HISTORY OF EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE "REACH BEYOND THE HORIZON" X-PLANES MUROC 63354
Reach Beyond the Horizon: A History of Edwards Air Force Base is a short 1970s film that provides an overview of the aviation and aerospace achievements of the base. The film takes viewers on a tour of the base beginning with its foundation in the 1930s up through its ongoing programs in the 1970s. The film opens with a shot of California’s Antelope Valley, where tumbleweeds are blown along the desert floor. The desert scene is superimposed with images of jets and rockets taking off. The film shows the first building in the valley, the Muroc train station (01:00), and other black-and-white photos of the small community that predated the base. In 1934, planes of Army Air Corps fly to Muroc Lake-the initial name of Edwards AFB-and practice bombing raids (01:20). This is followed by footage of flying planes, including a shot of planes flying next to rocky mountain side (02:09) and planes fighting during WWII. The film shows viewers photos of some of the first service men and women at Muroc Lake (02:28). A photograph shows a B-29 crew and plane. A Bell XP-59A Airacomet is wheeled out of a hanger and takes off (03:12); it is the first U.S. jet aircraft. The film then shows viewers photographs or footage of a number of planes (05:00): the North American B-45 Tornado, the B-46 and B-47 Stratojet; the XF-85 Parasite Fighter, and the F-86 Sabre. Captain Chuck Yeager flies the Bell X-1 (05:43), attempting to hit supersonic flight. Various prototypes of planes are shown (06:30), including footage of an XF-85 being damaged during a test. Footage shows the McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo, Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket, Northrop X-4 Bantam, and the XF-85 Parasite fighter successfully docking. The YB-49 flying wing (07:48). The film continues to showcase more new planes (08:15), including a reconnaissance wing and the pilotless SSM-N-8 Regulus. There are shots of the Air Force Flight Center and trainers. A B-52 Stratofortress prototype flies above Edwards AFB. Footage shows the F-100 Super Sabre (09:47) and the F-101, F-102, F-104, F-105, F-106, F-107, Fairchild C-123 Provider, C-130 Hercules, and C-133 Cargomaster, and KC-135 Stratotanker. Aerial photos show the expansion of Edwards AFB (11:03). At Leuhman Ridge, men test and develop rocket technology. Jet components are tested at a rocket-sled track (12:14); Colonel John Stapp tests the effects of speed and gravity on the human body (13:07). Men prepare a sled mission by preparing rocket bottles and a dummy for testing an ejection system (14:06). A Bell X-2 flies through air (15:05). A North American X-15 is lowered onto runway (15:43). The first class of astronauts graduate from the Test Pilot School’s Aerospace Research Pilot’s Course (16:34). Neil Armstrong works with an X-15 (16:55). Footage shows an X-15 carried by a B-52 being released at 45,000 feet. An F-104 Starfighter with augmented rocket action is used as a trainer for future astronauts. Men experience zero-gravity simulations (18:49) in the Aerospace Research program. The aviation wing of the Army is moved to Edwards AFB, primarily to test helicopters. President Lyndon Johnson visits Edwards AFB (22:06) and reviews the Air Force’s C-141 Starlifter. XB-70 Valkyrie triple-sonic bombers are flight tested at Edwards AFB (22:32). At the base’s Rocket Propulsion Laboratory building at Leuhman Ridge (23:54), rocket propulsion is tested. Vice President Hubert Humphrey visits Edwards AFB (24:59) and tours the Aerospace Research Pilot’s School and NASA Flight Research Center. The Air Force tests the F-111 Aardvark (25:57), and during one test the plane flips over on the runway. A retrieval system using a C-130 is tested (26:32), retrieving a pilot from the ground using a balloon. Footage shows new test planes, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II (28:19), the F5-E Tiger II, and the F-15 Eagle. A 1974 high-speed taxi test of a YF-16 goes array and forces the test pilot to actually take the aircraft on its first flight. More footage shows the Navy’s F-18 Hornet, the Boeing 707 (29:56), the B-1 Lancer bomber, the WC-15 cargo plane prototype, and the Boeing YC-14. A space engine is tested at the Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (31:07). A Lockheed YF-12 flies for research (35:54), testing new computer systems. Tactical drones are tested in flight (36:12) over the lake. An unpiloted drop model is carried by a larger aircraft (36:26); more drop model ships are released in air. The Space Shuttle is towed out on runway (37:10). The film ends with footage inside of the Space Shuttle and a jet landing at Edwards AFB from the perspective of the nose of the aircraft.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com
Пікірлер: 45
I am an Air Force Brat; my Dad was a Lifer; I grew up on flightlines; later I served in Helicopters in Vietnam...I am USAF Silver and Blue!!
@PeriscopeFilm
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks to your family for your service to our great nation God bless you!
@louisedwards6681
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks 😊 , From Louis R Edwards JR
@gerryortiz8324
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your service!
Seeing the Voodoos reminds me so much of my boyhood, watching the Armed Forces Day airshow at Hamilton AFB in the early 1960s. Great video, and it reminds me so much of why I love airplanes to this day.
This Air Force Brat lives at 7607 Langley St. Edwards AFB from early 1967- late 1969. Dad had just separated from the Army when he enlisted in the Air Force was an Aerial Photographer. I was immediately hooked on the planes there. As an 7-9 year old brat I was able to see many fun aircraft as dad was able to take me to flight line many times over. He, being an Aerial Photographer, was able to fly in the back seat of aircraft such as the T-33, T-38, F-4 and F-104. He hated the T-33 because he was with too hot or too cold at the same time. He also hated flying in the F-4s because they were so cramped that he had a hat time handling the cameras. He loved flying in the F-104s. He said they were so comfortable. Very roomy and we're just fun. I remember playing with "pet desert tortoises". Looking for lizards in the desert behind our house. All of our homes had talk brick walls surrounding the yard to keep out any snakes, I guess. All in all, Edwards was a fun base after having lived in New York, any Ft. Hamilton, and in Alaska, at Ft Richardson, of which we were there during the Earthquake in 1964. Long time ago, still with many memories.
Good old Edwards and the NASA Armstrong Test Facility if there is one place where supersonic aircraft earn their keep it is here. X1, X2, X15, Blackbird, F-15, Lifting Bodies, and yes even The Shuttle itself all had their first flights here. This is Edwards where supersonic begins.
My father worked there from 1954 through the early sixties as part of Chance Vought’s flight test crew, when they closed operations at Edward’s. He was on that crew in Grand Prairie, TX, and before that in Stratford, CT. I was in high school in Palmdale when we saw the B52 contrail in the sky when the X-15 fired up. It looked like a finger wrote a white Nike swoosh in the sky that went straight up and disappeared.
A golden era.
This is the greatest film I have seen on your site...Thank you!!!
I was first at Edwards in 1988, doing Archaeology work for a couple of Companies. Worked at the Farm Drop Zone, the South Sled Track and at Kerosene Flats, the town of Muroc. I went back to the Base in 1993 worked on the Precision Impact Range and other AFRL sites. From 1994 to 2012, I worked for the Prime Contracting Firms on the Base and did Archaeology and History Work on all portions on the base, including the Pancho Barnes ranch, Muroc Bombing and Gunnery site that was built in 1933/34. During that time on I ran a number of tours of the first bombing and gunnery site, and I have tried to get it on the National Register of Historic Places, but failing that at least have it designated a Historic Monument. So far no luck. Now that I am 70 and retired, I hope one of the two actions I mentioned will be eventually done.
@PeriscopeFilm
10 ай бұрын
That's fascinating to hear Cole. We toured the Pancho Barnes ranch and the John Paul Stapp sled track years ago ... maybe our paths might have even crossed at the History Office!
@coleparker
10 ай бұрын
@@PeriscopeFilm Could be. I did lead tours of the Pancho Barnes site at various times.
@themagicalworld4430
Ай бұрын
My Dad worked there 1945-1954. Would like to talk to you about your work and is there any published or internet sources? Thanks
@coleparker
Ай бұрын
@@themagicalworld4430 I would be happy to discuss my work with you. As for my reports, unfortunately none were published or provided to the internet as they were done under contract to the Air Force. A lot of the info could be at Public relations office, but I cannot be sure of that.
Great soundtrack, eclectic but great
Awesome video, thanks for sharing, absolutely loved it. So many planes I never knew existed.
More please.😛👍
It's a nit, I admit, but both the SR-71 and YF-12 were derivatives of the A-12. The chine configuration of the YF-12 is very different due to the needs of the radome. Yes, it was a 2 seater whereas the A-12s were primarily single seat (until the M-21 drone launcher) Great video ! Thank you.
4:49 Hortren Brothers found new home
Shame about the sound cutting out.
Originally released in 1977.
i was born in Mojave.my dad and his uncles built a runway at Edwards.Iwas born 7/20/ 1954,7 /20/1969 they landed on the moon.And the rest is history.
Why dose the sound keeps cutting out?
@PeriscopeFilm
5 жыл бұрын
KZread removed certain "copyright" audio (silly, isn't it?)
@louisedwards6681
5 жыл бұрын
@@PeriscopeFilm Gov can F up anything!!!
@cowboybob7093
5 жыл бұрын
You better bet whoever arranged the easy listening rendition of the Beatles' _And I Love Her_ at 28:30 paid royalties to Apple music. But then again let's thank Universal Music Group for posting the original: kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z6iXksmFg7a7YbA.html
@lilblackduc7312
Жыл бұрын
@@PeriscopeFilm Thank you for answering that question.
The narrator sounds like bob lazars friend
Must be Jackie Cochran at 16:30
@PeriscopeFilm
5 жыл бұрын
Yes that is her!
@flemmingstelling8079
4 жыл бұрын
And Chuck Yeager acting as guide @ 25:03
Everyone forgets the F-110 .
Soilder pilot Levert Lewis Three August 11 2019 Havent.
@steinelgaaen
4 жыл бұрын
?
@Weatherman47
Жыл бұрын
Yeah…pass that to left sir 💨 I’ll take a hit 🌫
Great video. A lot of incorrect information, though.
@gregtaylor6146
Жыл бұрын
.....such as?
@augustinecampana8872
11 ай бұрын
Please explain.
Uh, Captain Glen Edwards was from Alberta, Canada, where he spend virtually all of his formative years. Nice job with facts there. You'd think that since this is a documentary about, you know, Edwards Air Force Base, there'd be some factual emphasis on its namesake.
@gerryortiz8324
Жыл бұрын
Why was the base named after the copilot instead of the pilot? I assumed it was bc supposedly he was from California like the narrator stated in the video but your saying he wasn’t from California but Canada. So why not name it after the Major not the Captain?
@augustinecampana8872
11 ай бұрын
Forbes AFB, Kansas was named after the pilot. We only said co-pilot Edwards was from California (where Muroc Field was located) not that he was born in California.
Annoying audio dropouts.
@PeriscopeFilm
Жыл бұрын
Due to KZread blocking some of the music, unfortunately.
@DJL0455
7 ай бұрын
@@PeriscopeFilm KZread can go 💩in its hat!