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Arnold Engineering Development Complex
(AEDC)
Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), is the most advanced and largest complex of flight simulation test facilities in the world. The complex operates 43 active test cells which include aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, space environmental chambers, arc heaters, ballistic ranges and other specialized units.
The AEDC is an Air Force Materiel Command facility and an important national resource. It has contributed to the development of practically every one of the nation's top priority aerospace programs including the Atlas, Titan, Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBMs, the space shuttle, space station, and Projects Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.
Customers include the Department of Defense, Army, Navy and Air Force organizations; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, both domestic and foreign private industry, allied foreign governments and educational institutions.
AEDC is named for the man responsible for its conception -- General of the Air Force Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. Shortly before the end of World War II, General Arnold asked Dr. Theodore von Karman, one of history's great aeronautical scientists, to form a Scientific Advisory Group to chart a long-range research and development course for the future U.S. Air Force. AEDC was a result of that plan.
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