Edwards AFB is where the US first jet- and rocket-powered flights took place. It is where men and aircraft first exceeded Mach 1. 2, 3. 4. 5 and 6. and where they first flew above 100.000, 200.000 and 300,000 feet. The famed North American rocket aircraft set altitude and speed marks of 354,200 feet and 4. 520 mph that still stands for winged aircraft.

Edwards is the site where lifting body research flights, that helped in development and design of the space shuttle, were carried out, the space shuttle's approach and landing tests were conducted in 1977. and where the first landings from space began in April 1981.