At Mojave we passed a small memorial airpark situated on the corner of the road to Barstow and the main entrance.
A rare CV990 from NASA (N810NA) was the first in row. It was once used to test the main landing gear of the Space Shuttle.
Second was F-4C 64-0741/N403FS that was used as a flight test aircraft during the early days of the QF-4 conversions.
Third and last was a Saab Draken formerly belonging to the Danish Airforce (AT-151/N166TP) used by the National Test Pilot school.
The Gulfstream N37WH from Northrop Grumman was doing some passes.
A relatively short drive to Palmdale to visit the Blackbird Airpark and the adjacent Joe Davies Heritage Airpark.
Three famous products of the Lockheed Skunkworks factory in one picture: A-12, SR-71 and U-2
A-12 60-6924
SR-71 61-7973
U-2 56-6721
The Joe Davies Heritage airpark lies next door but is only open during the weekend. Fortunately you can take pictures of most of the exhibits from the outside but not always from the most favorable angles.
T-38A 63-8182/LB
F-100 54-2299
F-105G 62-4416
F-86 N91FS
F-4D 65-0696
F-14D 164350/AJ-103
F-101F 58-0324
F-104C 57-0915
A-4C 145067
Jetstar N814NA
C-46 44-78019
B-52F 57-0038
B747SR N911NA
On the road back to Mojave we took the exit to Edwards AFB west gate to pay a visit to the Century Circle. A tribute to the F-100 to F-106 jets. There are plans to move the collection of test aircraft that currently are inside the gates of Edwards to this location as well to make them accessible to the general public. Some concrete slabs that will form the base of the display hall are already visible,
YF-100 52-5755
F-101B 58-0288
TF-102A 54-1353
F-104A 56-0790
F-105D 61-0146/HI
F-106B 59-0158
As a bonus they added the sole surviving YC-15 (N15YC). A failed design from McDonnell-Douglas that later served as a base for the C-17. The second proto type was destroyed at Pima years ago.
We drove back to the main road to Las Vegas and from there took the exit to the Edwards AFB north gate. The legendary NASA NB-52B Balls 8 is on display just outside the gate. When we stepped out of the car to take pictures a guard approached us telling us that by no means we should point the camera at the entrance of the base.
Anyway, back to Balls 8 (the name is derived from the serial 0008). This B-52 was used by NASA as a launching platform for all kind of rocket aircraft such as the X-15 and many more. The gondola under the right wing was used to attach these planes.
NB-52B 52-0008
An overview of the various missions it flew can be found on the right side of the fuselage.
More posts from this holiday will find its way to the forum over the coming weeks.
