Author
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Topic: Visiting Edwards AFB and Dryden Research Center
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Beau08 Member Posts: 159 From: Peoria, AZ United States Registered: Aug 2011
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posted 06-07-2012 08:59 AM
I will passing right by Dryden Flight Research Center/Edwards Air Force Base on Highway 58 in a couple of weeks and wondered if there is anything worth seeing? I know there is a gift shop so I assume people must visit for some reason, but it is hard to extract much info from the website. |
Chariot412 Member Posts: 156 From: Lockport, NY, 14094 Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 06-07-2012 09:13 AM
Spent a week there flying with the Air Force a number of years ago. Was lucky enough to get an F-15 flight of two, with my buddy opposing. Not sure about the tourist opportunities, but some very cool history to bask in. While I was there, I found what's left of Pancho's and did some exploring. You might want to see the Test Pilot School, watch the latest aircraft run through their paces, and check out the shuttle landing runway. Please let us know what you find out. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-07-2012 01:58 PM
According to NASA's Dryden website: Due to budgetary constraints, Individual and group tours of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center have been discontinued effective Dec. 16, 2011. |
OV-105 Member Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 06-07-2012 06:56 PM
The base is not open to the public. If you get off on some of the overpasses on 58 by North Edwards you can see where Dryden is and the shuttle Mate-Demate Device is, I don't think they have taken it down yet. If you go into Palmdale (South 14 to 10th St. west then left on Rancho Vista Blvd. [Ave. P]) there is Blackbird Air Park with an SR-71, A-12 and F-117 plus a lot of others on display. From there you can see NASA 911, the second Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is parked near there. |
Jay Chladek Member Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 06-07-2012 11:11 PM
There are one or two times a year when the base is open (not sure if it is part of their annual open house/airshow though). I recall recently reading about one guy here who was doing a driving trip across the country to coincide with an open house at Edwards to get on base. So it is still possible to get on there. There is a museum on site. As I recall though, there isn't much space stuff. The majority of what is there is related to aircraft testing (including the prototype F-16B). |
OV-105 Member Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 06-08-2012 10:51 PM
The Air Force still offers public tours of EAFB. |