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

Lockheed F-104

Lockheed 104 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, August 8, 2018

1. Lockheed 104 Marker

Inscription. NASA Dryden operated a fleet of F-104 Starfighters between 1956 and 1994. These were used as chase aircraft, for pilot training and proficiency, and to practice X-15 approaches and landings. They were also configured to carry flight-test fixtures mounted on the fuselage centerline. Items to be tested were installed on the fixture, instrumented, and then flown to gather data. This F-104G was used to test space shuttle thermal protection tiles. With the tiles attached to the test fixture, it flew through simulated rain to study how moisture would affect them. The tiles were also flown on the fixture in a position similar to that on the orbiter to determine whether bonding used to secure the tiles was sufficient. This aircraft was delivered to the German Luftwaffe in 1964, acquired by NASA in 1975, and retired in 1994.

Erected by NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 34° 57.124′ N, 117° 53.334′ W. Marker is in Edwards AFB, California, in Kern County. It is at the intersection of Lilly Avenue and Walker Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Lilly Avenue. Located in front the Armstrong Flight Research Center. Edwards

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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.

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: X-29 (a few steps from this marker); Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (within shouting distance of this marker); F-8 DFBW (within shouting distance of this marker); F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire Aircraft (within shouting distance of this marker); F-8 Supercritical Wing Aircraft (within shouting distance of this marker); NF-15B (within shouting distance of this marker); HL-10 Lifting Body (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); HiMAT (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwards AFB.

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

Photographed by Denise Boose, August 8, 2018

2. Lockheed F-104 and Marker

Lockheed F-104 image. Click for full size.

courtesy NASA

3. Lockheed F-104

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 274 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on January 6, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.