Naval Air Warfare Center
Encyclopedia
Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster was a U.S. Navy military installation located in Warminster, Pennsylvania
and Ivyland
, Pennsylvania
. For most of its existence, the base was known as the Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville, NADC, or simply, Johnsville.
The U.S. Navy purchased the grounds to establish this facility from the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
following its bankruptcy in the 1940s. The Brewster Buccaneer dive bomber was produced by Brewster at this location. It was named Brewster Field. After the US Navy took over in 1944 , It was renamed NAMU (Naval Manufacturing Unit Johnsville).It was a modification center for fleet aircraft before joining the fleet. Wing panels for PBY's were manufactured here for assembly on planes at Mustin Field at the Philadelphia Naval Aircraft factory. The famous F4f Chance Vought Corsair was also modified here, with the Brewster F3A version being built here during WW2. It was renamed a Naval Air Development Center in 1952.
The facility played an important role in Project Mercury
. Since Johnsville possessed the world's largest centrifuge, capable of spinning a man to at least 16g, (42g max 19g/s onset) it was used for astronaut training.
The centrifuge was later used for flight simulation where it could simulate 6 degrees of freedom with g loading. The F-14 flat spin on takeoff issue was investigated and resolved on the DFS Centrifuge. Later endeavors included supine seat experiments, G-Tolerance Improvement Program (GTIP), and F/A-18 simulation. The DFS Centrifuge building (formerly building 70) is currently being refurbished as a museum.
The base was closed by the federal government Base Realignment and Closure
action in the 1990s and its operations were transferred to Naval Air Station Patuxent River
in Lexington Park, Maryland
.
One of the key operations of this large, dome-shaped, underground facility was the engineering of Navigational Equipment, including gyroscopes, used for inertial navigation systems on military aircraft and submarines.
The 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) runway at the base was able to accommodate the C-5 Galaxy
military cargo aircraft.
It is now home to an industrial park, Warminster Community Park, a housing development, the new Bucks County morgue and crime lab and Ann's Choice, a senior citizens' housing complex. Stormtracker6, the Doppler weather radar for WPVI is also located there. Popular internet podcasts The Stabcast and Happy Hour are also recorded live there.
It also is currently part of the EPA's superfund areas, being contaminated by toxic waste.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and Ivyland
Ivyland, Pennsylvania
Ivyland is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as one of the finest collections of Victorian Buildings in the state and most of it is on the National Register of Historic Places...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. For most of its existence, the base was known as the Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville, NADC, or simply, Johnsville.
The U.S. Navy purchased the grounds to establish this facility from the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation was a North American defense contractor that operated from the 1930s until the end of World War II.It started existence as an aircraft division of Brewster & Co., a company that originally sold carriages and had branched into automobile bodies and airplane parts...
following its bankruptcy in the 1940s. The Brewster Buccaneer dive bomber was produced by Brewster at this location. It was named Brewster Field. After the US Navy took over in 1944 , It was renamed NAMU (Naval Manufacturing Unit Johnsville).It was a modification center for fleet aircraft before joining the fleet. Wing panels for PBY's were manufactured here for assembly on planes at Mustin Field at the Philadelphia Naval Aircraft factory. The famous F4f Chance Vought Corsair was also modified here, with the Brewster F3A version being built here during WW2. It was renamed a Naval Air Development Center in 1952.
The facility played an important role in Project Mercury
Project Mercury
In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
. Since Johnsville possessed the world's largest centrifuge, capable of spinning a man to at least 16g, (42g max 19g/s onset) it was used for astronaut training.
The centrifuge was later used for flight simulation where it could simulate 6 degrees of freedom with g loading. The F-14 flat spin on takeoff issue was investigated and resolved on the DFS Centrifuge. Later endeavors included supine seat experiments, G-Tolerance Improvement Program (GTIP), and F/A-18 simulation. The DFS Centrifuge building (formerly building 70) is currently being refurbished as a museum.
The base was closed by the federal government Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
action in the 1990s and its operations were transferred to Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
"Pax River" redirects here. For the river, see Patuxent River.Naval Air Station Patuxent River , also known as NAS Pax River, is a United States Naval Air Station located in St. Mary's County, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Patuxent River. It is home to the U.S...
in Lexington Park, Maryland
Lexington Park, Maryland
Lexington Park is a census-designated place in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States, and the principal community of the Lexington Park, Maryland Micropolitan Statistical Area...
.
One of the key operations of this large, dome-shaped, underground facility was the engineering of Navigational Equipment, including gyroscopes, used for inertial navigation systems on military aircraft and submarines.
The 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) runway at the base was able to accommodate the C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
military cargo aircraft.
It is now home to an industrial park, Warminster Community Park, a housing development, the new Bucks County morgue and crime lab and Ann's Choice, a senior citizens' housing complex. Stormtracker6, the Doppler weather radar for WPVI is also located there. Popular internet podcasts The Stabcast and Happy Hour are also recorded live there.
It also is currently part of the EPA's superfund areas, being contaminated by toxic waste.