Tonopah Test Range
Tonopah Test Range (TTR, also known as Area 52) is a restricted military installation used by the United States Department of Defense and Department of Energy, located approximately 30 miles southeast of Tonopah, Nevada. It forms part of the northern edge of the Nevada Test and Training Range, covering 625 square miles. TTR is situated around 70 miles northwest of Groom Lake, home to the Area 51 facility.
Though less famous than Area 51, Tonopah is significant in classified aircraft development, nuclear stockpile stewardship, and military R&D. Its airspace—restricted area R-4809—is frequently used for advanced flight testing and military operations.
Description
The range is owned by the United States Department of Energy and managed by Sandia National Laboratories under a USAF permit. It lies within the Great Basin Desert in Cactus Flat valley, flanked by Cactus Peak and Kawich Peak. Vegetation includes black sagebrush and creosote bush, with populations of wild horses, burros, coyotes, pronghorn, mule deer, and sage birds monitored by the Bureau of Land Management.
Airfields
The TTR hosts a major airfield with a 12,000 ft runway and several hangars. Multiple abandoned WWII-era airstrips are scattered across the range, with only Mellan Airstrip—11 miles southeast—still operational for tactical transport training.
Mancamp
Located 6 miles north of the airfield, Mancamp is a housing and recreation facility featuring dormitories, a pool, fitness center, and sports facilities. Some infrastructure has been removed since 2000, but most of the site remains in use.
Sandia Operations
The TTR Operations Control Center (Area 3) handles Sandia activities, with oversight for tests and safety monitoring using high-speed imaging and radar. While no nuclear detonations have occurred on-site, Project Rollercoaster in 1963 dispersed plutonium during weapons destruction exercises.
History
Originally used for mining, the region was converted into a military range in 1956, with testing beginning in 1957. It replaced the haze-affected Salton Sea site as the Department of Energy’s preferred test range.
Constant Peg
Between 1979 and 1988, Tonopah hosted the classified "Constant Peg" program, giving USAF pilots combat experience against Soviet aircraft including MiG-17s, MiG-21s, and MiG-23s. Operated by the 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron ("Red Eagles"), the program was declassified in 2006.
Stealth Operations
From 1982 to 1989, F-117 stealth fighters operated covertly from Tonopah before public acknowledgment. Shuttles linked Mancamp to the airfield and regular Janet flights transported personnel from Nellis and McCarran.
Environmental Incidents
In 1988, 61 horses died after a contractor dumped urea in a pond. Though fined, the incident resurfaced in 2007 amid groundwater concerns and whistleblower complaints to the EPA and Senator Harry Reid.
Foreign Missile Testing
The TTR has hosted tests of Russian-made S-300PS SAM systems, acquired secretly for use in evaluating U.S. aircraft and UAV survivability. Units involved include the MQ-9, RQ-170, and F-35 under the 53rd Wing’s direction.
Popular Culture
- Featured in Las Vegas Channel 8 and History Channel's *UFO Hunters*
- Referenced as Area 52 in *Stargate SG-1*, *Total Drama World Tour*, *Looney Tunes: Back in Action*, and *World of Warcraft*
- Musical reference in Camellia's album *U.U.F.O.*
See Also
- Dugway Proving Ground
- Aberdeen Proving Ground
- Air Force Flight Test Center
- Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake
- Nevada Test Site
