On This Day in Test History

Jan. 24, 2021
January 24, 1972: Remotely Piloted Vehicle Sets Altitude Record

The Ling-Temco-Vought Compass Dwell XQM-93A remotely piloted vehicle reached an altitude of 52,000 feet during the course of an unmanned flight over 21 hours. This was an unofficial world record for unmanned endurance aircraft. The Compass Dwell program terminated shortly afterward, but not before
Jan. 23, 2021
January 23, 1968: Flight Test Center Examines Soviet MiG-21

The Air Force Flight Test Center joined a Department of Defense team led by the Foreign Technology Division (AFSC) to carry out a clandestine examination of a Soviet-built MiG-21F-13 Fishbed E fighter. The three-month effort confirmed existing threat data and evaluated the effectiveness of U.S.
Jan. 22, 2021
January 22, 1987: Human Powered Aircraft Sets New Record for Closed-Course Distance

Glenn Tremmel established a new record for closed-course distance by pedaling the Michelob Light Eagle a distance of 37.2 miles in two hours and 13 minutes. The human-powered aircraft was a project by students and faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.The Aeronautics and Astronautics
Jan. 21, 2021
January 21, 1944: Women's Army Corps Arrives for Duty

The commander of the Muroc Women's Army Corps (WAC) unit, Provisional Detachment “W,” arrived for duty. First Lieutenant Jane I. Musser, a research bacteriologist and chemist in civilian life, was the first female service member to be assigned to the installation. Eight enlisted WACs arrived for
Jan. 20, 2021
January 20, 1959: 6510th Air Base Group Takes Control of Edwards Air Force Base

Brigadier General Marcus F. Cooper relinquished his dual function as Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, and Commander, Edwards AFB. General Cooper retained command of the Flight Test Center, but command of the base itself passed to itself to the Commander of the 6510th Air Base Group. Col
Jan. 19, 2021
January 19, 2007: F-16 Crashes Near Fresno California

The 95th Mission Support Group dispatched a response team to Owens Valley, following the crash of a California National Guard F-16 on the R-2508 airspace complex near Bishop. The 144th Fighter Wing Viper crashed during a training sortie. The pilot was uninjured A California Air National Guard F-16
Jan. 18, 2021
January 18, 1968: Air Force Flight Test Center Aids Local Airport

An Air Force Flight Test Center UH-1F Iroquois helicopter picked up a 500 pound airport beacon warning light at the Kern County Airport and placed it atop a 50 foot tower overlooking Lake Isabella. The Kern County Parks Division sought the Center’s help after commercial firms proved unable to
Jan. 17, 2021
January 17, 2001: Edwards AFB Faced Involuntary Diversions of Gas and Electric Power

During rolling blackouts across California and soaring energy prices, the 95th Civil Engineering Squadron reported that Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) had notified them that Edwards, being a “non-core” customer, with the exception of base housing, which counted as a “core” customer, could be facing
Jan. 16, 2021
January 16, 2015: F-35 Arrived at Edwards For Operational Test and Evaluation With the Joint Operational Test Team

Two F-35s from the Royal Netherlands Air Force landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, following a five-hour flight from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The aircraft from the 323rd Squadron arrived for an operational test and evaluation phase with the Joint Operational Test Team (JOTT)
Jan. 15, 2021
January 15, 1943: First Flight of the XP-54 Flown by Vultee Aircraft Corporation

The first flight of the XP-54 took place flown by Vultee Aircraft Corporation test pilot Frank Davis. Informally nicknamed the Swoose Goose, the aircraft was the second of three pusher fighter aircraft designs to come out of the Army Air Corps’ Circular Proposal R‑40C for a highly advanced fighter

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