AC02: Boeing B-52H - NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, #61-0025 - Edwards AFB, CA - 71 Shots: Ext. Notes: #025 is NASA's replacement for the famous B-52B #008, which was retired in 2004 after 50 years of test support service. #025 was last with the 23rd BS at Minot AFB. In 2001, #025 was sent to Programmed Depot Maintenance at Tinker AFB for demilitarization, which took approximately 6 months. It was then returned to NASA Dryden. Shot in 2005

AC03: Boeing C-135C - US Air Force 412th TW, 412th FLTS, "Speckled Trout" #61-2669 - Edwards AFB, CA - 57 Shots: Ext. Notes: The C-135C model designation is rare in the USAF inventory. This aircraft is used at Edwards AFB in a VIP role, and is also utilized in testing various avionics, communications, and other new systems. Shot in 2005

AC04: Boeing F/A-18E - US Navy VX-9 "Vampires", Side #100 BuNo 165780 - China Lake NAWS, CA - 50 Shots: Ext. Notes: This is the CAG ship of VX-9. At the time these photos were taken, it was the first public showing of the white VX 'Bunny', which had recently been applied to the inner tails. The bunny logo was eventually removed about one year later. One oddity you will notice about this aircraft, is the misaligned 'Navy' stencil where the BuNo is on the rear side of the fuselage... The BuNo shown (165804) is actually the BuNo of another Hornet. The panel had for some reason been borrowed, thus the incorrect BuNo on the right side. VX-9 originally had an F/A-18C as its CAG ship before this, which had a very similar scheme. Shot in 2004

AC05: EHI HC-3 Merlin - Royal Air Force 28 Squadron #ZJ130 - Benson RAF, UK - 64 Shots: Ext. & Int. Notes: This fine looking Merlin has more sensors and gadgets hanging off it then you can count. These photos were taken during a deployment to the Western US for testing. Shot in 2004

AC06: General Dynamics F-16ES - US Air Force 412th TW, 416th FLTS, #83-1120 - Edwards AFB, CA - 64 Shots: Ext. Notes: Serials 83-1118 to 83-1124 are F-16C Block 25 aircraft. #83-1120 however, is technically an F-16ES test bed used at Edwards. Among its many test missions, one in particular was the testing of a divertless supersonic air intake for the X-35 program in 1996. Shot in 2005

AC07: General Dynamics F-16A - US Air Force 412th TW, #92-0407 - Edwards AFB, CA - 68 Shots: Ext. Notes: This F-16 technically comes from block 15AQ OCU. This aircraft was one of a group of F-16s that were originally built for the Pakistan AF. Due to political reasons, they were never allowed to be delivered. #407 was embargoed in 9/93 and put into storage. In 2003 this aircraft and others were brought out of storage and sent to Edwards for placement into service. The red & white 'hi-vis' scheme is typically applied to aircraft that are used in a test support role at Edwards. This includes, but is not limited to: 'Chase' support on test missions, Test Pilot School training, and general Pilot proficiency training. Support aircraft at Edwards are pooled between units... Two units that might typically be seen utilizing this aircraft, would be Test Operations 445th FLTS and the Test Pilot School. Shot in 2004

AC08: Hughes AH-1 Apache - UK Army Air Corps HQDDA 667 D&T SQ #ZJ23 - Middle Wallop, Hampshire, UK - 59 Shots: Right Ext. & Cockpit Notes: At the time of these photos, this UK Apache was deployed to the Western US, and being tested by the 667 D&T SQ. Shot in 2004

AC09: Lockheed DC-130A - US Navy VX-30 "Bloodhounds", Side #497 BuNo 570497 - Point Mugu NAS, CA - 44 Shots: Ext. & Partial Rear Int. Notes: This is a very unique and colorful aircraft. #497 was originally with the USAF... It was one of seven DC-130As that the Navy received from the USAF for use in target drone launching and test work. This duty was at one point privatized and run out of Mojave Airport in California, but the Navy eventually took back the responsibility, and reacquired the DC-130As that were still in service. #497 had a brief yet interesting stint in combat during the opening of Operation Enduring Freedom... A VX-30 crew and #497 were tasked with launching drones into Iraq in the earliest days of the war... This was done to try and ferret out some of Iraq's air defenses by tricking them into using their radar and anti aircraft weapons. A logo stenciled next to the front passenger door: "World Jihad Tour - Combat Talon" signifies this mission. At the time these photos were taken, #497 was still in service providing target drone launching with VX-30 at Point Mugu NAS, and was the last remaining DC-130A in service. #497 was due to be retired and replaced with two modified KC-130F aircraft sometime in late 05/early 06. Shot in 2004

AC10: Lockheed ER-2 - NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, #809 - Edwards AFB, CA - 14 Shots: Ext. Notes: The ER-2 is a civilian version of the U-2S used by NASA. There are two ER-2s in service with NASA at Dryden FRC... The second one being #806. These aircraft are used for many different scientific missions... One recent mission was in July 05, when a flight was made near the eye wall of Hurricane Emily, as the storm moved through the Caribbean. Shot in 2004

AC11: Lockheed F/A-22A - US Air Force 412th TW, 411th FLTS, #91-4002 - Edwards AFB, CA - 45 Shots: Ext. Notes: #002 was the second EMD aircraft to leave the Marietta, Georgia facility in 1998. It made its first flight on June 29, 1998 and arrived at Edwards AFB August 26,1998, where it joined 91-4001 in test service. 4002 made its first official public display flight at the Edwards Open House on October 9, 1999. Shot in 2005

AC12: Lockheed NP-3D - US Navy VX-30 "Bloodhounds", Side #340 BuNo 150522 - Point Mugu NAS, CA - 30 Shots: Ext. Notes: This NP-3D is a unique variant of the P-3 Orion, which is sometimes referred to as the "Billboard Orion". Note the 'sail' attached to the leading edge of the tail... This area houses an antenna that can help provide over-the-horizon telemetry during missile launches from Point Mugu NAS or Vandenberg AFB. VX-30 typically has three of these aircraft available, which can provide sea range surveillance and other duties during the testing of weapons... These tests can be anything from Titan Missile launches at Vandenberg AFB, to Submarine launched Tomahawks. Shot in 2004

AC13: Lockheed U-2S - US Air Force WR-ALC Det. 2, #68-0336 - AF Plant 42 Palmdale , CA - 52 Shots: Ext. Notes: Many people falsely assume the U-2 has been out of service for sometime... In reality, the U-2 is still going strong. This particular U-2 belongs to a little known test unit that's based at Palmdale AP, CA. The unit is technically under the command of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center... Thus the 'WR' tail code. This unit is involved with the testing of any new equipment being installed in the U-2 fleet, and it also tests each U-2 after it has undergone any major upgrade... The most recent project being the Reconnaissance Avionics Maintainability Program (RAMP) upgrade, involving the installation of an all new 'glass cockpit' avionics suite to the fleet of existing U-2s. Shot in 2005

AC14: Lockheed Y/F-117 - US Air Force 410th FLTS, #79-0782 - AF Plant 42 Palmdale , CA - 56 Shots: Ext. Notes: #782 was originally known as "Scorpion 3", and was the third of five FSD aircraft delivered at the beginning of the F-117 test program. This being one of the original pre-production models, it has a few visible differences compared to the full production models... The most noticeable being the lack of the 'saw-tooth' canopy edges. Note the "3x3" stenciled on the inside of the front gear door... Rumor has it that this was painted on after an incident early on in the testing of the aircraft, where the Pilot had brake problems and ran off the runway into the dirt... Thus making it a '3x3' off-roader. This aircraft has also had numerous paint schemes... In December of 1983, the entire bottom of the aircraft was painted in a red, white & blue American flag scheme, which on December 14, 1983 was flown over a change of command ceremony for Roger Moseley. This was done four years before the F-117 had been shown to the public. While with the 410th, the aircraft also did a short stint in a light gray scheme. #782 was once again painted in the American flag scheme, and surprised visitors at the Edwards Open House on October 21 & 22, 2005 by doing a fly-by to celebrate its retirement. At the time of its retirement, it was the oldest F-117 model still flying in the AF inventory, with over 1200 flights, and 1500 flying hours. Shot in 2004

AC15: McDonnell Douglas AV-8B - US Navy VX-9 "Vampires", Side #751 BuNo 165585 - China Lake NAWS, CA - 48 Shots: Ext. Notes: VX-9 mainly fly's Hornets, but they also have other aircraft available, such as the AV-8B. This particular Harrier was originally BuNo 163672, but was renumbered after being rebuilt, along with numerous other Harriers. The full model designation for this aircraft is: AV-8B+(R)-27-MC 'Harrier II Plus'. Shot in 2004

AC16: McDonnell Douglas C-17A - US Air Force 412th TW, 418th FLTS, #03-3121 - Edwards AFB, CA - 65 Shots: Ext. & Rear Int. Notes: This C-17A is one of the Globemaster III aircraft that are used as a flying test bed at Edwards AFB. Note the orange tail splash with a silhouette of the Joshua Tree, which is native to the Edwards area. In the photos taken of the rear cargo area, you'll see a roll off pallet that has chairs and equipment racks... This workstation is where personnel monitor data collecting equipment while doing test flights. While this particular C-17A is based at Edwards on a fairly permanent basis, the wing occasional borrows Globemasters from other units for testing as well... Typically these aircraft would be from newer lots. Shot in 2004

AC17: McDonnell Douglas F-15B - US Air Force 412th TW, #73-0114 - Edwards AFB, CA - 12 Shots: Ext. Notes: This F-15 is technically Block 9-MC. The red & white 'hi-vis' scheme is typically applied to aircraft that are used in a test support role at Edwards. This includes, but is not limited to: 'Chase' support on test missions, Test Pilot School training, and general Pilot proficiency training. Support aircraft at Edwards are pooled between units... Two units that might typically be seen utilizing this aircraft, would be Test Operations 445th FLTS and the Test Pilot School. Note that the basic gray nose cone is actually not typical on this F-15... Earlier photographs exist showing the radome to be white with a matching anti-glare black on the top. At the time these photos were taken, the aircraft appears to have been borrowing a nose radome from another F-15. In mid 2005, the 412th TW disposed of their remaining F-15s. #114 had been flying right until the end, and now sits on display at the aircraft museum park located on base. Shot in 2004

AC18: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A - NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, #850 - Edwards AFB, CA - 76 Shots: Ext. Notes: NASA Dryden fly's both F/A-18A and B models. These Hornets are primarily used in a support role... This usually involves flying as 'chase' alongside other various test bed aircraft. The official model designation for #850 is F/A-18-8-MC (Lot 5). The original USN BuNo was 161703. The NASA registration is N850NA. Shot in 2004

AC19: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A - US Navy VX-30 "Bloodhounds", Side #100 BuNo 163122 - Point Mugu NAS, CA - 46 Shots: Ext. Notes: In 2004, VX-30 traded in their Tomcats for Hornets. They now have approximately 4 'A' models and 3 'B' models. #100 is the CAG 'A' model of their Hornet fleet. There is also a matching 'B' model that has the same scheme, which has the side #200. Originally, the mission for VX-30 was to support range test activities at Point Mugu NAS... This would include air to air missile shots, drone shots, and even 'chase' duty for sea launched Tomahawk Missiles. However in 2004, they took on another responsibility... They now play the role of aggressor against Pilots in the fleet during training exercises. Since then, they have applied the adversary 'Red Star' to most of their aircraft. These photos were taken just before they adopted their new mission, so the star had not been applied yet. Shot in 2004

AC20: McDonnell Douglas QF-4E - US Air Force 53rd WG, 82nd ATRS TES Det. 1, #74-0665 - Holloman AFB, NM - 43 Shots: Ext. Notes: The 82nd provides drone target support for the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This aircraft was originally an F-4E, and was sent to AMARC in 1991 to be converted into a QF-4E. In late 2004, #665 started to appear at shows wearing this great South East Asia Camo scheme. Shot in 2004

AC21: McDonnell Douglas QF-4S - US Navy VX-30 "Bloodhounds", Side #107 BuNo 153821 "Scooby" - Point Mugu NAS, CA - 62 Shots: Ext. Notes: This aircraft was originally an F-4J-30-MC. In 2004, the last QF-4s flew out of Point Mugu NAS, which marked the end of the Phantom being flown in the US Navy and Marine Corps. #107 was one of the last remaining Phantoms with VX-30 at the time, and they marked the occasion by listing all the names of people involved in the drone program, on the sides of the aircraft. Shot in 2004

AC22: Northrop AT-38B - US Air Force 412th TW, #62-3715 - Edwards AFB, CA - 42 Shots: Ext. Notes: #715 was originally a T-38A. The white 'hi-vis' scheme is typically applied to aircraft that are used in a test support role at Edwards. This includes, but is not limited to: 'Chase' support on test missions, Test Pilot School training, and general Pilot proficiency training. Support aircraft at Edwards are pooled between units... Two units that might typically be seen utilizing this aircraft, would be Test Operations 445th FLTS and the Test Pilot School. Shot in 2005

WEAPONS: Photographed at the Edwards AFB Expo 2005

AGM-65 Maverick (USAF) - 4 Shots
AGM-154 JSOW - 7 Shots
AGM-158 JASSM (Training) - 4 Shots
AIM-7 Sparrow - 4 Shots
AIM-9 Sidewinder - 7 Shots
AIM-120 AMRAAM - 4 Shots
AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN (Navigation Pod) - 4 Shots
AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Targeting Pod) - 5 Shots
AN/APX-95 (ACMI Pod) - 3 Shots
CBU-87 CEM - 3 Shots
CBU-89 Gator - 4 Shots
CBU-103 WCMD - 7 Shots
GBU-10 Paveway II - 5 Shots
GBU-12 Paveway II - 7 Shots
GBU-24A/B Paveway III - 9 Shots
GBU-28 (Bunker Buster) - 8 Shots
GBU-31(V)1 JDAM - 6 Shots
GBU-31(V)3 JDAM - 8 Shots
GP 750 - 4 Shots
LAU-131/A Rocket Launcher - 3 Shots
M61A1 Aircraft Gatling Gun - 5 Shots
MK-82 - 11 Shots
MK-84 & MAU-12 Rack - 5 Shots
Weapons Loader (USAF) - 6 Shots