Over the years here at Vintage Aviation News, we have covered the efforts of the Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Antelope Valley (see related posts below). For over 75 years, the dry lake beds and high desert skies have seen a host of the most advanced designs in aerospace history and some of the bravest men to sit inside a cockpit push the boundaries of flight and the endurance of both man and machine. Now, a new location for this museum is taking shape under those same skies, seeking to preserve the legacy of the test pilots and their aircraft while making their collections more accessible to the public than ever before.
The Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base is preparing for a dramatic transformation. The current facility, which houses 8,000 square feet of exhibit space, will soon expand to an impressive 60,000 square feet at its new location outside the West Gate. The new museum will showcase the rich legacy of flight testing at Edwards, while honoring the pioneering people and programs that defined aviation and aerospace innovation. Below is a preview of some of the major exhibits planned for the expanded museum.
U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS) Located at Edwards AFB, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School trains the world’s foremost flight test professionals—critical thinkers capable of leading and conducting full-spectrum test and evaluation of aerospace systems. The museum’s TPS exhibit will trace the history of the school, its graduates, and its curriculum through immersive displays, including classroom recreations, operational simulators, and aircraft once used in training such as the TB-26B (VISTA CALSPAN), NA-37B Spin Trainer, and T-38A Talon—all in original TPS paint schemes.
‘Pancho’ Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club No story of Edwards AFB would be complete without Florence “Pancho” Barnes and her legendary Happy Bottom Riding Club, the mid-century haven for test pilots and Hollywood celebrities alike. The museum plans to recreate the famed bar and pool area as a three-dimensional movie set, complete with period vehicles and original artifacts. Visitors will be able to step into a faithful reproduction of the bar, view multimedia presentations on its storied past, and experience the atmosphere that once defined the social heart of Muroc’s golden age.
The Black Hangar The museum’s “Black Hangar” will feature one of the world’s most unique collections of classified and stealth aircraft. Highlights will include the first A-12 Blackbird (Article 121), the “Orange Wire” SR-71 test aircraft (s/n 955), and a prototype YF-117A Nighthawk. Exhibits will explore the development of stealth technology, the history of reconnaissance programs, and the people behind them. Supporting artifacts—such as U-2 flight suits, pressure suits, engines, cameras, sensors, and D-21 drones—will help bring the shadowy world of “black” projects to life.
NASA at Edwards The Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center, NASA’s premier aeronautical research facility, has long been a cornerstone of innovation at Edwards. Artifacts and aircraft transferred to the museum will illustrate NASA’s cutting-edge work in flight testing. Visitors will see the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV), the M2-F1 lifting body, and the Gulfstream G2 Space Shuttle Training Aircraft, alongside historic flight suits, helmets, and life support equipment from the X-15, U-2, and SR-71 programs.
Prototypes and Test Aircraft Edwards AFB has tested the first examples of nearly every major U.S. military aircraft since World War II. The museum’s prototype exhibit will showcase early test aircraft including the YF-22, F-111, YA-7A, and YF-94A. Plans also include displaying the F-35A AF-01 test vehicle once it becomes available. Edwards’ drone testing legacy stretches back to World War II. The museum’s UAV exhibit will feature the first RQ-4 Global Hawk (Serial No. 1), with an accompanying control room that allows visitors to experience a simulated mission. Additional aircraft, including the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, will highlight the evolution of unmanned flight. Many aircraft at Edwards were modified as testbeds for new systems and technologies that later influenced both military and civilian aviation. Planned exhibits include the X-48, YF-4E, YA-7A, and both F-16XL variants, showcasing innovations that pushed the boundaries of aerodynamics and avionics.
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) The AFRL Propulsion Directorate, with facilities on Leuhman Ridge east of Rogers Dry Lake, has conducted rocket engine testing for more than 75 years. A new exhibit will explore the lab’s groundbreaking contributions to propulsion research and development since its Army Air Corps origins. Edwards AFB played a vital role in the evolution of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, from early lifting-body experiments to the Approach and Landing Tests with “Enterprise” and 54 shuttle landings that followed. The exhibit will chronicle this history, highlighting the transition from experimental flight research to operational spaceflight.
Additional Exhibits
The new museum will also feature several distinctive exhibits that capture the breadth of Edwards’ aviation and cultural heritage. Among them is a display of more than three dozen original wind tunnel models, including those used in the design of the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12. Another major highlight is the museum’s extensive collection of over 160 flight pressure suits—many of them custom-made David Clark designs—representing the evolution of high-altitude flight from the early U-2 and F-104 programs to modern test operations. Visitors will also enjoy “Lights, Camera, Action – On Location,” an exhibit showcasing the Edwards area’s long history as a filming location for major motion pictures and television, from Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments to Transformers and Man of Steel. “Ad Inexplorata,” the Air Force Test Center’s motto meaning “Toward the Unexplored,” will serve as the theme for an exhibit highlighting ongoing and future test programs. Finally, “People Make It Happen” will pay tribute to the civilian and military personnel whose dedication and innovation have shaped both the past and future of flight at Edwards.
With its vastly expanded footprint and comprehensive new exhibits, the Flight Test Museum’s new home will not only preserve the history of aviation innovation but also inspire the next generation of aerospace pioneers. Sponsorship opportunities are available for most of the planned exhibits. To learn more, visit flighttestmuseum.org.
