Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
USAF PLANT 42
Plant 42 is a classified aircraft manufacturing plant owned by the USAF and operated as a component of Edwards AFB, CA. Most of its facilities are operated by private contractors to build and maintain military aircraft and their components for the US and its allies.
Plant 42 has 3,200,000 square feet (300,000 m2) of industrial space and a replacement value of $1.1 billion. Some of its facilities build aircraft, including the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk and other unmanned aircraft. Others maintain and modify aircraft such as the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber.
Aerospace contractors at Air Force Plant 42 share a runway complex, and either lease building space from the Air Force (an arrangement commonly referred to as a “GOCO”, or Government Owned Contractor Operated) or own their own buildings outright (Lockheed Martin Skunk Works). There are eight production sites specially suited for advanced technology and/or “black” programs. Currently, the most well-known contractors at Plant 42 are Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Plant 42 is a GOCO, contractually operated for the Air Force since 1954. But under the Obama administration, the Air Force chose to take over some plant operations that had long been performed by contractors. The airfield is now operated by the Department of Defense, with 412th Test Wing/Operating Location, Air Force Test Center in command.
Current known projects include design, engineering, pre-production, production, modification, flight testing, servicing and repair mission related activities to the following:
B-2 Spirit
B-21 Raider
B-52 Stratofortress
F-22 Raptor
F-35 Lightning II (JSF)
MQ-4C Triton
RQ-4 Global Hawk
RQ-170 Sentinel
SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for infrared Astronomy) – NASA 747SP
U-2 “Dragon Lady”
X-47B