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Showing results for tags 'Edwards AFB'.
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Images of F-16B, s/n 80-0635, when it was operating with the LANTIRN Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB. LANTIRN is an acronym for Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night. The LANTIRN system consisted of two pods beneath the F-16 engine intake. On the left was the AN/AAQ-113 navigation pod (NVP) containing a terrain following radar and forward-looking infra-red sensor. On the right was the AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod (TGP) containing an infra-red sensor and a laser designation system. The LANTIRN CTF tested the LANTIRN system target designation, weapons delivery, and terrain following performance. Another important evaluation was what is referred to as the "pilot-vehicle interface" (PVI), the utility and human factors of the displays and controls as integrated into the F-16. The LANTIRN CTF operated beside the F-16 CTF and was part of the 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center. The LANTIRN test force was absorbed into the F-16 CTF in 1988. March 1984 The LANTIRN logo LANTIRN CTF shield There was a large version of the shield painted on a wall in the General Dynamics maintenance office with the tank illustration replaced with red outlined mountains on either side and a red F-16 bouncing between the mountain sides down the valley. "Havoc in the Dark" indeed. January 1989 Three tank "kills" added to the intake Interesting "kill" markings... Another LANTIRN CTF bird, 81-0688 The cannon ammo drum has been replaced with a flight test instrumentation tape recorder (there's no cannon in there either). Microscale did LANTIRN CTF markings for F-16B 81-0816 on sheet 72-256. Thanks for looking, Sven
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YA-7D, s/n 69-6191, was a support jet with the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB. It was primarily used as a trainer for the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS) and as a support aircraft for other aircraft test flights, usually F-15s or F-16s. March 1981. Most of the YA-7Ds retained the US Navy probe and drogue refueling probe and were never fitted with the flying boom receptacle. July 1984. The "ED" tail codes were added to most 6510th Test Wing Aircraft in 1983 May 1985 with SUU-20 practice bomb suspension units. When the A-7s were used as target/threat aircraft for F-15 or F-16 radar testing, ALQ-131 or ALQ-188 ECM pods would be carried on the mid-wing stations. The trapezoid markings on top of the wing are for optical tracking during TPS spin training/evaluation missions, making it easier to determine the aircraft attitude with ground-based optical trackers and cameras. TPS would spin the A-7 both upright and inverted. January 1989. I had left Edwards for a posting in London in 1985. When I returned to Edwards in 1988, all of the F-4s and A-7s were in white with red visibility markings. Just as well that all the flight test A-10s left Edwards in the Summer of 1985. White and red Warthogs would be just plain wrong. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-20 Tigershark #1, USAF serial number 82-0062, civil registration N4416T. At Edwards AFB for testing done by Northrop Test Operations division. September 1982, with flight test nose boom. They don't show up well, but there are pitch and yaw vanes mounted on the forward tip of the left wing missile rail. The measurements from these vanes were being calibrated against the measurements from the nose boom so they could replace the nose boom with a production radome and still collect sensitive yaw and pitch data during stability and control testing. The two rough fairings near the top and middle of the vertical tail are strain gauges and the associated wiring covered with "speed putty" - not usually painted over so neatly, if painted at all. October 1982, Edwards AFB Open House. Flight test nose boom removed in favor of the "shark nose" radome. January 1983 Enlargement of the above image July 1983, back in the "Coca Cola" scheme with her Paris Salon registration number 339. The mid-tail strain gauges have been removed. September 1983. USAF serial number replaced with the civil registration. Orange indicates flight test unique equipment or modifications. October 1983, on Edwards Runway 22. May 1984, in the middle of the "test fleet" Original canopy configuration For comparison, the production canopy configuration on ship on #2, N3986B. 82-0062 was lost in a fatal G-induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC) crash during a demonstration tour in South Korea, 10 October 1984. Thanks for looking, Sven- 9 replies
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T-38A operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. T-38s were used mostly as safety/photo chase for F-15 and F-16 test missions. Sometimes used as radar targets for airborne radar test missions. December 1983 January 1985 May 1985 February 1989 I really do wish someone would do a real T-38A/C in 1/72 scale. Hasegawa and other have marketed F-5Bs as T-38s. The Sword T-38 is close, but still has some F-5 details. Thanks for looking, Sven
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May 1982: The Ladd Company was at Edwards AFB to shoot some local exteriors and the interiors of the Test Pilot School, control tower and some hangars. An F-104G also came in from the 69th Tac Fighter Training Squadron out of Luke AFB. They wanted the '104 to play the role of the NF-104 "aerospace trainer", re-enacting Chuck Yeager's mishap where he had to bail out after missing the re-entry attitude after the high-altitude zoom climb. The Luftwaffe and the USAF agreed to supply an F-104 from the German training unit at Luke. I think the squadron sent their flagship, hoping to get some screen time for the squadron. The tech advisor noted they couldn't do anything to simulate the rocket motor at the base of the NF-104 vertical tail, but the large "69" on the F-104G tail had to go. Here we see a technician removing the "69" from the tail of 63-13269 on the Edwards AFB transient ramp. Thanks for looking, Sven
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I had originally posted some images of A-7D 69-6217 of the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB back in July 2018. I've since found a few more slides... August 1984 In the lead with 69-6194 July 1989 Thanks for looking, Sven
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Another from the 6512th Test Squadron Bozo Fleet Over the then new Edwards control tower Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-16A 80-0550, F-16 Combined Test Force, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. Evaluation flights of handling qualities (stability and control) of the aircraft with LANTIRN targeting and navigation pods. The pods and pylons are engineering mock-ups. October 1982 and January 1983. Lucky shot as we re-joined and barrel rolled over him to avoid overshooting. Good view of the general arrangement of the spin recovery parachute attachment fittings and associated fuselage reenforcements Straight-in approach to Runway 22 over Rogers Dry Lake. The Boron mines in the background. '550 was a dedicated Performance and Flying Qualities (P&FQ) test aircraft, hence the spin recovery chute fittings for high angle-of-attack and departures testing. '550 would later have an F-16C vertical tail installed to evaluate the effects of the enlarged fairing that was intended to house the Airborne Self-Protection Jammer, which, as it turns out, was never accepted by the USAF. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-16B 81-0817, F-16 Combined Test Force, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, August 1986. Can't say much about this one. USAF images. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-16XL-2, 75-0747, arrives at Edwards AFB, 8 November 1982. The 'cross-country' flight from Fort Worth was made by Lt Col "Joe Bill" Dryden (FCP) and GD test pilot Alex Wolfe (RCP). Joe Bill, as everyone called him, was the only Tactical Air Command pilot assigned to the F-16XL Combined Test Force and would later become a GD test pilot when he retired from the USAF. Alex Wolfe was an ex-USAF pilot with Thud time in Route Pack Six. XL-1 was used as the escort aircraft and was piloted by Lt Col "PC" Burnett, one of two Air Force Operational Test Center (AFOTEC) pilots assigned to the CTF. They made a formation takeoff from Ft Worth which was not briefed to the GD-FW team - the crews did brief it among themselves - made bit of a commotion in the mission control room when they did that. '747 was originally a Full Scale Development F-16A airframe that incurred significant forward fuselage damage during a takeoff roll (a story in itself). The airframe aft of the cockpit was used for XL-2 using a completely new production forward fuselage. Pinning the under carriage. Shut-Down. "Joe Bill" in front, Wolfe in back. State flag of Texas below the FCP instrument coaming. The GE F110 engine exhaust cone. XL-1 had a P&W F100 engine. As on XL-1, dummy AIM-120s bolted to the fuselage. Being pushed back into the hangar for acceptance inspections. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-16XL-1, first time on display at the Edwards AFB Open House, October 1982. Note the relative position of the intake compared to the cockpit. The 1/72 Monogram kit has the intake too far forward, about mid-canopy. Monogram also left out the three-degree tilt up of the tail and the main gear bay is too far aft. The so-called "semi-conformal" carriage pylons. The suspension used T-lugs, so no sway braces were required. The base "bomb dump" guys didn't like them because it meant pulling the standard, closed suspension lugs and installing T-lugs every time weapons were ordered for the XLs. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-16XL-1, 75-0749, arrives at Edwards AFB to begin the combined test program and competition with the F-15E in the Derivative/Dual-Role Fighter Competition. The XL had accomplished several flights at General Dynamics Fort Worth to demonstrate basic airworthiness before being delivered to Edwards by GD test pilot Jim McKinney. 18 July 1982. That's a gun butt in the background (right). Never did find out why an 8th Tac Fighter Wing aircraft was used to escort the XL, or if it continued on to South Korea or went back to Fort Worth. The entry stairs are unique to General Dynamics and had two different configurations corresponding to single-seat and two-seat F-16s. The AMRAAMs are just shapes with no upper wings/fins. As the XLs never had missile launchers installed, the AMRAAM shapes were bolted to the fuselage. Preparing to swing her around and push her into the maintenance hangar for acceptance inspection. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-16A 78-0064, F-16 Combined Test Force, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. F100 engine Digital Electronic Engine Control development program. February 1983. August 1983. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-16B 81-0817, 6516th Test Squadron/F-16 Combined Test Force, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, 1989. On the F-16 CTF ramp, January 1989. 23 February 1989. Thanks for looking, Sven
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An FB -111A, 68-0254, came to Edwards AFB in the late 1980s, at first for an F-111 Avionics Modernization Program then an F-111 Digital Flight Control System test program. The aircraft was assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center. Some sources say that by this time she was an F-111G, but as far as I can remember, she was listed as an FB-111A on the Test Operations schedule board and the crews logged FB-111A time. Mission recovery in 1989 with test nose boom and the aircraft named "Pappy's Passion", no unit markings applied. I was fortunate enough to fly a safety chase mission on her a year later. The test nose boom has been replaced with a production pitot probe, the ED tail code and AFFTC tail band have bee applied, and the aircraft name is now "Future Shock". Thanks for looking, Sven
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My first safety chase mission for the F-16XL program, 22 July 1982. We were in an F-4. XL-1 was doing basic performance and propulsion test points. Some of my images are oddly framed or cropped, but my agreement with all of the pilots I flew with was that my photography was on a non-interference basis with the missions. Tracking test points, keeping tabs on the test aircraft and watching for potential conflicting traffic were my duties so my "little camera (Canon A1) better not get in the way". Notice the "angle iron" brackets holding the aft AIM-120 missile shapes in place. The forward shapes had bolts running through the missile bodies themselves to fasten them to the airframe. I'll post more as I clean my slides and get them scanned. Thanks for looking, Sven
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A-7D 69-6194, operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, October 1984. Headed toward the Superior Valley weapons range with a single SUU-20 loaded with six BDU-33 practice bombs. Store separation cameras are mounted on the intake, left wing tip and the aft fuselage to record the BDU-33 releases. Name beneath the windscreen is Maj Gen Peet Odgers, the AFFTC commander. Lined up on Runway Departing Edwards pattern Doing our all-around visual inspection to confirm "Clean and dry" Dropping singles Looks like one BDU-33 doesn't want to go Confirming a "hung" bomb Returning to base (RTB) with one BDU-33. Thanks for looking, Sven
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Refueling F-16XL #2, 75-0747, assigned to the F-16XL Combined Test Force (CTF), 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. The KC-10A was out of March AFB. This event taking place at dusk over the Sierra Nevada foothills, March 1983. XL-2 in pre-contact position, waiting for clearance from the "boomer". I can still hear the boomer softly singing "Boom Operator" to the tune of "Smooth Operator" during this event. Taking fuel, couldn't see the boom from my position in the boom operator's station. This image was used in the CTF to emphasize the "C" stood for "Combined". The pilots wear the patches of AF Systems Command and Tactical Air Command. Other players in the CTF were AF Operational Test Center, General Dynamics, Pratt & Whitney, and General Electric. Disconnect from the boom as the sun gets lower. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-4D, 65-0631 of the 141st Tac Fighter Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard. On the Edwards AFB transient ramp in January 1982. Thanks for looking, Sven
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T-38 70-1558, operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. On the Edwards main ramp, March 1981. Formation proficiency mission, July 1984. That's Rogers Dry Lake below. Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) badge added to the tail. On approach to Runway 22. The dashed lines on the lakebed indicate an emergency runway. The solid line is a reference for doing Tower Fly-By passes, a pitot static calibration technique. Thanks for looking, Sven
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T-38A 68-8158, operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. Formation proficiency mission, August 1984. Modified downwind, extending for a formation landing. Edwards main base below. On approach to landing over the dry lake. Formation landing. May 1985. Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) shield added on the tail. '158 as the Test Center Commander's bird, Brig Gen Roy D. Bridges - even the equipment storage box is marked - September 1992. Air Force Logistics Command and AFSC had just merged to form Air Force Materiel Command, the shield that now appears on the tail. In another month or so, the USAF Chief of Staff wanted all 4-digit unit designations abolished, so the 6512th Test squadron became the 445th Flight Test Squadron, and the 6510th Test Wing became the 412th Test Wing. Thanks for looking, Sven
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ZA144 of 101 Squadron, Edwards AFB transient ramp, August 1984. Never did find out why she stopped in. Thanks for looking, Sven
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RF-4Cs 63-7744 and 65-0850, the last two Phantoms to fly out of Edwards AFB, 24 June 1992. The two were operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center. Heading for storage at AMARG, Davis-Monthan AFB with three bags full - one of the few times these jets carried stores. For at least 15 years, the RF-4Cs at Edwards were used as curriculum aircraft for the USAF Test Pilot School, primarily as stability and control/flying qualities demonstrators and data collection aircraft. Since the curriculum included test points at Mach 1.4, the jets almost always flew without stores or pylons. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-4E s/n 66-0289 is an ex-Thunderbird and served as a test support aircraft at Edwards AFB, 1978 through 1991. Operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, throughout the early 1980s is was part of the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) chase flight, hence the white upper wings with the camouflage schemes. Safety chase proficiency mission, August 1984. That's a deer silhouette in grey on the left intake vari-ramp. In January 1984 we took '289 to Eglin AFB. On landing we took a deer down the left side damaging the external tank and the main gear door. We left the jet for repairs and when we came back ten days later, the Eglin maintenance troops had applied the deer kill marking and the legend "DEER SLAYER" in 2-inch block letters on the cannon fairing - barely visible in the image above, beneath the air conditioning ram air scoop. Practice weapon delivery, rolled inverted and pulling to the desired dive angle. Formation final approach to Runway 22 Taxiing in after a few fly-bys at the Edwards Open House, October 1989 July 1990 The deer kill marking. That's me in a posed "hero" shot for the squadron album in 1984. '289 is now on display in thunderbird colors at the Castle Air Museum. Thanks for looking, Sven
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F-4C of the 163rd Tac Fighter Squadron, Indiana Air National Guard, on the Edwards AFB transient ramp, October 1983. 122FW squadron bands on the rudder, from top to bottom: 113th Tac Fighter Squadron (Human Field, Terre Haute, Indiana), 184th Tac Fighter Squadron (Fort Smith, Indiana), and 163rd Tac Fighter Squadron (Fort Wayne, Indiana). Thanks for looking, Sven