Ex USAF 57-1303

The second prototype of the F-35A (first flight 21 April 2010 and delivered to Edwards 17 May 2010) was used in a series of tests with the internal 25 mm GAU-22/A 4-barrel rotary cannon. The gun is seen here, uncovered and mounted internally near the left wing root. The gun carries 182 rounds and is effective against ground targets. AF-02 is seen here in a test area of Edwards. The Lightning II and its gun were directed to a distance huge sand wall in which the 25 mm rounds were fired.

The fourth F-35A prototype (first flight 30 December 2010 and delivered to Edwards on 22 January 2011) is seen here loaded with AIM-9X Sidewinders and four GBU-12 Paveway II 500-lb. un-powered, laser-guided bombs.

This Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) IV F-35A made its first flight from Lockheed Martin Fort Worth (TX) on 7 November 2012. It stayed with the Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems (LMTAS) up to early 2014 when it was delivered to the USAF Weapons Center in June 2013 at Tyndall. It was then moved to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron and the 31st TES in June 2014 where it stayed until 2017. It was then transferred to Luke AFB (AZ)

This Dragon Lady made its first flight on 1 May'81 and was delivered as TR-1A to NASA on 11 May'81. The TR-1A was handed over to NASA Ames at Moffet Field (CA) as N706NA on 10 Jun'81 and redesignated ER-2. It flew from Ames up to May'96. After a re-engine and modification period, with specific ("S") research systems, the ER-2 was redesignated into ER-2S. The original serial 80-1063 remained on the aircraft. The ER-2S was delivered to Dryden FRC on 3 Nov'97 and reregistered N806NA. It continued flying from DFRC up to Mar'04 when it went into flyable storage. Currently operating out of Palmdale

This 416th FLTS F-16B was retired from (test) service on 22 December 2005 and arrived that day on AMARG. It received inventory code FG0508.

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.