Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, January 8, 2021.

EDWARDS, from 2
“mission essential only.” sewing,” said Holmes. “Because of Hawk’s main mission is to provide
All members of Team Edwards this, my team is figuring out a way to intelligence, communications, sur-
were authorized to report to work to produce mass quantities of masks to veillance and reconnaissance using
gather teleworking provisions or per- try and help do our part for the Test a multitude of sensors to combat-
sonal possessions. Those who are not Wing community.” The team imme- ant commands world-wide, Nichols
able to telework would be placed on diately partnered with the on base added.
administrative leave. Personnel were spouse network, which had already During the recent Coronavirus CO-
advised to consult their commander, been building masks for a few days. VID-19 pandemic, the 452nd FLTS
director or supervisor for specific devised plans to ensure their team
mission essential clarification. Another example of Edwards Air- members were as safe as possible yet
Then came the news that Edwards men helping each other came April still be able to complete their test mis-
had its first case of COVID-19. The 20, when the community launched a sions. “The 452nd’s unique mission
individual, an active duty service commissary shopping service at Ed- provides the unit the ability to execute
member assigned to the 412th Test wards to support those who are high missions with personnel being sepa-
Wing, was being treated at an off- risk, quarantined, isolated and unable rate from each other,” said EmmaLee
base medical facility. to shop for themselves. Shenberger, a Test Conductor and
“This is our first confirmed case,” Operations Engineer with the 452nd
said 412th Test Wing Commander, The service is limited to the local FLTS.
Col. Matthew Higer. “The continued area as defined in the Edwards AFB
safety and well-being of all of Team COVID-19 Local Area Definition & Emerging Technology Combined
Edwards has been and remains my Public Health Guidance memoran- Test Force: The Emerging Technol-
focus. Leaders at all levels of Team Courtesy photograph dum, and orders can be made for de- ogy Combined Test Force success-
Edwards continue to work with our Tech. Sgt. Roman Contreras, quality assurance, air crew flight equipment, livery or “curbside” pick-up, accord- fully completed flight tests on its
412th Operations Support Squadron, 412th Operations Group, 412th Test
base medical staff and in close co- Wing, fabricates a cloth mask using available equipment in the Air Crew Flight ing to Master Sgt. Scott A. Bennett, newest autonomous aircraft test bed
ordination with off-base health care Equipment section at Edwards, April 7. Although cloth masks don’t offer full additional duty first sergeant, Air last month at Edwards Air Force Base,
agencies to ensure we mitigate the protection from COVID-19, the CDC advises that a simple cloth covering can Force Operational Test & Evaluation Calif.
effects of COVID-19 for the instal- slow the spread of the virus and help keep people who may have the virus, Center, Detachment 5. The flight tests are in support of
lation, the greater Aerospace Val- and not know it, from spreading it others. the Skyborg program with the goal
ley, and the nation using established “I think a simple service like this to ultimately provide an autonomous
Centers for Disease Control and is important because it can mitigate software testing package.
Prevention and Defense Department tions are restricted to mission-es- the B-52, C-17, and testing of the worry, stress, and/or uncertainty dur-
guidelines.” sential personnel in response to the F-22 with an F-16 target for a devel-
By March 25, the number of cases COVID-19 pandemic.” opmental test; while mission partners
had risen to four. On March 28, the base limited ac- at the Joint Operational Test Team
In light of the increased risks, the cess. At this time, retirees, retiree flew the F-35 for operational tests.
base raised its Health Protection dependents and veterans could only Despite reduced manning levels,
Condition to HPCON Charlie. How- visit the base on Wednesdays. Edwards AFB continues to perform
its wartime mission each and ev-
ever, this did not mean the base was
‘closed.’ After a brief pause to adjust or ery day – before, during, and after
“Edwards AFB and AF Plant modify safety procedures, the 412th the COVID-19 pandemic – deliv-
42 are and will continue to remain Test Wing resumed flight operations ering future readiness to the warf-
open,” said Higer. “Neither Installa- on April 1. ighter. “Team Edwards has made
amazing and agile progress the last
tion has closed at any time due to During resumed operations, Team few days at getting the installation
COVID-19. However, the installa- Edwards sorties included flights on
postured toward our ‘new-normal’
test-and-evaluation steady-state in
the long fight against COVID-19,”
said Higer. “Our National Defense
Strategy requirement to compete, Air Force photograph by Giancarlo Casem
deter, and win against peer competi- Maj. Marc Nichols, 452nd Flight Test Squadron Assistant Director of Operations,
tors — in all warfighting domains conducts a walk-through inspection of an RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely-piloted
— does not go into standby or aircraft at Edwards April 6.
otherwise pause while we are effec-
tively in combat operations against
COVID-19.” ing times when everything is com- 772nd Test Squadron: As the Air
plicated,” said Bennett. “It shows Force Test Center’s 412th Test Wing
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, people that they are not alone in their resumed mission-essential flight test-
many at Edwards collectively turned particular circumstance and it fosters ing, the 772nd Test Squadron’s mod-
to each other and began exercising a climate of compassion in our com- eling and simulation engineers and
their innate innovative culture to munity as people help people.” technicians restarted manned cockpit
help meet emerging needs of the Test simulation operations to support flight
Wing community. Mission test mission rehearsals at Edwards,
Such is the case with Airmen of 452nd Flight Test Squadron: The April 14.
the 412th Operations Support Squad- 452nd Flight Test Squadron worked The 772nd TS reopened their doors
ron, who pulled together various through the challenges of teleworking to the F-35 Integrated Test Force, the
members in the Test Wing and be- and modified work schedules to keep first customer to do so since the COV-
gan fabricating cloth masks, to help their fleet of RQ-4 Global Hawks ID-19 pandemic disrupted operations
equip the wing community. This was flying and meeting mission require- at Edwards and much of the world.
done in response to the DOD guid- ments. “Many of our Dual Capability Air-
ance to the workforce to use cloth “The 452nd is also the combined craft (DCA) test points take us to the
face coverings on DOD property, test force for the Global Vigilance limits of F-35 performance,” said Lt.
installations and facilities when it’s CTF,” said Maj. Marc Nichols, 452nd Col. James Valpiani, F-35 ITF Direc-
not possible to maintain six-feet of FLTS Assistant Director of Opera- tor. “Our test pilots and the entire test
physical distance in public areas or tions. “Here, we’re involved with test- team are grateful for the opportunity
work centers. ing systems and avionics upgrades. to buy down risk in the Sim before
Senior Master Sgt. Brian Holmes We also engage in foreign military executing airborne over the Sea Test
is the Aircrew Flight Equipment Su- sales testing; we hope to deliver an Range.”
perintendent at the 412th OSS and aircraft to the Republic of Korea this
his team is responsible for inspect- week.” T-7A Test Team: During this time
ing, maintaining, repairing, and The Global Hawk is a remotely- of continued Air Force Innovation,
Air Force photograph by Christian Turner the T-7A Test Team of the Air Force’s
Tech. Sgt. Justin Aguilar, logistics test and evaluator, 412th Maintenance testing survival gear utilized by Test piloted, high-altitude, long-endurance new pilot trainer, the T-7A Red Hawk,
aircraft. With a wingspan of over 130
Wing aircrew.
Logistics Test Squadron, shops for essentials at the Edwards Air Force Base has developed innovative ways to
commissary, April 22. “A big part of the repair process feet, the aircraft is able attain a flight
requires us to be very proficient at ceiling of 60,000 feet. The Global See EDWARDS, Page 4
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