Public Affairs, Volume 64, Number 13
March 31, 2017
U.S. air power on full display at 2017 L.A. County Air Show By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter from the 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards was one of several Air Force assets on display at the 2017 L.A. County Air Show March 25-26. Tail number AF-01 was joined at General William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, California, by a C-17 Globemaster III from Travis Air Force Base, California, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, and an Air Force Public Affairs team, which displayed the Air Force’s X-1 Super Car. Edwards also provided its F-22 portable flight simulator for the two-day event. “The L.A. County Air Show was a fantastic opportunity to share with the local community not only the most advanced fighter in history, but more importantly, how this specific community has had such a powerful and lasting impact on the future of warfare,” said Lt. Col. Tucker Hamilton, 461st FLTS director of operations. “Many men and women who live in the Antelope Valley have directly impacted the development of the F-35 and many more have had an indirect impact through their support of the individuals who make up the
Two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs participate in a heritage flight with a P-38J Lightning above the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team at William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, California, March 24. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit)
Edwards community. It was an honor to share the F-35 and it was our hope that attendees would be inspired by the preeminent fighter of the 21st century and take pride in what their community has created.” This year’s show had a heavy focus on STEM -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The highlight of the two-day air show was the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team, which took to the skies both days of the show.
Teamwork hailed for F-22 CTF’s smooth move to new facility
By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
Moving into a new house can be a daunting task, but imagine moving an entire squadron with almost 350 personnel, fighter jets, and maintenance and communications equipment, into a new flightline test facility in one year’s time. The completion of that task and the spirit of teamwork was celebrated March 22 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new home for the 411th Flight Test Squadron and F-22 Combined Test Force. The squadron had overseen the developmental test and evaluation of the F-22 Raptor and its systems for 24 years at its old location on Ramp 11. The construction contractor and base units were able to make the project’s 365-day deadline two weeks ahead of schedule. The effort involved extraordinary teamwork and hard work to ensure F-22 flight test operations were not hindered while still meeting the movement task, leaders said. “From an overall perspective, the F-22 CTF is in the middle of a modernization program for the Raptor weapons and avionics systems, so in the midst of all that, we were also trying to move the CTF,” said Chuck Staley, former deputy director for the F-22 CTF. “I’m trying to keep it from being disruptive. [The F-22 Special Program Office] has a schedule that we’re trying to meet, and we also have a contractor who is trying to meet a schedule, so that was the stressful part of it.” The new 411th FLTS and the F-22 CTF facilities on Ramp 7 used to be home to the 416th Flight Test Squadron, which has since moved operations to Bldg. 1199 on the flightline.
With scissors in hand, Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander (left, and Army Col. Kirk Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District commander, prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon signifying the official opening of the new 411th Flight Test Squadron facility March 22. The squadron is responsible for the developmental testing of the F-22 Raptor and its systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Christian Turner)
The shuffle in squadron locations came from a decision made in December 2015 by base leadership to make way for future test programs coming to Edwards, according to Larry Wolford, 412th Test Wing Strategic Planning program manager. The 412th Test Wing and 412th Civil Engineering Group worked with the Army Corps of Engineers to award a contract
See Raptor, page 3