Air Force Test Center The Air Force Test Center is a development and test organization of the United States Air Force . It conducts research , development , test , and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment . It has test flown every aircraft in the Air Force ' s inventory since World War II . The center employs nearly 13 , 000 people and controls the second largest base in the Air Force . On 6 July 2012 , the previous Air Force Flight Test Center was redesignated the Air Force Test Center . Up until July 2012 , the AFTC consists of two subordinate wings . The 95th Air Base Wing provides installation support for all units on Edwards Air Force Base . The 412th Test Wing conducts aircraft testing and evaluation . In July 2012 , the redesignated 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base , Florida , also came under control of the AFTC . History . Flight testing began at Muroc Army Air Base ( later renamed Edwards Air Force Base ) during World War II . It was the site of the first U . S . jet flight on 1 October 1942 when the top secret XP - 59 conducted its initial flight . Following the war flight testing officially became the base ' s primary mission . Beginning in 1947 the base hosted the experimental X planes , initially by the Army Air Force Flight Test Division . Flying a Bell X - 1 Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on 14 October 1947 . Simultaneously , the base was hosting testing for proposed weapon systems including the F - 84 Thunderjet , F - 86 Sabre , F - 94 Starfire , and B - 45 Tornado . The organization was formally activated on 25 June 1951 . Technology pioneered through the AFTC led to remarkable advancements in aviation . The " Century Series " of aircraft provided the United States with its super - sonic fighter fleet . Meanwhile the aircraft of the X series continued to set speed and altitude records . Major Robert " Bob " White became the first person to fly an aircraft into space on 17 July 1962 when he flew his X - 15 to an altitude of 314 , 750 feet . Flying the same airframe a year later Joe Walker reached an altitude of 354 , 200 feet ( 67 miles ) . On 3 October 1967 William " Pete " Knight set the standing aircraft speed record of Mach 6 . 72 ( 4 , 520 mph ) , again flying an X - 15 . When the space program began a number of astronauts were selected from the Air Force ' s test pilot cadre . Additionally , the AFTC assisted with the testing of rocket engines and re - entry vehicles . The AFTC continues to test current and future weapon systems as well as conducting concept testing for aircraft subsystems . The center has , for example , demonstrated the feasibility of digital flight control systems , new propulsion concepts , and stealth capabilities ( through the Have Blue program ) that have since been incorporated into active aircraft . The center also assisted with the development of the Space Shuttle , Air - Launched Cruise Missile , and LANTIRN systems . More recently the AFTC has been part of the anti - satellite missile and Joint Direct Attack Munition development . Additionally , the center has played a key role in the development of the Air Force ' s burgeoning unmanned aerial vehicle fleet , the F - 22 Raptor , F - 35 Lightning II , and the YAL - 1 Airborne Laser . NASA maintains its Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards and partners with the AFFTC on aircraft development . Effective 6 July 2012 , it was redesignated from the Air Force Flight Test Center to the Air Force Test Center . Air Force Flight Test Center Museum . The Air Force Flight Test Center Museum is open to military personnel with credentials to enter the base as well as general public tours offered periodically . The museum also features 40 aircraft on display at the museum or the nearby Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale , California . The museum also features aircraft engines , missiles , hardware , life support equipment , technical drawings , test reports memorabilia , and models .