-22A
416th FLTSF-16 (all variants)
418th FLTSC-12C, C-17A, KC-46A
419th FLTSB-1B, B-2A, B-52H
420th FLTSB-21A (o/o)
452nd FLTSRQ-4A/B (to be wfu)
461st FLTSF-35A, F-35B (RAF)
USAF TPSvarious (but mainly F-16A/B/C/D, F-35A)
NASA
NASA - Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Centervarious

Preserved

Air Force:
Century circle, 7 a/coutside West gate, Rosamond blvd.
NB-52B52-0008 (outside North gate)
AFFTC museum, around 20 a/con base
Various locations, 9 a/con base
NASA-Armstrong:
NASA HQ collection, 8 a/con base
Edwards-ranges:
NB-52E57-0119 (34°49'11"N,117°51'7"W)
RB-52B53-0379 (34°49'7"N,117°51'8"W)
B-58A55-0665 (34°48'57"N,117°51'49"W)
NF-101A53-2422 (34°49'19"N, 117°49'44"W)
X-21A(34°50'13"N, 117°44'35"W)
X-21A(34°49'52"N, 117°46'39"W)
F-100(34°49'55"N, 117°46'4"W)
B-47(34°51'40"N, 117°46'50"W)

Other Airfields

Barstow-Daggett  
Edwards AFB  
El Centro NAF  
Fresno Yosemite Intl
Hemet - Ryan Field  
Imperial Beach NOLF
Lemoore NAS - Reeves Field  
March JARB
Miramar MCAS  
Moffett Federal Airfield
North Island NAS  
Palmdale Regional - Air Force Plant 42
Point Mugu NAS  
Red Beach MCOLF  
Sacramento - Mather
San Francisco - Intl  
Santa Monica - Municipal
Stockton Metropolitan
Travis AFB  
Van Nuys  

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