The first dual seat F-18 seen here at the flightline of Dryden FRC. The Hornet, originally built by McDonnell Douglas as YF-18B-2 (ordered by the US Navy in FY76) was first seen, fresh from the production line, in late 1979 and del;ivered on 5 Jan'80. The US Navy designated it TF-18A. The Hornet was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center at Pax River as T1 and modex 150. It was recoded 7T-150 and transferred to the NASA on 24 Jul'86. It was used as a system research aircraft (SRA) and became a dedicated SRA with multiple modifications from Oct'91. It is reported stored from Jun'86 at Armstrong.

This Talon (USAF serial 65-10353) served NASA Johnsen from 10 February 1966 up to 28 September 1972. It became N967NA with NASA Johnson Space Center on 12 October 1994. It was later modified to T-38N.

First taking to the air in June of 1955, this B-52 began its illustrious, nearly 50-year USAF and NASA career as a bomb navigation system test airplane for the USAF's B-52 fleet. Ironically, test bomber spent most of its career dropping flight research vehicles rather than bombs. In 1959, it became one of two mothership launch aircraft for the X-15 program, which paved the way for America's early manned spaceflight efforts. Nicknamed "Double-0-Eight" and "Balls Eight" cut its teeth launching 106 of the 199 X-15 flights. At its retirement on 17 December 2004, Balls 8 was the oldest active B-52.

Ex Luftwaffe RF-104G 24+64. This Starfighter arrived at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center on 2 July 1975 and remained in service up to October 1993. It is now preserved at Edwards.

A view from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility to Edwards AFB. Check the SR-71B on the right hand side of the picture. The Blackbird was on its way to one of the runways of Edwards.

This early manufactured F/A-18A (Block 4) was delivered to the US Navy with BuNo 161214 on 8 August 1980. The aircraft served Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 4 and then VFA-125 from October 1982. It was converted to F/A-18A(R) and was assigned to the NATC from October 1985. The Hornet was transferred to the NASA on 28 August 1987 and became 161214 with code NASA 842 (as pictured). Later it was (unconfirmed) reported as N817NA with code NASA 842. It was stored at Edwards in May 1995 and was cannibalized. Since 13 February 1997 preserved with the Jethawks Stadium at Lancaster (CA).

The PIK-20E was a sailplane flown at NASA's Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility (now Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California) between 1981 and 1991. The vehicle, was used as a research vehicle on projects calling for high lift-over-drag and low-speed performance. Later NASA used the PIK-20E to study the flow of fluids over the aircraft's surface at various speeds and angles of attack as part of a study of airflow efficiency over lifting surfaces.

A year later this recce Phantom was sold to the Greek AF.

Still with the old badge on the fin

Waiting for its shelter for the naxt mission. 1991 Tiger Meet colors. The last with the RF-4E.

The sole SR-71B for NASA is seen here at the platform of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB (CA). Unfortunately, the full back light did not create the very best picture... The trainer was prepared for a familiarisation flight, its first official research flight for Dryden DFRC took place some two years later, on 9 March 1993. NASA 831 is former USAF 64-17956 and was delivered to the NASA on 25 July 1991 after a long USAF service that started in November 1965. After its NASA career the aircraft was dismantled and delivered to the Kalamazoo (MI) Air Zoo in March 2003 for perservation.