Dryden Orientation Home   The Dryden Flight Research Center, located at Edwards, California, is NASA's primary installation for flight research. Projects at Dryden over the past 50 years have lead to major advancements in the design and capabilities of many civilian and military aircraft. The history of the Dryden Flight Research Center is the story of modern flight research in this country. Since the pioneering days after World War II, when a small, intensely dedicated band of pilots , engineers, and technicians dared to challenge the "sound barrier" in the X-1 , Dryden has been on the leading edge in aeronautics and, more recently, in space technology. The newest, the fastest, the highest - all have made their debut in the vast, clear desert skies over Dryden. We hope that your visit to our web site will be an enjoyable one and that you will gain a better understanding of the vital role that the Dryden Flight Research Center plays in maintaining America's leadership in aeronautics and space technology.