Air Force mission takes man 'a million miles' from home

  • Published
  • By Jackie Robertson
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) --  It was a "one-in-a-million" opportunity that Jim Young said has taken him more than a million miles away from home.

Dr. Young, chief historian of the Air Force Flight Test Center here, first made the journey from his Burbank home to his desk here in 1981 and has been driving the same 180-mile stretch of highway ever since.

"I tell people, jokingly, that I chose civilization over convenience," Dr. Young said of his decision to rack up 250,000 miles on each of five cars, "but initially I didn't know if I would stay here.

"We were also happy with our neighborhood and our kids' schools and peer group. So, my wife and I made the decision not to move closer until the kids were out of school, but by that time we were rooted," he said. "So, I'm still driving three to three-and-a-half hours every day."

However, Dr. Young said braving the traffic is still worth it because this is the place to be.

"It is a unique opportunity for someone in my profession to get to land here,” he said. “Over the past 60 years, the major milestones in flight have happened on this base. I didn't realize how lucky I was to work with the exceptional people who have made, and continue to make, it happen and to witness history being made.

"The subject matter continues to be fascinating and extraordinary because year after year Edwards continues to gather the best and the brightest," he said.

During his tenure here, Dr. Young has worked vigorously to preserve and to promote the aviation legacies Edwards builds.

Besides responding to nearly 2,000 inquiries a year, he has completed the center’s official annual histories, produced 23 full-length documentaries and has co-produced more than 250 shorter video briefings.

Dr. Young's work during the past 20 years not only piques his curiosity and creativity, but it has also found a diverse and extensive following.

"At Edwards, you've got interesting subject matter, and, by golly, you've got an audience, and that's extremely important for a writer and a historian," he said. "People are still just fascinated by this place -- both the myth and the reality. That's why I continue to come out here to do my job."