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

Jackie Cochran

"F-104 Starfighter Record Setter"

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 23, 2012

1. Jackie Cochran Marker

Inscription. During her extraordinary 40-year flying career, aviation pioneer Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran established more speed, altitude and distance records than any other pilot, male or female, in aviation history. While flying a USAF F-86A Sabre here at Edwards, she became the first woman to exceed the speed of sound in May 1953.

Upon her return to Edwards in 1961, she set eight major world records in a T-38 Talon, including a top speed of 844.2 mph over a 15 km course on 24 August and a peak altitude of 56,071 feet on 12 October. In 1964, she flew an F-104G Starfighter at Edwards and set a new series of world records, including a new international women's speed record of 1,429.3 mph.

While this F-104A is a different model than the one Jackie Cochran used to set her records, this dedication serves to honor a true legend in aviation.
Jackie Cochran Day - 16 May 2003.

Erected 2003 by Major General Doug Pearson, Commander, USAF Flight Test Center, and Brigadier General Chuck Yeager.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Women.

Location. 34° 55.382′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

117° 54.473′ W. Marker is in Edwards AFB, California, in Kern County. It is at the intersection of Popson Avenue and Airman’s Way, in the median on Popson Avenue. Edwards Air Force Base is not open to the public. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 203 Popson Ave, Edwards CA 93524, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

in the Mojave Desert,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bell XP-59A Jet Aircraft (approx. half a mile away); Sound Barrier Cracked (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rocket Engine NF-104A (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Medal of Honor (approx. 0.7 miles away); F-86F (approx. 0.8 miles away); Leaps in Technology

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 23, 2012

2. Jackie Cochran Marker

(approx. 0.8 miles away); F-16B (approx. 0.8 miles away); General Dynamics F-16XL (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwards AFB.

Jackie Cochran Lower Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 23, 2012

3. Jackie Cochran Lower Marker

F-104 Starfighter and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 23, 2012

4. F-104 Starfighter and Marker

F-104 Starfighter image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 23, 2012

5. F-104 Starfighter

F-104G Starfighter Tailflash image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 23, 2012

6. F-104G Starfighter Tailflash

F-104G Starfighter Patch image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 23, 2012

7. F-104G Starfighter Patch

Jackie Cochran image. Click for full size.

courtesy US Air Force

8. Jackie Cochran

With Chuck Yeager at Edwards Air Force Base in 1962 after a flight in a T-38.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,346 times since then and 9 times this year. Last updated on March 16, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 2, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 8. submitted on March 20, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.