The Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, was designated a Historic Aerospace Site June 12.
Commissioned in 1943, the Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River is the only Navy installation dedicated to research, development, test and evaluation of Naval aircraft. It was established by the Navy to consolidate disparate aircraft test and evaluation efforts into one centralized location.
The Naval Air Test Center (NATC) was established in 1945 at Pax River and the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School (USNTPS) was established in 1958. During the early years of the Cold War, the mission of NATC focused on testing Naval aircraft and supporting the Naval Air Transport Service. Today Pax River is home to the Naval Air Systems Command, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, USNTPS and nearly 50 other tenant commands.
The Historic Aerospace Sites Program was established by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in January 2000 to promote the preservation of significant accomplishments in the aerospace profession. Other sites recognized include the original Bendix Aviation Co. in Teterboro, N.J., the Boeing Red Barn in Seattle, Kitty Hawk, N.C., the site of the first balloon launch in Annonay, France, and Tranquility Base on the moon.
For more information: 703-264-7533.