This 1976 YF-18A is the 6th McDonnell Douglas built single seat prototype and was delivered to the US Navy on 31 Jan'80 with code 6 to the Naval Air Test Center, NAS Patuxent River (MD). It served the NATC up to 22 Oct'84 when it was transferred to NASA. Initially it carried its BuNo and "NASA 840", in 1985 it received registration N840NA. The Hornet was used from 1987-1996 as a High Alpha Research Vehicle with thrust-vectoring vanes, research flight control system and forward fuselage strakes. Since 2003 it is preserved at the Virginia Air & Space, Hampton (VA). Here pictured at Dryden FRC.

This fiscal year 1979 Hornet was delivered to the US Navy on 11 June 1980. The aircraft was transferred to NASA in 1987 and received NASA 844 on its tail (as pictured). It did not receive a NASA N-registration. It is not clear if the aircraft ever received or carried the N844NA registration. The twelfth Hornet and the tenth single seater built did not serve NASA for a long time as it crashed three miles north of Boron (CA) on 7 October 1988. It is here pictured at a Edwards AFB ramp, outside the NASA Dryden facility.

This long pitot tube equipped Talon did not finished its career on a proper way... it crashed on 21 May 2009 while performing a United States Air Force Test Pilot School (USAFTPS) mission. The goal of the mission was collecting information during a so-called Flying Qualities Longitudinal Static Stability Data mission. This sortie required flying a series of test points at 0.9 Indicated Mach Number and 20,000 ft MSL. The Talon impacted the ground some 12 miles north of homebase Edwards, killing one of the two man crew,

YA-10B Night/Adverse Weather two-seat experimental prototype, the sole dual seat A-10. The aircraft was converted from an A-10A. The unique aircraft, once built as YA-10A, made its first flight from Edwards on 4 May 1979. After several tests, the US Congress did not approve funding for the project, so the whole was cancelled. The aircaft is now preserved at Edwards. It is seen here after its period of storage and was prepared for preservation.

Preserved since September 1995 as Thunderbird 6 at Merced/Castle (CA).

Within the Combined Test Force of the 6512th Test Squadron, this Eagle was involved in the testing of the Anti Satellite Missile (ASAT). The aircraft fired an ASM-135 missile on 21 Dec'82. These tests continued for several years. In 1988, the Reagan Administration cancelled the ASM-135 program because of technical problems, testing delays, and significant cost growth. The Eagle served Edwards up to 1995. It was then stored at AMARC with inventory code FH0116 on 18 May 1995. It was moved to HVF West at Tucson on 25 November 2008 and scrapped.

Delivered to the USAF in late 1978, and directly assigned as a test aircraft with the 6512 Test Squadron at Edwards AFB (CA). It was involved in the air-launched Anti-SATellite (ASAT) program. The Eagle was retired in May 1995 to AMARC on 18 May 1995 and left the storage depot on 18 May 1995. Its forward fuselage was then used at Robins AFB from November 2011 for instruction while the remainder was scrapped.

This T-38A was transferred to the US Navy as 701579 in May 1995 and was modex 17 assigned with the US Navy Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River (MD). The Talon is still flying as such.

This F-4C belonged to the oldest Phantoms at Edwards at the time of the picture. The beast was retired on 4 April 1991 to AMARC and received inventory code FP0646 . It left the storage depot in June 2000 and was probably scrapped.

Prepared for preservation at the base, we encountered this F-101 in primer at one of the platforms of the massive base.

This permanent test (referring to the N in the type designation) recce Phantom is seen at the roller of massive Edwards, with a NKC-135A and an unidentified type in the fare distance, both playing with the Edwards circuit. 65-0941 was stored at AMARC with inventory code FP0746 from 4 September 1991 to 29 November 1994, after which it was donated to Quartzsite (AZ) were it was preserved.

Delivered to the USAF on 15 Feb'86, the then brand-new Eagle was assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards for various kind of tests. It was only moved from squadron in 2007 when it was transferred to the 445th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin AFB (FL) where it served up to 2015. It was then assigned for first operational squadron duty with the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath (UK). After that base retired their F-15C/Ds, it was moved to the Oregon ANG where it served the 114th Fighter Squadron. In an accident, the Eagle departed the runway on 15 May 2023 and was written off.

stored at AMARC with inventory code FG0325 from 5 July 1995

Not the very best click, caused by 100% back light at one of the rollers of Edwards, but this F-16A was used in the test program for the Air Defence Fighter (ADF) variant of the Fighting Falcon. It was moved from the 6512th TS to Lockheed Martin at NAS Fort Worth in 1997 for onboard fire tests. Parts were seen at the dump of the airfield in late 2011. It was gone by mid-2012.

Where did it go...?? Delivered in 1979, this 57th built dual seat Eagle started its career with the 6512th in August 1979 and was last noted there in 1992. The F-15B was then last reported as stored at Boeing St. Louis (MO) in July 1996.

This F-16A was involved in the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night test program, it carried a LANTIRN "Havoc in the Night" badge and a LANTIRN pod on station 5R (right hand of intake). Initial Operational Test & Evaluation of the pod was completed in Dec'84. The USAF approved low-rate initial production of the pod in Mar'85. The first production pod was delivered to the USAF in Mar'87. Tests continued. This F-16A was stored at AMARC with inventory code FG0330 on 13 Jul'95. Check the Israeli F-16A in the background (serial 301) which I was not allowed to photograph.

Within the Combined Test Force of the 6512th Test Squadron, this Eagle was involved in the testing of the Anti Satellite Missile (ASAT). The aircraft fired an ASM-135 missile on 21 Dec'82. These tests continued for several years. In 1988, the Reagan Administration cancelled the ASM-135 program because of technical problems, testing delays, and significant cost growth. The Eagle served Edwards up to 1995. It was then stored at AMARC with inventory code FH0116 on 18 May 1995. It was moved to HVF West at Tucson on 25 November 2008 and scrapped.

SALTY DOG 153 F/A-18A prepares to land on 34R at the now closed MCAS El Toro

This NASA Crusader was put on display at Edwards AFB in 1992 and is still there. photo by: Stephan de Bruijn

One of many Twin Otters traded by Pace Aviation. This rather ratty looking example got no farther than CYWG where it was broken up for parts.