Our location puts us strategically in the heart of the Lancaster/Palmdale communities in the Aerospace Valley,” said Dr. David Smith, Air Force Plant 42 Director. The wings (including elevons) were manufactured by Grumman, Bethpage, Long Island, N.Y., and transported by ship from New York via the Panama Canal to Long Beach, Calif., and then transported overland to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. var setNptTechAdblockerCookie = function(adblocker) { Sites 1 - 8 are owned specifically by the Air Force but are contracted out. Palmdale Airport in 1953, showing its World War II configuration, The origins of Plant 42 go to the early 1930s, when a small airstrip was built in the desert. The structures of the orbiter were manufactured at various companies under contract to Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, Calif. 1950s: This site is a federally-owned weapons manufacturing facility operated under contract by the Raytheon Company (formerly Hughes Missile Systems). Los Angeles World Airports [LAWA] owns 17,000 acres east of Plant 42 that was acquired for an airport. For example, the engines are to be maintained by the Air Force, software support is to be provided by commercial sources, and airframe maintenance is to be provided by Northrop produced the F-5E, and Rockwell supported the B-1B Spirit. The historic Plant 42 is the birthplace of all the Air Force’s B-2 Spirits, and where the first-ever Spirit conducted its maiden flight more than 30 years ago on July 17, 1989. Both are manned by retirees who had previously worked in the aerospace industry, some actually having worked on the aircraft displayed at the two parks. WARNING**WARNING**WARNING You are accessing a U.S. Government information system, which includes (1) this computer, (2) this computer network, (3) all computers connected to this network, and (4) all devices and storage media attached to this network or to a computer on this network. Some of the plant's work involves production of spare parts for military aircraft, with other projects including maintenance and modification of aircraft such as the B-2 spirit bomber and production of the Global Hawk and other unmanned craft. It is operated by Lockheed, Rockwell International, Northrop, and Nero. Its present hangar was constructed in 1968 and the outer walls of the structure were put up in a matter of days. The historic Plant 42 is the birthplace of all the Air Force’s B-2 Spirits, and where the first-ever Spirit conducted its maiden flight more than 30 years ago on July 17, 1989. Find 1 listings related to U S Airforce Plant 42 in Palmdale on YP.com. Privately–run since 1954, the Air Force under the Obama administration chose to insource the contracted operations of the plant. It is also where they all conduct PDM services under the auspices of the aircraft’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. The first prototype Rockwell B-1A Lancer, 74-0158, takes off at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, 23 December 1974. Its hangar originally was built for the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar passenger jet project. Get reviews, hours, directions, coupons and more for U S Airforce Plant 42 at 2501 E Avenue P, Palmdale, CA 93550. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Air Force Plant 42 … Palmdale Army Airfield was declared a surplus facility in 1946 and was purchased by Los Angeles County for use as a municipal airport. Many of the plants started their military careers in W.W.II, as government- or contractor-owned defense plants. “As such, our personnel and more importantly our … The concept for AFP 42 originated in the challenge of flight testing high performance jet aircraft over heavily populated areas. Following approval of the Master Plan in 1953, the Palmdale Airport officially became Air Force Plant 42; ownership of the installation was transferred to the Federal Government in 1954. It is operated by Lockheed, Rockwell International, Northrop, and Nero. The midfuselage was manufactured by General Dynamics, San Diego, Calif., and transported overland to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. Both the Air Force and its aircraft contractors needed a location away from major population centers - due to sonic booms, other noises and security concerns - but close enough to the major centers of aircraft design and production, while having excellent flying weather the year around. Air Force Plant 42 | 12 followers on LinkedIn. Plant 42 and Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) are separate facilities that share a … Now it is run by DoD resources, with Detachment 1, Air Force Test Center in command. d.setTime(d.getTime() + 60 * 60 * 24 * 2 * 1000); Air Force Plant 42. Air Force Plant 42 is at Palmdale, CA, north of Pasadena in Los Angeles County. It is also where they all conduct PDM services under the auspices of the aircraft’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. Current projects include design, engineering, pre-production, production, modification, flight testing, servicing and repair mission related activities to the following: The Blackbird Airpark Museum part of Air Force Flight Test Museum and the adjacent Palmdale Plant 42 Heritage Airpark (Now "Joe Davies Heritage Airpark")[2] have recently been opened on Plant 42 property along Avenue P (both are free to the public) with displays of the SR-71, U-2, Century Series fighters and other aircraft designed, engineered, manufactured, and flight tested at its facilities. Plant 42 has 3.2 million square feet of industrial space and has a replacement value of $1.1 billion. In 1951, the USAF purchased the site and awarded a contract to Lockheed Aircraft to develop the master plan for the site. The plan was to construct a facility that It is also used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Col. Dwayne Robison relinquished leadership to Dr. David Smith in a ceremony presided over by Brig. All of the aircraft have been carefully restored for public display. Air Force Plant 42 Northrop Grumman 1st Amend Audit - YouTube The National Aeronautics and Space Administration had been paying the Air Force for use of Plant 42 facilities for the shuttle work. During the 1990s, airlines operated out of the Palmdale Regional Airport, comprised of the terminal and parking lot on leased land. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for U S Airforce Plant 42 locations in Palmdale, CA. It is also where they all conduct PDM services under the auspices of the aircraft’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. During the 1980s it was used by Lockheed to produce the U-B/TR-1 and support the SR-71. var script = document.createElement("script"); Gen. Matthew Higer, the 412th TW Commander. EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Operating Location Air Force Plant 42 has begun its transition from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to the 412th Test Wing. EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, California -- Air Force Operating Location Air Force Plant 42 changed leadership hands during a Change of Leadership Ceremony at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, July 1. Plant 42 has 3.2 million square feet of industrial space and has a r… Plant 42 is owned by Detachment 1, Aeronautical Systems Center, based at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Upon completion, the spacecraft was turned over to NASA for transport overland from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base, California. var d = new Date(); NASA decided in February 2002 to shift space shuttle overhaul and modification work from Palmdale to Florida. Plant 42 has been around for a long time. The Palmdale factory is part of the Air Force’s massive Plant 42 operation, where some of the nation’s most secret warplanes have been built, including Northrop’s flying wing B … The two airparks are located at Avenue P and 25th Street East near Site 9. The facility occupies over two million square feet of buildings. In 1940, the Palmdale Airport was activated as a U.S. Army Air Corps Base for use as an emergency landing strip and for B-25 support training during World War II. It signed a lease in 1956 for 237 acres to use Palmdale Airport for final assembly and flight testing. The facility also has one of the heaviest load-bearing runways in the world. (function(src){var a=document.createElement("script");a.type="text/javascript";a.async=true;a.src=src;var b=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];b.parentNode.insertBefore(a,b)})("//experience.tinypass.com/xbuilder/experience/load?aid=bYdYZQml5V"); With 9,000 employees, Air Force Plant 42 is the Antelope Valley's second-largest employer, after Edwards Air Force Base. The midfuselage was manufactured by General Dynamics, San Diego, Calif., and transported overland to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. “Plant 42 is often referred to as the ‘downtown’ Air Force. It provided a pilot in distress with a better alternative than landing on a public road or a farmer's field. It is also used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). "Plant 42 is often referred to as the 'downtown' Air Force. The body flap was manufactured at Rockwell International's Columbus, Ohio, facility and transported overland to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. For example, the engines are to be maintained by the Air Force, software support is to be provided by commercial sources, and airframe maintenance is to be provided by Northrop Grumman at Palmdale, California. Northrop produced the F-5E, and Rockwell supported the B-1B. Approximately 250 major subcontractors supplied various systems and components to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. Past projects included: This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/. “Our location puts us strategically in the heart of the Lancaster/Palmdale communities in the Aerospace Valley. Search for other Armed Forces Recruiting on The Real Yellow Pages®. United States Air Force Plant 42 (Plant 42) (IATA: PMD, ICAO: KPMD, FAA Location identifier: PMD) is a United States Government aircraft manufacturing plant, used by the United States Air Force. The aft orbital maneuvering system/reaction control system pods were manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis, Mo., and transported by aircraft to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. Col. Dwayne Robison relinquished leadership to Dr. David Smith in a ceremony presided over by Brig. The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 caused the Air Force to reactivate the property for use in final assembly and flight testing of military jet aircraft. The Department of Defense, in February 1995, announced its plan for providing depot support for the B-2. Gen. Matthew Higer, the 412th TW Commander. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Air Force Plant 42 Fire Department, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. As such, our personnel, and more importantly our … Others are located on or adjacent to Air Force bases or other installations. Col. 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