CONGRESSMEN PRAISE AIR BASE'S ASSETS; LAWMAKERS PLAN TO PROMOTE, PROTECT EDWARDS AFB IN CAPITOL.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Promoting the assets of Edwards Air Force Base will be the key to warding off attempts to cut the base's missions and jobs, three congressmen said during a visit Wednesday.

In a rare gathering, Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield; Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita; and Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, came to Edwards to be briefed on the base's ongoing missions.

After meeting with Maj. Gen. Richard Engel, the three congressmen praised the base as a national treasure.

``We do not want to see it diminished in anyway,'' McKeon said.

Thomas said Edwards would come out on top in any decision based on merit regarding where future flight testing should be conducted, a reference to an idea being discussed at Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C., to move Edwards missions to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

``There is no asset any place in the world that equals this base,'' Thomas said. ``We have not promoted our assets as vigorously as the others have.''

The plan now, the congressmen said, is to bring to Edwards their fellow members of Congress who are in key positions.

``There needs to be a constant reminder of how important these assets are, not only to us, but to the entire Congress,'' Lewis said.

In response to complaints from Antelope Valley lawmakers, the Air Force has acknowledged having ``very preliminary discussions at Headquarters Air Force levels'' about forming a Proving Command in which Edwards' Air Force Flight Test Center would be placed under Eglin's authority.

However, the service said there is ``no discussion or intent to move any missions from Edwards Air Force Base.'' The Air Force statements have done nothing to relieve concerns by local leaders or base workers who are worried about the impact such a move would have on the valley's economy. Edwards has approximately 13,000 workers, making it the largest center of employment in the Antelope Valley.

Of that total, the Air Force Flight Test Center employs 3,632 military personnel and 2,899 government civilians.

State Sen. William ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, has fired off letters to state and federal officials urging them to organize and kill the Eglin proposal.

Knight, a retired Air Force test pilot and former Flight Test Center vice commander, argues that encroaching population growth and flat, unvaried terrain limit the Florida base's ability to conduct flight tests.

McKeon and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., wrote a letter last month urging Secretary of the Air Force Sheila Widnall to drop the Proving Command idea. If there is any consolidation, it should involve bringing test activities to Edwards, the two wrote.

Eglin specializes in testing munitions, communication systems, computers and surveillance and reconnaissance gear. Edwards tests aircraft, electronic warfare gear and aviation electronics.