(U) Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC)

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U)  The Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) located at Edwards AFB, CA, conducts developmental and follow-on testing and evaluation of manned and unmanned aircraft and related avionics, flight-control, and weapon systems.  AFFTC also operates the USAF Test Pilot School, which trains test pilots, flight-test engineers, and flight-test navigators. 

Description: (U)
(U)  The Air Force Flight Test Center tested all the aircraft in the Air Force inventory, and it is currently testing the B-2, F-22, and C-17.  The center's work force --civilian, military and contractor--work together to flight test and evaluate new aircraft and upgrades to aircraft already in inventory for Air Force units, the Department of Defense, NASA and other government agencies.  Upgrades to be tested here include improvements to radar, weapons-delivery and navigation systems, and a system to give tactical pilots the ability to strike ground targets from low altitudes at night and in adverse weather. 

(U)  The center develops, operates and maintains the Edwards Flight Test Range and Utah Test and Training Range.  It also operates the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.  The Center provides test infrastructure, overhead support for development, and operational test and evaluation support for aerospace research vehicles.  AFFTC resources include the test and evaluation mission simulator, the Benefield Anechoic Chamber, Ridley Mission Control, and the Integration Facility for Avionics Systems Testing. 

User Impact: (U)
(U) To be supplied.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Operational.

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) AF Develop Test Center (AFDTC), Arnold Engineer Dev Cntr (AEDC), Space Test Program

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Test Programs and Facilities

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) GENERAL SUPPORT.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
21 November 1997

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)