Sitting in front of the old tower is this immaculate looking F-4D, which now resides at the Saxon Aerospace Museum in Boron, CA

Parked in the static line-up for the 1984 Open House

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.

After a USAF career with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing this Blackbird made its last flight on 19 Mar'90. It was transferred to the NASA on that same day. The aircraft was intented for use with NASA Dryden (CA) as N832NA as a test aircraft. On the picture it is seen on temporary storage at Dryden, but it lacked its NASA registration. The SR-71A was overhauled at Palmdale in early '95 and redelivered to the USAF in Jun'95 as a gap filler. It flew again from homebase Beale AFB (CA) up to Oct'99, returned to the NASA but went into storage and was eventually dismanteled late 2002.

The early morning sun is wonderfully illuminating this amazingly clean F-106. It is one of the few which survived its use as a drone (see my pic in April 97). It arrived at AMARC on 23 Feb 98 and was the only B Model of the six "Red Tails". It flew at both Holloman and Tyndall. 59-0158 is a former Langley bird with the 48th FIS. It also served as a trainer for the Mercury astronauts. Since 25 Feb 03 it is displayed at the AFFTC Museum, Edwards AFB CA.

One of the SR's brought back to service in the late 90's was 971. Seen here on static display at the 1997 Edwards show, she was officially with the 9RW Det 2 and based at Edwards.

NASA 831 getting prepped for a late afternoon, early evening flight

Edwards based YA-7D sitting at the east end of the vast ramp for the 1984 Open House. The old tower is in the background

F-105D from Hill AFB sits in the static line up at the 1983 Edwards Open House.

What an amazing sight, the Thunderbirds returning to the flightline after another splendid display.

Getting ready to depart Edwards after the 83' Open House, 'Little Demon' pictured here on the ramp during run-up. Painted as "28476", but is in fact ex USAAF 42-25068. This aircraft survives today as 'Snafu'. Note that this was previously reported as c/n 21962, but its Curtiss-Wright dataplate shows c/n 21953.

A 419th FLTS B-52H turns on the runway of Edwards AFB (CA). The aircraft carries a single life GPS guided bomb underneath its pylon.

A KC-10A Extender, normally based on McGuire AFB (NJ) situated on the east side of Continental US, lands on Edwards AFB situated on the west side of CONUS.

The 416th Flight Test Squadron is operating KC-135R in a grey/white/black color scheme. The aircraft is designated NKC-135R. In the US aircraft type designation system, the N is used for test. When the N is attached to the type designation, the concerned aircraft is permanently modified for flight test. So wiring, systems, avionica, aerodynamics, cockpit and so on, could be modified.

A Tucson (AZ) based Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM about to touch down at Edwards AFB (CA) during a F-35A system integration test deployment.

The 445th Flight Test squadron at Edwards AFB (CA) operates some ten T-38C Talons. 851 is seen here just before touch-down at his huge home base.

This former New Zealand Air Force TA-4K Skyhawk (serial NZ6251) is now operating with a US commercial aggressor company based in Lakeland (FL). The Skyhawk still carries the roundels and green colors of its once owner, but received a new serial and large Draken markings on its tail and fuselage.

During system integration tests of the Dutch F-35As, a small detachment of Dutch F-16s was deployed to Edwards AFB. The Fighting Falcons were taken from the Royal Netherlands Air Force 148th Fighter Squadron / 162nd Fighter Wing based at Tucson (AZ) inventory.

This former New Zealand Air Force A-4K Skyhawk (serial NZ6218) is now operating with a US commercial aggressor company based in Lakeland (FL). The Skyhawk still carries the colors of its once owner, but received a new serial and large Draken markings on its tail and fuselage.