Book about AEDC's history and contributions is available for distribution

  • Published
  • By 050210
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  A couple of years ago, Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) Public Affairs (PA) began a project to document the contributions of Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) to America's air superiority.

Not an easy task considering that the center has made significant contributions to the development of almost every high-performance military flight system, space launch and weapons programs, as well as NASA manned space systems and many commercial aircraft. T

he result of that project was a book titled Beyond the Speed of Sound. The book is by no means a complete list of everything that has made use of AEDC's unique test facilities throughout their development, improvements and sustainment. Rather, Beyond the Speed of Sound is a sampling with overviews of the types of testing done.

The material is based entirely on cleared news releases, which means in some cases there may have been actual test work that is not covered in the pages. It would have taken several volumes to completely cover all of the programs the center has supported since the early 1950s.

The book is divided into chapters or profiles based upon the systems tested at AEDC. Each profile is a high-level summary of the testing or analysis work conducted on the system while in the center's facilities.

The name for the book was based on a line from President Harry Truman's dedication speech: "The scientists who work here will explore what lies on the other side of the speed of sound. This is part of our effort to make our air power the best in the world - and to keep it the best in the world. This applies to the plans of the Air Force, the Navy and our Marines. It applies to our guided missiles and all the future developments that science may bring."

Without the hard work of the thousands of men and women who have worked so diligently over the past almost 60 years, there would have been no material for this book. Therefore, anyone who asks may receive a copy of the book. There is no charge for a book.

To receive a copy of the book, current employees (military, DoD and contractor) should come to the ATA PA office, (Building 100, B212) and pick up a copy. No books will be mailed to an employee's mail stop or to his home address. Employees may pick up copies for coworkers as long as they provide a list of employees and badge numbers to ATA PA. Employees may only have one copy.

Former employees or members of the general public may also request a book. To do so, either send an e-mail with your name and address andrea.stephens@arnold.af.mil or call (931) 454-5655- and request a copy. Please note that there is a strict limit of one book per household.