Air Force Plant 42


Message posted by Black Program Watch on September 27, 2000 at 20:16:28 EST:

I received mail from Edwards AFB today. Ok,here is go...

BPW

Air Force Plant 42's production flight test installation is specifically tailored to the production, flight testing, modification and depot maintenance of the nation's most advanced aerospace systems built under government contract.

As the Air Force "host," the goal of Detachment 1, Aeronautical Systems Center, is to maintain Plant 42, one of the world's best industrial complexes, in support of that mission.

Air Force Plant 42 is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility consisting of eight separate production sites sharing a common runway complex. Combined with its proximity to the concentration of aerospace industry in Los Angeles and the high-speed test corridors of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, the installation is specially suited to fully support the newest and most advanced commercial and military aerospace systems.

Installation houses major contractors
Collectively, the installation is one of the largest employers in the Palmdale-Lancaster area. Air Force Plant 42 employs more than 8,500 people with an annual payroll of over $430 million. Major contractors located at the facility include Lockheed-Martin, Boeing North American and Northrop-Grumman.

Boeing North American and Lockheed-Martin have company-owned facilities adjacent to Air Force Plant 42 that are connected to the plant's runway complex.

Not all of the programs are defense-oriented. All space shuttle orbiters were constructed and are currently modified at Plant 42 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In addition, the design team for the X-33 is headquartered there. Additionally, due to the reduction in defense programs, the plant's contractors are seeking to fill the void with civilian aerospace programs. I

In 1989, the Air Force entered into an agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Airports for joint use of the Plant 42 airfield complex, allowing up to 400 commercial flight operations per day.

Full slate of facilities
Through Detachment 1, contractors jointly receive a full complement of production facilities, runways and services (fire, crash rescue, security, airfield maintenance, runway repair, water and waste treatment).

The contractors, in turn, pass along the resultant savings (in lower unit costs) to the Department of Defense customer. The production flight test installation is a national asset that can quickly be energized for surge and mobilization requirements.

The installation consists of more than 5,800 acres, or roughly nine square miles, including two 12,000 feet runways. Runway 07/25 is the one of the strongest runways in the world and in addition to its adjoining taxiways can sustain a 1-million-pound aircraft configuration. Since it is engineered to withstand an earthquake of up to 8.3 on the Richter scale, this runway is an invaluable asset.



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