1988 China Lake NWC Airshow

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China Lake Naval Weapons Center held an airshow on April 16, 1988. At the time, China Lake was home to the VX-5 Vampires.

Traffic entering the base for the airshow was directed past this large collection of retired Navy aircraft that includes:

Douglas LC-117D (R4D-8L), N31310 of the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory. BuNo 12431 was built as a C-47A. Its Army Air Force Serial was 42-23666. The FAA database indicates that its registration was revoked in 1976 and that it was equipped with turboprops (in error).
Douglas LC-117D (R4D-8L), N722NR of the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory . The FAA database indicates that its registration is still valid.
Air Force Boeing C-97K Stratofreighter, 52-2669.
Douglas F-6A (XF4D-1) Skyray, 124587 set a world speed record of 752.944 miles per hour on October 3, 1953. It is now on display at the U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology at China Lake.
Douglas A-1D (AD-4N) Skyraider, 127007 is now on display on the USS Yorktown at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.
Grumman F-9F (F9F-6) Cougar, 128109 is now on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.
Douglas EA-1E (AD-5W) Skyraider,135188 is now in airworthy condition at the Olympic Flight Museum in Olympia, Washington.
Douglas A-4A (YA4D-1) Skyhawk, 137818 was the sixth YA4D-1.
Grumman F-111B, 152715.
North American RA-5C Vigilante, 156640.

Since that photograph was taken, several of the historic aircraft have been taken from China Lake by air museums elsewhere.

General Dynamics F-16N Fighting Falcon 47 served as an aggressor at the Navy's Top Gun school until grounded by wing fatigue cracks.

Douglas TA-4E Skyhawk, 152102, NWC 042 was the first two-seat Skyhawk. It has a modified nose for testing missile seeker heads.

The White Whale. Douglas NA-3B (A3D-2) Skywarrior, 142630 of the NWC. It also has a modified nose for testing missile seeker heads. The nose was later replaced with a standard Skywarrior nose. It sits on celebrity row at AMARC.

McDonnell-Douglas QF-4N Phantom II, 152968, 412.

North American QF-86F Sabre, former Japan Air Self Defense Force 72-7711, NWC 891 was the base commander's personal mount. It was assembled in Japan by Mistubishi from components manufactured by North American.

John Collver takes off in North Amercian SNJ-5 Texan War Dog, N1038A has been a familiar sight on the airshow circuit for many years.

Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, 152853, VX-5 13 was later transferred to the Israeli Air Force. Its Douglas construction number is 13499. It has returned to the United States and is now registered to Advanced Training Systems International of Mesa, Arizona as N250WL.

Vought A-7E Corsair, 159271, VX-5 03 and TA-7C Corsair, VX-5 06.

Grumman A-6E Intruder, 162190, VX-5 21 and A-6E, 154170, VX-5 25. Intruder 162190 (backgound) was built as an A-6A and later upgraded to A-6E standard. It was later transferred to VA-75 Sunday Punchers. Intruder 154170, (foreground) is now on display at the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation at MCAS Miramar.

McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, VX-5 34, and F/A-18C-23, 163432, VX-5 35.

Bell AH-1W Cobra, 162537, VX-5 44.

Formation of six VX-5 aircraft includes Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, 152853, VX-5 13; Vought A-7E Corsair, 159271, VX-5 03; TA-7C Corsair, VX-5 06; Grumman A-6E Intruder, 162190, VX-5 21; McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, VX-5 34; and F/A-18C Hornet, 163432, VX-5 35.

McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier, 162966 of VX-5 was used to demonstrate Night Attack systems. It later crashed near NAS China Lake on September 27, 1994.

Formation of four VX-5 aircraft includes Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, 152853, VX-5 13; Vought A-7E Corsair, 159271, VX-5 03; TA-7C Corsair, VX-5 06; and Grumman A-6E Intruder, 162190, VX-5 21.

McDonnell-Douglas FA-18A Hornet, 161528, Blue Angels #6.

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