Campaign well underway for museum expansion
The Air Force Flight Test Museum is in the midst of its most exciting transformation since 1992, when the Flight Test Historical Foundation (FTHF) erected the current site at the corner of Rosamond and Lancaster boulevards on Edwards Air Force Base.
An aggressive fundraising campaign is under way to move and expand the Flight Test Museum to outside the base's West Gate. At it's completion, the proposed $6.5 million project will improve the experience for museum guests and provide a world-class venue for an aerospace-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program. The project will be funded completely by private contributions.
The Foundation's Board of Trustees confirmed its support for the project and the initiation of efforts to secure necessary funding. "The location of the new museum will provide unencumbered access for aviation aficionados and greater opportunities for use by the educational organizations in southern California, " FTHF Chairwoman Lisa Gray said. "Our future STEM programs will be designed to engage youth in aerospace-related learning opportunities."
Phase one of the campaign is to raise $1M which will allow us to move the museum by developing a 12,000 sf structure outside of the West gate. We have been awarded a matching grant by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in the amount of $300,000 contingent upon our ability to secure gifts, contributions and legally enforceable pledges in the amount of $690,000 by July 2014. "We look forward to the community supporting what will be the largest single fundraising project for the museum," Rex Moen, Capital Campaign Chairman said. "We are confident people will make an investment to preserve flight test history and inspire future generations."
      
Preserving Flight Test History – Collection Spotlight
Northrop X-4 (SN: 46-676)
The Northrop SX-4 Bantam, later re-designated the X-4, was designed to explore the flight characteristics of swept wing semi-tailless aircraft at transonic speeds (about Mach .85). The X-4 was a small airplane, measuring only 23.25 feet in length with a wingspan of 26.75 feet. It had no horizontal tail surfaces, depending instead on combined elevator and aileron control surfaces (called elevons) for control in pitch and roll attitudes. The aircraft also had split inboard flaps, which doubled as speed brakes.
The museum acquired the number one X-4, tail number 46-676 in 2001. It was painted a very light gray. During flight testing, it was discovered that the aircraft was very hard to see due its size and how it blended in with the system. The restoration included adding the red strips that Northrop added to improve tracking the aircraft and hence overall safety during testing.
No speed records, no altitude records, but the X-4 did leave its mark in aviation history. The X-4 fulfilled its mission in that its primary mission involved proving a negative - swept-wing semi-tailless design were not suitable for speeds near Mach 1 (although the F7U Cutlass proved to be something of a counterexample). It was not until the development of computer fly-by-wire systems that such designs would be practical. Perhaps the F-117A is the best example of successful swept-wing semi-tailless aircraft.
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Span: 26 ft. 10 in.
Length: 23 ft. 3 in.
Hei ght: 14 ft. 10 in.
Weight: 7,550 lbs. maximum
Armament: None Engines: Two Westinghouse XJ-30 turbojet engines of 1,600 lbs. thrust each
Crew: One Maximum speed: 640 mph
Cruising speed: 480 mph
Maximum endurance: 44 minutes
Service ceiling: 44,000 ft.
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The FTHF has a
new web site!
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Century Circle
Brick Program
The aircraft and historic collections at the Museum are inspiring and will serve to educate many for years to come.
You can play an important role in preserving that history by purchasing a personally engraved brick paver for the Century Circle Walk, where it will be displayed for all who pass through to see.
The Century Circle, located outside the base's West Gate, is a display area for the Century Series Fighter test aircraft: F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, F-105 ,and the F-106.
The purchase of your paver will help to inspire and educate so that flight test history is alive for years to come.
Whether celebrating a career achievement, memorializing a loved one, or commemorating a retirement, we all have a story to tell. Inspire future generations, with your Century Circle Paver!
Order Online
or call (661) 258-1658 for more details
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Become a Life-Time
Museum Community Partner
• Diamond - $25,000
• Platinum - $20,000
• Gold - $15,000
• Silver - $10,000
• Bronze – $5,000
• Life Patron - $1,000
Sign Up:
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Do you love aviation history?
FTHF is looking for additional volunteers for Blackbird Park in Palmdale. Contact us for more information!
Historical Foundation
P.O. Box 57
Edwards, CA 93523
(661) 258-1658
Toll-Free: (877) FLT-TEST
Fax: (661) 277-8051
Email: fthf@antelecom.net
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