I was curious as to how many forum members spent time at Edwards, I’m an Air Force Brat, and lived there from 1952 to 1958 (ages 10 to 16) . Attended Desert High. If you lived there post your years-Thanks Bob
1969-1971. Air Force Brat. We arrived there after Dad got back from flying B-57s in Nam. Dad was a bomber test pilot then, and former Flight Test Pilot School graduate. We were there during the flight certification testing of the 747 and C5A, and although my Dad wasn’t on those projects, I have crawled through both of those aircraft, and been places that few will ever go (like the crawlspace inside the vertical stabilizer up to the top of the horizontal stabilizer).
We used to ride bicycles and motorbikes out in the desert and up ‘D Hill’, enjoyed swimming at the base pool, and trips to the Hobby Shop, probably about once a month. I remember visiting the rocket-sled track several times. It was not in use then, but it was cool to imagine it being used, and just how level the rails were. I was in elementary school there. We lived on Doolittle Drive.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
Ditto AF Brat… I was at Edwards from 1959 ( I was born in '59) to about '63 when we went to Spain for a few years… I don’t remember much of anything about Edwards though, just a few “flashes” here & there, I was just too little… Don’t remember all that much about Spain, either… Dad rotated back to CONUS and Bergstrom AFB in '67 and then went to Da Nang for his 1st Vietnam tour while we lived at Bergstrom and Dad retired from the AF there in '72… Dad however, was first assigned at Edwards when it still Muroc Field, around 1947-49 (Yeah, he knew Pancho Barnes)…
I wasn’t at Edwards, but I was at George AFB, 1973-1978. My dad and I often traveled to Edwards to see the shuttle do its approach and landing tests. We also got to see the B-1, F-16, and F-15 during their initial tests. What a terrific time and place to be a kid…
I was stationed there in 1983-1984. Was there when Sally Ride returned from her first shuttle flight. The Movie,The Right Stuff premired at the base theatre. I remember the long drive to civilization(Lancaster). The B-1B test program was starting up.
We went back in the early ‘90’s to see one of the shuttle landings. I took my camera with a 1000mm telescope lens and 2X converter. I got pictures of the shuttle at about 80,000’, or so. got to hear the three sonic booms (that took me back to the days we’d be awakened on Saturday morning with a sonic boom), and watch her come in with all her escorts. Really fun times. We toured the base and drove by our old house.
We were living in Houston at the time. Flew out on Southwest. At the landing, I was set up in the parking lot on a nice summer day in Edwards. I noted that while it seemed hot, it wasn’t too bad. Got in the car to leave, turned on the radio and heard it was 110 deg that day. It’s amazing what the lack of humidity will do for your heat index!
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
I loved living at Edwards, in 1952 the Korean war was still active, and everything was at the Old base, they were starting to construct the new base and runway, used to be able to walk the flightline and see the aircraft. And there was the pool in summer, and plenty of space to roam lived at 5060 Juniper Drive in Area A. The house is no longer there , torn. down for new dependent cluster housing. Never got to go back to see the place. Remember seeing all those fine men in Blue with their many colored ribbons on their chest and never realized until I was older that I had walked among the many quiet heroes from WWII and Korea. I wish I could have thanked each and everyone of them for their sacrafice and service. and thanks for the memories–Regards Bob
Hi, I didn’t reside at eddies but I was born and raised in Lancaster. Growing up I loved airplanes and when I got into High school I hung around with others who shared that and we would go out to the base every chance we got and would get run off by the SP’s! My house was less then a mile from Plant 42 in Palmdale and got to see the first flight of the B-70. When I got out of the Army in '81 I went to work at eddies and worked many of the CTFs including A-10 N/AW, F-16 and the beginning of the B-1B.
I was working there when the Rightstuff was filmed, and when Pres Reagan came to see the shuttle land and another takeoff on the 747. I really miss those days but life goes on and they say you can’t go home!
Good Hunting, G.W.