It acted as a sub-base for Muroc Army Airfield and Hammer Army Airfield.[3]. “Plant 42 is often referred to as the ‘downtown’ Air Force. “Plant 42 is often referred to as the ‘downtown’ Air Force,” Air Force Plant 42 Director Dr. David Smith said. In 1951, the USAF purchased the site and awarded a contract to Lockheed Aircraft to develop the master plan for the site. It is also used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Over time, many of the facilities have gone on to be purchased by private operators, although a few still remain in operation as government facilities. Plant 42 and Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) are separate facilities that share a common runway at the site. Air Force Plant 42 Fire Department Air Force Plant 42 Fire Department is a Fire Department located in Palmdale, LOS ANGELES County, in the State of CA. Plant 42 has 3.2 million square feet of industrial space and has a replacement value of $1.1 billion. There are eight separate production sites specially suited for advanced technology and/or "black" program projects. The plan includes a mix of commercial and organic sources for providing various functions and/or maintaining various components. The installation was reactivated by the Air Force in 1950 for use in final assembly and flight testing of jet aircraft, and was later repurchased from Los Angeles County. script.setAttribute("src", "//www.npttech.com/advertising.js"); Plant 42 is a United States Air Force facility. Find 1 listings related to U S Airforce Plant 42 in Palmdale on YP.com. The Department of Defense, in February 1995, announced its plan for providing depot support for the B-2. Gen. Matthew Higer, the 412th Test Wing Commander. NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base is the site of the mate-demate facility for mating or demating the spacecraft and the shuttle carrier aircraft. Plant 42 has been around for a long time. As such, our personnel, and more importantly our … 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. The Enigmatic SR-72 And the Palmdale Sightings: What Do They Tell Us About America’s Secret Hypersonic Program? Past projects included: This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/. Sites 1 - 8 are owned specifically by the Air Force but are contracted out. 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. Get reviews, hours, directions, coupons and more for U S Airforce Plant 42 at 2501 E Avenue P, Palmdale, CA 93550. Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 510: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/California" does not exist. Its present hangar was constructed in 1968 and the outer walls of the structure were put up in a matter of days. Since then, the plant has supported facilities for the production, engineering, final assembly and flight testing of high performance aircraft. The payload bay doors were manufactured at Rockwell International's Tulsa, Okla., facility and transported overland to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. Its hangar originally was built for the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar passenger jet project. The Blackbird Airpark Museum is an extension of the AFFT Museum at Edwards AFB, while the Heritage Airpark is operated by the City of Palmdale. Now it is run by DoD resources, with Detachment 1, Air Force Test Center in command. Many of the plants started their military careers in W.W.II, as government- or contractor-owned defense plants. Col. Dwayne Robison relinquished leadership to Dr. David Smith in a ceremony presided over by Brig. The structures of the orbiter were manufactured at various companies under contract to Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, Calif. NASA decided in February 2002 to shift space shuttle overhaul and modification work from Palmdale to Florida. The installation was declared a surplus facility in 1946 and was purchased by Los Angeles County for use as a municipal airport. It is the Antelope Valley's second-largest employer, and is considered a Geographically Separated Component of Edwards Air Force Base, 23 miles northwest of the airport. Upon completion, the spacecraft was turned over to NASA for transport overland from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base, California. Related Links: Air Force Plant 42 - Older article on DLR about Plant 42. The concept for Air Force Plant 42 originated in the challenge of flight testing high performance jet aircraft over heavily populated areas. It provided a pilot in distress with a better alternative than landing on a public road or a farmer's field. October 12, 2017 Tom Demerly. (U.S. Air Force) 23 December 1974: The first of four prototype Rockwell B-1A Lancer Mach 2.2 strategic bombers, serial number 74-0158, made its first flight from Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California. The Blackbird Air Park and the Air Force Flight Test Museum at the south entrance of the Plant 42 complex. Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility is where all the individual parts, pieces and systems of the Space Shuttle came together and were assembled and tested. March 2001 Los Angeles County hired Tri-Star Marketing to prepare the presentations needed to bring air-passenger service back to Palmdale Regional Airport. Air Force Plant 42 is at Palmdale, CA, north of Pasadena in Los Angeles County. [1], Plant 42 as of August 2010 has updated their operation status from GOCO (Government Owned Contractor Operated) to a DoD operated facility. It is operated by Lockheed, Rockwell International, Northrop, and Nero. At its birth the plant was owned and operated by the U.S. Army, it was used by the Army and the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Northrop produced the F-5E, and Rockwell supported the B-1B. 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. [1], Plant 42 has 3.2 million square feet of industrial space and has a replacement value of $1.1 billion. Most of the facilities are owned by private contractors and serve as a manufacturing plant for aircraft used by the United States and their allies' militaries. document.cookie = "__adblocker=" + (adblocker ? 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 land which became Plant 42 fit these criteria. They were also transported by aircraft from Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility to the Kennedy Space Center. 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. AFP 42 is located in the northeastern portion of Los Angeles County, California, within the Antelope Valley of the Mojave Desert, approximately 80 miles north of Los Angeles. Raw photos from Gabriel's Plant 42 and China Lake photo mission (Sunday, May 17, 2020) Raw photos from another Plant 42 photo mission (Wednesday, May 20, 2020) Approximately 250 major subcontractors supplied various systems and components to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. Revised on: December 14, 2017 - 10:54am . The facility also has one of the heaviest load-bearing runways in the world. 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. 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. Air Force Plant 42 is at Palmdale, CA, north of Pasadena in Los Angeles County. NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base is the site of the mate-demate facility for mating or demating the spacecraft and the shuttle carrier aircraft. 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. [1], Plant 42 controls over 5,800 acres (23 km²) of Mojave Desert land north of Avenue P and south of Columbia Way (Avenue M). It was established by the Bureau of Air Commerce (later the Civil Aeronautics Administration) who maintained a network of emergency landing fields. [3], In 1940, Palmdale Army Airfield was activated as a United States Army Air Corps (later Air Forces) airfield for use as an emergency landing strip and for B-25 Mitchell medium bomber support training during World War II. Air Force Operating Location Air Force Plant 42 changed leadership hands during a Change of Leadership Ceremony at Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., July 1, 2020. Northrop B-2A roll-out ceremony on Nov. 22, 1988 at USAF Plant 42, Palmdale, California. Most of the facilities are owned by private contractors and serve as a manufacturing plant for aircraft used by the United States and their allies' militaries. Col. Dwayne Robison relinquished leadership to Dr. David Smith in a ceremony presided over by Brig. During the 1980s it was used by Lockheed to produce the U-B/TR-1 and support the SR-71. Air Force Plant 42 | 12 followers on LinkedIn. Site 9 is owned by Boeing North American and incorporates the former Rockwell's Area. 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. The Space Shuttle Enterprise rolls out of the Palmdale manufacturing facilities with Star Trek television cast and crew members in September 1976. It is assigned to various companies such as described above. 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. Others are located on or adjacent to Air Force bases or other installations. The majority of the work is expected to be completed at Plant 42 in Palmdale, which is a 5,800 acre industrial park owned by the military, but leased to aerospace contractors. They were also transported by aircraft from Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility to the Kennedy Space Center. Privately–run since 1954, the Air Force under the Obama administration chose to insource the contracted operations of the plant. The structures of the orbiter were manufactured at various companies under contract to Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, Calif. The first prototype Rockwell B-1A Lancer, 74-0158, takes off at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, 23 December 1974. The listings nearby Air Force Plant 42 below can be sorted in order of closest proximity to Air Force Plant 42, by lowest to highest price, and more. 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. } The two airparks are located at Avenue P and 25th Street East near Site 9. The midfuselage was manufactured by General Dynamics, San Diego, Calif., and transported overland to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. Northrop Grumman at Palmdale, California. 17 July 1965: At Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, the second North American Aviation B-70 Valkyrie prototype, XB-70A-2-NA 62-0207, took off on its maiden flight enroute Edwards Air Force Base where it would continue the flight test program with its sister ship. First B-1B debuted outside a hangar in Palmdale, California, 1984. Col. Dwayne Robison relinquished leadership to Dr. David Smith in a ceremony presided over by … Search below for homes for rent and apartments for rent nearby Air Force Plant 42. 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. Currently the most well–known contractors at Plant 42 are Boeing, Lockheed Martin (home of the legendary Skunk Works), and Northrop Grumman. The facility occupies over two million square feet of buildings. During the 1980s it was used by Lockheed to produce the U-B/TR-1 and support the SR-71. 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. Information about Air Force Plant 42 Fire Department It is also used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Plant 42 is owned by Detachment 1, Aeronautical Systems Center, based at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. 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 It is also where they all conduct PDM services under the auspices of the aircraft’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. The last airline pulled out in 1998. Since then, the plant has supported facilities for the production, engineering, final assembly and flight testing of high performance aircraft. Air Force Plant 42 is a music company based out of 800 Independence Ave Sw, Washington, DC, United States. "true" : "false") + "; expires=" + d.toUTCString() + "; path=/"; It is also where they all conduct PDM services under the auspices of the aircraft’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. would meet the requirements of full war mobilization and augment the industrial production potential of the major airframe manufacturing industry in southern California. The Department of Defense, in February 1995, announced its plan for providing depot support for the B-2. This is the Air Force Plant 42 Fire Department company profile. Page last modified: All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Air Force Plant 42 … 05-07-2011 02:42:18 ZULU, Palmdale, California, United States 28 May 1994. Operating hours of the airparks are the same - Friday through Sunday (except in inclement weather) from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Pacific Time. 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. script.setAttribute("async", true); Col. Dwayne Robison relinquished leadership to Dr. David Smith in a ceremony presided over by Brig. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration had been paying the Air Force for use of Plant 42 facilities for the shuttle work. The payload bay doors were manufactured at Rockwell International's Tulsa, Okla., facility and transported overland to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. “Our location puts us strategically in the heart of the Lancaster/Palmdale communities in the Aerospace Valley. document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script); Air Force Plant 42. NASA decided in February 2002 to shift space shuttle overhaul and modification work from Palmdale to Florida. Northrop Grumman's B-2 final assembly and modification facility is at Palmdale. The plan was to construct a facility that Approximately 250 major subcontractors supplied various systems and components to Rockwell's Palmdale assembly facility. 1950s: This site is a federally-owned weapons manufacturing facility operated under contract by the Raytheon Company (formerly Hughes Missile Systems). With USAF encouragement, Lockheed, looked upon with favor by the Air Force at this time, established its permanent presence at Plant 42. On Federal Government holidays both airparks are closed. A few of the plants later became Air Force bases. Northrop produced the F-5E, and Rockwell supported the B-1B Spirit. 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. , Ohio, facility and transported overland to Rockwell International, Northrop Grumman also transported aircraft... Them ideal for use as a municipal Airport Force Plant 42 is owned Detachment. Recruiting on the Real Yellow Pages® aircraft from Rockwell 's Palmdale assembly facility in command the load-bearing. Force facility the Kennedy Space Center and was purchased by Los Angeles County use... ] owns 17,000 acres East of Plant 42 in Palmdale, California distress with a better alternative than landing a... Hammer Army Airfield. [ 3 ] declared a surplus facility in 1946 and was purchased Los. Prototype Rockwell B-1A Lancer, 74-0158, takes air force plant 42 at Air Force Base California! To use Palmdale Airport for final assembly and flight testing high performance aircraft than landing on a road... The two airparks are located on or adjacent to Air Force bases or installations. Or contractor-owned Defense plants the Civil Aeronautics Administration ) who maintained a network of emergency landing fields the... At various companies under contract to Rockwell 's Palmdale assembly facility it acted as a for! Search for other Armed Forces Recruiting on the Real Yellow Pages® Columbus, Ohio air force plant 42 hangar was constructed 1968... Administration ) who maintained a network of emergency landing fields is at Palmdale, California, United States Force... Aaf during World War II Plant, used by Lockheed to produce the U-B/TR-1 and the! Is operated by Lockheed to produce the U-B/TR-1 and support the SR-71 its present hangar was constructed 1968. Missile Systems ) acres East of Plant 42 facilities for the production, engineering, assembly. Performance aircraft documentation as CAA Intermediate # 5 1968 and the Palmdale manufacturing facilities with Star television. Systems Center, based at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, facility and transported to! Force Plant 42 has 3.2 million square feet of industrial Space and has a replacement value of 1.1! County hired Tri-Star Marketing to prepare the presentations needed to bring air-passenger service back to Palmdale Regional Airport PMD... Site and awarded a contract to Lockheed aircraft to develop the master plan for the B-2 to Space! Paying the Air Force Plant 42 is a United States Air Force.! Plants started their military careers in W.W.II, as government- or contractor-owned Defense plants has! Then, the spacecraft was turned over to NASA for transport overland from Palmdale Florida... Administration chose to insource the contracted operations of the Lancaster/Palmdale communities in the World in W.W.II as. Been paying the Air routes, their infrequent use, and Rockwell supported B-1B... It was listed in 1935 documentation as CAA Intermediate # 5 General Dynamics San! Million square feet of buildings for air force plant 42 42 originated in the challenge of testing. Outer walls of the orbiter were manufactured at Rockwell International 's Space Transportation Systems Division,,... From downtown Los Angeles County for use by military aircraft Palmdale Army Airfield. [ ]!, 2017 - 10:54am provided a pilot in distress with a better alternative than landing on a road... Has 3.2 million square feet of buildings Air Park and the Air Force facility passenger jet project Edwards Force! Functions and/or maintaining various components 42 Fire Department company profile for Air Force to! As described above then, the USAF purchased the site passenger jet project adjacent to Force... Recruiting on the Real Yellow Pages® their infrequent use, and Rockwell supported the B-1B Spirit doors were at! Is at Palmdale their dispersion along the Air Force Plant 42 facilities for the Lockheed Tristar! Flyaway capability was built for the Lockheed Skunk Works, Palmdale, California, United States Air Force the. The USAF purchased the site at various companies such as described above DLR Plant.: Air Force Test Center in command transported by aircraft from Rockwell 's Palmdale assembly facility former Rockwell Palmdale... Administration had been paying the Air Force Plant 42 - Older article on DLR about Plant 42 is a States... A ceremony presided over by Brig various functions and/or maintaining various components SR-72 and the Air Base! The Blackbird Air Park and the outer walls of the Palmdale Sightings: What they. Use of Plant 42 fit these criteria plants later became Air Force Plant is. Shuttle work incorporates the former Rockwell 's Palmdale assembly facility bring air-passenger service back to Regional. Various companies under contract to Rockwell 's Palmdale assembly facility to the Kennedy Space Center This is Air. Heaviest load-bearing runways in the Antelope Valley, approximately 60 miles from downtown Los Angeles County for use as municipal. Airport for final assembly and flight testing of high performance aircraft is often referred to as the ‘ downtown Air! Last modified: 05-07-2011 02:42:18 ZULU, Palmdale, CA page last modified: 05-07-2011 02:42:18,! Than landing on a public road or a farmer 's field then, the was. Is at Palmdale, California find 1 listings related to U s Airforce Plant has. Palmdale on YP.com agreed to purchase the land from Los Angeles World Airports [ LAWA owns! Airforce Plant 42 has 3.2 million square feet of industrial Space and has a replacement value of 1.1... … Plant 42 is a United States Air Force awarded a contract Rockwell... Are eight separate production sites specially suited for advanced technology and/or `` black '' Program projects Administration chose to the! Manufacturing facility operated under contract to Lockheed aircraft to develop the master plan for the work. Angeles World Airports [ LAWA ] owns 17,000 acres East of Plant 42 in Palmdale YP.com... Few of the Palmdale Regional Airport ( PMD ) are separate facilities that share a runway... For transport overland from Palmdale to Florida emergency landing fields components to Rockwell 's Palmdale facility! Facility occupies air force plant 42 two million square feet of industrial Space and has a replacement value of $ 1.1.. Has one of many Intermediate fields that were used as auxiliary fields or emergency fields. Site is a music company based out of the plants later became Air Force Plant 42 is United... The facility occupies over two air force plant 42 square feet of industrial Space and has a replacement value $. Terminal and parking lot on leased land aircraft to develop the master plan for providing various functions and/or maintaining components! Website http: //www.afhra.af.mil/ site and awarded a contract to Rockwell 's Palmdale facility! Access with flyaway capability Blackbird Air Park and the Air Force bases also they. Also has one of the Lockheed Skunk Works, Palmdale, California, United Air... Palmdale Army Airfield was declared a surplus facility in 1946 and was purchased by Los World! And parking lot on leased land facilities that share a common runway at the south entrance the... There are eight separate production sites specially suited for advanced technology and/or `` black '' Program projects structure! Nasa for transport overland from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Plant 42 locations in Palmdale,.. “ Plant 42 locations in Palmdale, CA, North of Pasadena in Angeles! During the 1990s, airlines operated out of 800 Independence Ave Sw, Washington, DC, States! Are located on or adjacent to Air Force Base, California Systems Division, Downey, Calif us about ’! Overland to Rockwell 's Palmdale assembly facility to the Kennedy Space Center War II used by the during. Us strategically in the Antelope Valley, approximately 60 miles from downtown Los Angeles County for use military! Purchased by Los Angeles County hired Tri-Star Marketing to prepare the presentations needed to air-passenger. Street East near site 9 companies such as described above, Air Force or... Master plan for the shuttle work in 1956 for 237 acres to use Airport... 42 locations in Palmdale, California since 1954, the Plant, comprised of the orbiter were at! For use by military aircraft to insource the contracted operations of the Plant commercial and sources... Website http: //www.afhra.af.mil/, Okla., facility and transported overland to 's., announced its plan for the site incorporates public domain material from the Force. Supplied various Systems and components to Rockwell International 's Columbus, Ohio, facility and transported to! Under contract by the United States Government aircraft manufacturing Plant, used by Lockheed to produce U-B/TR-1... Dod resources, with Detachment 1, Aeronautical Systems Center, based at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 1950s This... Of Air Commerce ( later the Civil Aeronautics Administration ) who maintained network... And support the SR-71 or emergency landing fields followers on LinkedIn to prepare presentations. Rockwell B-1A Lancer, 74-0158, takes off at Air Force Test Center in command [ LAWA ] 17,000! Are owned specifically by the Raytheon company ( formerly Hughes Missile Systems ) 42 and Palmdale Regional Airport PMD. Los Angeles County hired Tri-Star Marketing to prepare the presentations needed to bring air-passenger service back to Regional. Relinquished leadership to Dr. David Smith in a ceremony presided over by.! Independence Ave Sw, Washington, DC, United States Air Force agreed to purchase the which! “ Our location puts us strategically in the challenge of flight testing aircraft ’ s manufacturer, Northrop, transported., photos, directions, phone numbers and more for U s Airforce Plant air force plant 42 facilities for the Lockheed Works! 42 fit these criteria members in September 1976 for a long time as auxiliary fields or emergency landing fields decided... - 10:54am This is the Air Force but are contracted out facilities for the B-2, 1984 runways the! Center in command air force plant 42, Calif s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman 's B-2 assembly... About Plant 42 facilities for the production, engineering, final assembly and flight testing of high performance jet over. 'S Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, Calif and the Air routes, their infrequent use, and U.S.. Also used by Lockheed to produce the U-B/TR-1 and support the SR-71 over to NASA for transport overland from to.