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A disclaimer: this set is from my collection but are official Air Force Flight Test Center photos. The AFFTC reference numbers are on the images. When I moved from the F-16XL Combined Test Force (CTF) in 1984 to the 6512th Test Squadron (Test Ops), there were two clean-outs taking place. The A-10 CTF was closing, in part to make room for the Advanced Tactical Fighter CTF, the YF-22/YF-23 competition, and because A-10 development flight test was pretty much coming to an end. A quarter mile away, Test Ops was making room to accept the two remaining A-10 test programs that had to be completed before the last of the Hogs were traded to Eglin in exchange for a couple of A-7Ds. The Hog trade was a logistic consideration to consolidate A-10 test operations at Eglin with the 3246th Test Wing, while consolidating A-7D test support operations at Edwards with the 6510TW. A-7D testing was rarely required at this point in the SLUFF's life cycle, but the SLUFF was still a valued support aircraft and part of the USAF Test Pilot School curriculum as a systems bird and spin instruction airframe. At the A-10 building, we were told to throw out anything that we didn't want - apparently the engineers and history office had already picked over the vacating offices. I found these pictures in the back of a desk drawer. At Test Ops, in closing a door that had apparently been propped open for 25 years, on the back of the door was a map showing all the X-15 emergency landing sites from Utah down to Southern California, with appropriate notes. I don't know what I was doing that was so important, but I made a mental note to come back to save the map for myself. When I got back about 30 minutes later it was GONE! Of course no one knew what I was on about when I asked where the map went - "Map? What map?" Pulling of hair, rending of flight suit - you get the idea... Anyway, the pics. One from 1979, the rest from 1980. Icing tests of what I am quite sure is Full-Scale Development (FSD) jet, s/n 73-1667. This is the 1979 picture. Note the camera mounted on the right wing tip. I think it is focused on the right engine intake. The orange outline of the access panel aft of the cockpit indicates special test instrumentation is located there. There is also a non-standard outlet mounted proud of the panel. Several ice measuring probes are visible on the aircraft nose, the landing gear sponson, the wing leading edge, and at the front of the Pave Penny shape. As usual, the water from the icing tanker has yellow dye for in-flight visualization. Into 1980... Wing-tip camera removed. With A-37B chase, showing the typical icing test set-up. Approaching the icing rig at the end of the tanker boom. Some ice build-up Probably near the limit for ice on the wing leading edge. The little orange rectangles are the attachment points for the ice probes. Often published October 1975 photo of three FSD jets with the two YA-10 prototypes at the back. That's '667 up front. Behind her is '666, later to become one of my test jets for Nitramine ammunition trials and terrain avoidance system tests. The next, with the "1" on the tail is '664, eventually modified to the two-seat Night/Adverse Weather configuration. then 71-1370 and 71-1369. Thanks for looking, Sven

Hello, Here is a scratch-built X-56A MUTT. The X-56A is a small unmanned Flying Wing which was built to test ways to overcome wing flutter. I build for the First Flights Wall display at the AFFTC Museum at Edwards AFB. This is a 1/72nd collection of everything that had a first flight at Edwards AFB. The model was carved from sheet polystyrene and the decals are ALPS printed. David Muroc Models

I thought I'd share a few shots from a recent trip I had out to the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif. They were kind enough to allow me some nice photo-ops and, as would be expected, there's was a grand vareity of USAF, as well as international aircraft flying about the day I visited, so here's just a sampling of the highlights...enjoy! NASA F/A-18B from Dryden Flight Research Center which shares the dry lakebed and runways with Edwards. It was flying chase for NASA 853 (below) NASA F/A/-18A with some sort of experimental payload on the dorsal spine--she was flying a two-ship with NASA 846 (above) A Norwegian F-16 landing at Edwards--note the '666' tail number...not certain if that's serial, or humourous... A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey put on quite a show, banking right over my head. She's from the USMC's dedicated tiltrotor test and eval squadron, VMX-22... F-16BM of the Royal Danish Air Force, assigned as an F-35 test support aircraft with the 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards. I didn't see this one fly, but it was an attractive paint scheme none the less... I guess the test pilots fight over this F-16B--it was the only Falcon on the flight line still painted in the old orange and white test pilot school colours--most are currently grey...though that may change, we shall see... The F-16B looked tidy from a distance, but there was some nice wear and tear for modelling interest (trailing edge of the wing here) ...and a shot of the midnight-blue underside with some more fantastic weathering... I've got a few more shots at my Flickr page if you're interested: ...not really enough room to post them all...maybe some F-16 modelling inspiration there though, Cheers & happy building! Arie C.