[EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE / FLIGHT TEST CENTER 1950-1980s]

Year Published: 1950s1960s1970s1980s

Creator: United States Air Force

Sound: silent

Description: This silent film (which almost certainly once had a soundtrack) shows USAF military history spanning three decades of U.S. Air Force air power, training, weaponry and x-plane aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base; based near Lancaster, California. Edwards was constructed in the 1930s as Muroc Field. Following the close of WW2, it was renamed after Capt. Glen Edwards. Edwards is the home of the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Test Pilot School and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. It is responsible for much of the USAF’s research and developmental programs for flight as well as testing and development of aerospace systems from concept to combat. The finale of the film captures a historic moment in the Space Shuttle program as the Reagans, and test pilots Henry Hartsfield and Ken Mattingly met up after the STS-4 flight in the summer of 1982. Pilots conduct spins and rolls, technicians perform tests on crafts and evaluations on protective gear and systems. It shows what the USAF was up to after WWII and into the Cold War. Military action was concentrated on producing weapons to combat Soviet might. The Valkyrie was a prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed deep penetration super sonic strategic bomber. North American designed it in the 1950’s; it’s first flight would be 1964 and it was retired by 1969. The XB-70 was to replace the B-52 Stratofortress and B-58 Hustler. It’s high speeds made it difficult to capture on radar screens making it a viable competitor against Soviet inceptor or fighter aircraft. ICBM’s were introduced in the late 1950’s rendering crewed nuclear bombers obsolete. The B-70 program was canceled in 1961. It includes images of the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar manufactured by Avro Canada for a special secret US Military project. 00:00 The film opens with the Air Force Test Center seal (:12), aerial shots pass over the base (:28), base apartments (:44) and the Edwards AFB historical marker (:49). The YB-49 (:56), the lunar landing research vehicle (1:00), the Ryan X-13A-RY (1:08) and YB-35 follow (1:12). The Avrocar (1:14), B-50 Superfortress (1:20) and the Bell X-2 zip into view (1:28). The Douglas X-3 stiletto (1:38), the X-15 (1:59), X-24B (2:13), the P-39 Airacobra (2:26), Thunderjet XP-84 (2:34), F-106 Delta Dart (2:49), F-104 (2:50) follow. A Lockheed U-2 (3:21), Boeing B-47A (3:25), B-58 Hustler (3:30), C-141 (3:34), Boeing 747 (3:54), experimental LVT XC-142 (4:05), Ryan XV-5 Vertifan (4:13), Northrop YA-9 (4:21) and Boeing YC-14 (4:29) follow. A section shows malfunctions; the XB -70 Valkyrie (5:01), the F-104 (5:13), Lockheed C-5 Galaxy (5:49) and F-4 Phantom II (6:11) malfunction. The parachute pops for an emergency ejection (6:31). The F-16 survives a rocky take off (7:05). Close shots watch a vintage IBM computer display screen at the test flight center (8:15). Ground support maintains radio communication with a pilot (9:02). The F-16 (9:58) refuels in flight (10:13). McDonnell F-14 (11:38), General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark (12:28) and B-58 Hustler follow. The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 (13:37) gets refueled (13:41). A-10 Thunderbolt (13:57) spins and rolls (14:44). The FX-16 (17:01) gets refueled (17:07). Rounds are loaded into the F-14 (20:33). An Oshkosh P-4 drives from the hangar (20:54). The exterior of the Flight Test Center follows (21:10). Instructors provide lesson with parachutes (22:13). Ground support tighten straps on a pilot’s suit (22:25). Teachers deliver lecture at the Test Pilot School (23:14). The KC-135 tanker aircraft (23:29), Grumman C-1 Trader (23:36) and F-106 follow (23:44). Historic shots capture the Reagans meeting with Henry Hartsfield and Ken Mattingly in 1982. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (27:49), F-15 (28:33) and patch from the Air Force Test Center (28:47) close the film.

Complete Record: This silent film (which almost certainly once had a soundtrack) shows USAF military history spanning three decades of U.S. Air Force air power, training, weaponry and x-plane aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base; based near Lancaster, California. Edwards was constructed in the 1930s as Muroc Field. Following the close of WW2, it was renamed after Capt. Glen Edwards. Edwards is the home of the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Test Pilot School and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. It is responsible for much of the USAF’s research and developmental programs for flight as well as testing and development of aerospace systems from concept to combat. The finale of the film captures a historic moment in the Space Shuttle program as the Reagans, and test pilots Henry Hartsfield and Ken Mattingly met up after the STS-4 flight in the summer of 1982. Pilots conduct spins and rolls, technicians perform tests on crafts and evaluations on protective gear and systems. It shows what the USAF was up to after WWII and into the Cold War. Military action was concentrated on producing weapons to combat Soviet might. The Valkyrie was a prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed deep penetration super sonic strategic bomber. North American designed it in the 1950’s; it’s first flight would be 1964 and it was retired by 1969. The XB-70 was to replace the B-52 Stratofortress and B-58 Hustler. It’s high speeds made it difficult to capture on radar screens making it a viable competitor against Soviet inceptor or fighter aircraft. ICBM’s were introduced in the late 1950’s rendering crewed nuclear bombers obsolete. The B-70 program was canceled in 1961. It includes images of the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar manufactured by Avro Canada for a special secret US Military project. 00:00 The film opens with the Air Force Test Center seal (:12), aerial shots pass over the base (:28), base apartments (:44) and the Edwards AFB historical marker (:49). The YB-49 (:56), the lunar landing research vehicle (1:00), the Ryan X-13A-RY (1:08) and YB-35 follow (1:12). The Avrocar (1:14), B-50 Superfortress (1:20) and the Bell X-2 zip into view (1:28). The Douglas X-3 stiletto (1:38), the X-15 (1:59), X-24B (2:13), the P-39 Airacobra (2:26), Thunderjet XP-84 (2:34), F-106 Delta Dart (2:49), F-104 (2:50) follow. A Lockheed U-2 (3:21), Boeing B-47A (3:25), B-58 Hustler (3:30), C-141 (3:34), Boeing 747 (3:54), experimental LVT XC-142 (4:05), Ryan XV-5 Vertifan (4:13), Northrop YA-9 (4:21) and Boeing YC-14 (4:29) follow. A section shows malfunctions; the XB -70 Valkyrie (5:01), the F-104 (5:13), Lockheed C-5 Galaxy (5:49) and F-4 Phantom II (6:11) malfunction. The parachute pops for an emergency ejection (6:31). The F-16 survives a rocky take off (7:05). Close shots watch a vintage IBM computer display screen at the test flight center (8:15). Ground support maintains radio communication with a pilot (9:02). The F-16 (9:58) refuels in flight (10:13). McDonnell F-14 (11:38), General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark (12:28) and B-58 Hustler follow. The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 (13:37) gets refueled (13:41). A-10 Thunderbolt (13:57) spins and rolls (14:44). The FX-16 (17:01) gets refueled (17:07). Rounds are loaded into the F-14 (20:33). An Oshkosh P-4 drives from the hangar (20:54). The exterior of the Flight Test Center follows (21:10). Instructors provide lesson with parachutes (22:13). Ground support tighten straps on a pilot’s suit (22:25). Teachers deliver lecture at the Test Pilot School (23:14). The KC-135 tanker aircraft (23:29), Grumman C-1 Trader (23:36) and F-106 follow (23:44). Historic shots capture the Reagans meeting with Henry Hartsfield and Ken Mattingly in 1982. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (27:49), F-15 (28:33) and patch from the Air Force Test Center (28:47) close the film.