Desert Dispatch from Barstow, California • 22

Thtt Bhr wall consists of mil mod of tut flown at EdwisnisAir Rim Bssd fmm1940 to 1990. Air Force Flight Test Center Museum-showcases the history of aviation at the birthplace of supersonic flight Edwards Air Force Base on MuniocDiy Lake upon snterfng the Air Fort Flight festGenterMusaum at Edwards Ait FOrte Base. STORY BY SUSAN D. LAWSON PHOTOS BY CAITUN M. KELLY WEEKENDER STAFF ho gVt planes.

motfwnhlpi. HFiYOUIGO AM FORGE RIGHT TEST CHOTER Where: Edwards Air Forte Base Hours: 9 unto 5 run. Tuesday through Saturday in time tohowthe area was formed gMingtraity md.the story of early desert homesteaders. Ftom here, viators are offered a glimpseinto the preseat and fhture of flight testing witfi displays ofcriection seats, photographs, noted test pfots and static displays actual -There are more than 60 planes in the museumh extensive collection, with 12 on display at tbe'musenm, from tke first F-16B tothe giant Bn52Dbomber. Moving through the exhibit, another display showcases Capt Glen Edwards, atom the base was renamed forin 1949.

A decorated combat pilot during World War IL Edwards pioneered some of die bases first flights, such as the Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing and the Douglas XB-42 bomber. the UJL Army Air Ftarees' FhjlMviionof vthe Air Materiel Command. in 1944, and ms soon testing experimental aircraft On Dtec. 8, 1945, the "crew set a transcontinental speedrecord in the XB-42 from Long Beach to Washington, D.C. a distance of 290 miles mid an average speed of 432 mph.

-a-. Edwards eventually sacrificed Ms life to aero-nautical science on the YB49 Flying Wing. Thsting thestability and control maneuvers of the experimental aircraft, Edwards and three others were killed in crash north ofthe base on June 5, 1948. A scale model of the YB49 and dozens of others adorn the First Flights wall. Highlighting aircraft from 1940 to 1990; the wall is a popular attraction at the museum.

People realty like the models, said Doug Nelson, museum director. "We have about 80 (models) of the more than 110 first 'flights (at Edwards)." Neartiy, a large mural depicts The Golden Age of Flight Hat" at Edwards. The 10 20 foot painting shorn an in-flight formation of the X-planes, motherships and chase aircraft flown at Edwards from 1947 to 1977. Comminioned by aviation artist Mike Machat, the mural was more than a year in developmeht and took more than 600 hours to finish. With more than 350 individual items on display, Nelson said the museum will continue to add to its collection.

Ooce we'll also bring in rotating displays from the SmffluuiniiHi VUtonpantoa hteorfcridkplay Qfyoureinterested in aviation history, especially that of our neighboring Edwards Air Force Base, pay a visit to its Air Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Museum. The birthplace of supersonic flight, Edwards Air Force Base has been the worlds premier flight testing and flight research center for more than SO years, and the AFFTC Museum showcases that rich aeronautical history. Some of historical display mrlmfre Breaking the aouid barrier: Flying 42,000 feet above the Mojave Deaert on Oct 14 1947, Capt Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in a Bell X4 at a need of 700 mph. In 1953, Yeager set another record, thia time in the X-1A by flying at a speed of 1,650 mph. A full-acale X-l replica hangs from.

the ceiling inside the museum. Socket sled testing: Edwards AFB was the testing site of acceleration and deceleration effects on the human body. Dr. John Stapp, known as the fastest man on earth, underwent a acceleration force-more than 40 times the force of gravity at a speed of 632 1 mgb during teste at Hallman AFB in New Mexico in Space shuttle: The dry lake at Edwards AFB was the perfect landing zone for the shuttles return trips from space. Longtime residents may recall seeing it ride piggy-back on a 747 commensal airliner as it made its way back to NASA's burnt site in Florida.

The shuttle still visits the desert occasionally, landing here when weather Renditions areimfavnnmU nr tt East Coast. The museum was recently relocated to a larger facility on base with a-grand re-opmmyTtenewfecility houses 800 square feet of exhibits, a theater, re- Since 1986, the museumh main function is to collect, interpret; preserve and display history of Edwards, its earlysettlers and USAF flight testing. wSSjJSK1 Dhpiays vwy throughout the to break the sound barriet lailin a exhibit, this one draMes the ambition Yes. Wsftors need to ufi first to pro-Wt appradmate time of arrival and which dasofp-Uoa Once you into at the gate, the driver must pro-vkfc a valid driver's Hcanse.vehide registration and proof of Insurance: Foreign visitors an required to glvs at leist throe weeks notification if pray wwi'to visit the museum and wll be required to provide fuil rum, if LfiSli rfiig uufMua kflUL I on or nrnv ow mo country or nniv pssport orns-Ident alien number end date of vhlt Information: (SSI) 277-00501 VUtttr nqilests can also be e-maled to museumetdwardsjf.mil or maHed to AFFTC Museum, 95 A8WMU, 1100 Kicxheloe, Edwards AFB, CA93524-1S50. Other tours: On Friday Edwards AFB also often bse ffightSne and NASA torn Plan your day right and you can do ak three attractions.

Contact the public affairs office at (661) 277-3510 for more Information. Nothing mon Hun a lawndi and propslte; the Bansan X-25 hangs suspended from thecting. KSIKW fVW dUdig Wv J1 UHI IMJ Edwards AFB was first known as Muroc Air Force Base. The museum looks back and odier Air Force exhibits, he said. we get settled;.