Patuxent River Naval Air Station
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| Patuxent River Naval Air Station | |
|---|---|
 U.S. Navy photo by Liz Goettee · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Patuxent River Naval Air Station |
| Location | Maryland |
Patuxent River Naval Air Station is a United States Navy base located in St. Mary's County, Maryland, near the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River. The base is home to the Naval Air Systems Command and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, and has played a significant role in the development and testing of United States Navy and United States Marine Corps aircraft, including the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The base has also been involved in the testing of Northrop Grumman X-47B and Boeing X-45 unmanned aerial vehicles. The base is situated near the Atlantic Test Range, which is used for the testing of NASA and United States Department of Defense spacecraft and missiles, including the Space Shuttle and Minuteman III.
● History
The history of the base dates back to 1942, when it was established as a United States Navy air station during World War II. The base was initially used for the testing and development of Grumman TBM Avenger and Vought F4U Corsair aircraft, and was also used as a training base for United States Navy and United States Marine Corps pilots. During the Korean War and Vietnam War, the base played a significant role in the development and testing of Douglas A-1 Skyraider and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft. The base has also been home to the Naval Test Pilot School, which was established in 1945 and is responsible for training United States Navy and United States Marine Corps test pilots, including Alan Shepard, John Glenn, and Neil Armstrong. The base has been involved in the testing of numerous aircraft, including the Bell X-1, North American X-15, and Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
● Operations
The base is currently home to over 50 United States Navy and United States Marine Corps squadrons, including the Strike Fighter Squadron 106 and Test and Evaluation Squadron 23. The base is also home to the Naval Air Systems Command, which is responsible for the development and procurement of United States Navy and United States Marine Corps aircraft, including the Boeing P-8 Poseidon and Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton. The base has been involved in the testing of numerous aircraft, including the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk and Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. The base is also home to the Atlantic Test Range, which is used for the testing of NASA and United States Department of Defense spacecraft and missiles, including the SpaceX Falcon 9 and United Launch Alliance Atlas V. The base has been involved in the testing of numerous spacecraft, including the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope.
● Facilities
The base has numerous facilities, including the Naval Air Systems Command headquarters, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, and the Naval Test Pilot School. The base also has a number of runways, including the Trapnell Field and Cedar Point Field, which are used for the testing and development of United States Navy and United States Marine Corps aircraft. The base is also home to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, which showcases the history of the base and the development of United States Navy and United States Marine Corps aircraft, including the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The base has been visited by numerous dignitaries, including President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.
● Environmental Concerns
The base has been involved in several environmental concerns, including the contamination of the Patuxent River and the surrounding area with perfluorinated compounds and other pollutants. The base has been working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Department of the Environment to clean up the contamination and prevent future pollution. The base has also been involved in the development of renewable energy sources, including solar power and wind power, in an effort to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and minimize its impact on the environment. The base has been recognized for its environmental efforts, including receiving the Secretary of the Navy Environmental Award and the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Achievement Award.
● Accidents and Incidents
The base has been involved in several accidents and incidents over the years, including the crash of a Grumman F-14 Tomcat in 1994 and the crash of a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in 2007. The base has also been involved in several incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles, including the crash of a Northrop Grumman X-47B in 2013. The base has a strong safety record, with a low rate of accidents and incidents compared to other United States Navy and United States Marine Corps bases. The base has been recognized for its safety efforts, including receiving the Secretary of the Navy Safety Award and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program award. The base has been visited by numerous safety experts, including National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Stephen Dickson.
Category:United States Navy bases