Edwards AFB in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

HiMAT

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 19, 2017

1. HiMAT Marker

Inscription. This Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology demonstrator, the second of two built, was designed to test technologies that would improve the maneuverability of future U.S. fighters. NASA, the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, and Rockwell International developed it jointly.

HiMAT was remotely piloted research vehicle that was flown from a ground cockpit to reduce costs and risks inherent in flight test with full-scale, manned aircraft. An on-board television camera gave the pilot forward vision. Swept wings, a digital fight control system, winglets, and canards gave the HiMAT a turning radius nearly half that of conventional U.S. fighters. Lacking a pilot, and because of its enhanced structural strength, the HiMAT was capable of making sustained 8g turns at Mach 0.9.

The HiMAT was air-launched from the B-52 mothership and landed on Rogers Dry Lake. Twenty-six flights were made with the two aircraft between mid-1979 and January 1983.

Erected by NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1983.

Location. 34° 57.076′ N, 117° 53.285′ W. Marker is in Edwards AFB, California, in Kern County. Marker can be reached from

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Lilly Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Located in front the Armstrong Flight Research Center. Edwards Air Force Base is not open to the public. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4800 Lilly Avenue, Edwards CA 93523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. F-8 DFBW (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire Aircraft (about 300 feet away); X-29 (about 400 feet away); Lockheed F-104 (about 400 feet away); F-8 Supercritical Wing Aircraft (about 400 feet away); Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (about 500 feet away); NF-15B (about 500 feet away); HL-10 Lifting Body (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwards AFB.

HiMAT and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 19, 2017

2. HiMAT and Marker

Mothership B-52 #008 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, January 21, 2013

3. Mothership B-52 #008

HiMAT and B-52 #008 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, January 21, 2013

4. HiMAT and B-52 #008

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on January 6, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 11, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.