![Edwards Air Force Base on Twitter: "#OTD 10 Jan 1989 - The Strategic Systems Combined Test Force conducted the first free-flight launch of a Tacit Rainbow missile, at the China Lake test Edwards Air Force Base on Twitter: "#OTD 10 Jan 1989 - The Strategic Systems Combined Test Force conducted the first free-flight launch of a Tacit Rainbow missile, at the China Lake test](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EN9EmcaWkAMuY_d.jpg)
Edwards Air Force Base on Twitter: "#OTD 10 Jan 1989 - The Strategic Systems Combined Test Force conducted the first free-flight launch of a Tacit Rainbow missile, at the China Lake test
October 6, 1992: China Lake Weapons Testing Area Opened to Air Force Flight Test Center > Air Force Test Center > News
![An air-to-air right side view of an F/A-18A Hornet aircraft, armed with an AIM-7 Sparrow missile, over the China Lake Test Range, California Stock Photo - Alamy An air-to-air right side view of an F/A-18A Hornet aircraft, armed with an AIM-7 Sparrow missile, over the China Lake Test Range, California Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/PGC701/an-air-to-air-right-side-view-of-an-fa-18a-hornet-aircraft-armed-with-an-aim-7-sparrow-missile-over-the-china-lake-test-range-california-PGC701.jpg)