▁systems . ▁ ▁Cert ification ▁by ▁Det achment ▁ 5 ▁is ▁required ▁in ▁advance ▁prior ▁to ▁new ▁aircraft ▁prior ▁to ▁AF MC ▁full ▁rate ▁production ▁and ▁combat ▁field ing ▁dec isions . ▁ ▁Det achment ▁ 5 ▁personnel ▁are ▁integrated ▁into ▁the ▁Fl ight ▁Test ▁Center ' s ▁combined ▁test ▁squad rons ▁and ▁provide ▁a ▁critical ▁operating ▁perspective ▁during ▁development al ▁flight ▁testing ▁to ▁help ▁prepare ▁systems ▁for ▁their ▁final ▁oper ational ▁test ▁and ▁evaluation . ▁ ▁Air ▁Force ▁Plant ▁ 4 2 ▁Production ▁Fl ight ▁Test ▁Install ation ▁▁ ▁A ▁remote ▁facility ▁of ▁Edwards ▁A FB , ▁located ▁at ▁Pal md ale , ▁California , ▁Plant ▁ 4 2 ▁is ▁a ▁government - owned , ▁contract or - oper ated ▁facility ▁with ▁proxim ity ▁to ▁both ▁the ▁concentration ▁of ▁a eros pace ▁industry ▁in ▁Los ▁Angeles , ▁and ▁the ▁high - speed ▁cor rid ors ▁and ▁resources ▁of ▁the ▁ 4 1 2 th ▁Test ▁Wing ▁at ▁Edwards . ▁ ▁Plant ▁ 4 2 ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁four ▁Air ▁Force ▁plants ▁located ▁throughout ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁and ▁is ▁uniqu ely ▁situated ▁to ▁fully ▁support ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ' s ▁new est ▁and ▁most ▁advanced ▁a eros pace ▁systems . ▁It ▁provides ▁industrial ▁facilities ▁for ▁production , ▁modification , ▁dep ot ▁maintenance ▁and ▁flight ▁testing ▁of ▁a eros pace ▁systems . ▁It ▁is ▁staff ed ▁by ▁a ▁mixture ▁of ▁civil ian ▁defense ▁contract ors , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁US AF ▁personnel . ▁ ▁NASA ▁Arm strong ▁Fl ight ▁Research ▁Center ▁▁▁ ▁Cont