Plain English Meaning

A NASA test-flight base in the California desert where new and experimental aircraft are flown to see how they perform. Many famous research aircraft, including the X-series, have been flown there.

Full Definition

A NASA flight research facility located at Edwards Air Force Base in California, responsible for conducting advanced flight testing of experimental and high-performance aircraft. In 2014 it was renamed the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, but it is still referred to as Dryden in older FAA publications and historical aviation material.

Context Anchor

Seen in FAA handbook discussions that mention the research background behind aircraft design, , or .