(Download a higher resolution picture
by clicking on any picture below.) 2003 Edwards AFB Open House
Rehearsal
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(Download a higher resolution picture
by clicking on any picture below.)
The Edwards Air Force Base Open House was held the weekend of October 25-26. During the two-day event, visitors saw new and unique aircraft in the Air Force inventory, and some of the best aerial demonstration pilots and teams performing today. The various demonstrations included Air Force aircraft such as the F/A-22, F-117, F-16, KC-135, C-17, B-1, which set 52 official world records, B-2, as well as NASA aircraft among others. This was also a once-a-year opportunity for taxpayers to see the kind of equipment they buy for the Air Force, and the abilities of the people who test, fly and maintain this equipment.
Airplanes scheduled to perform at the Open House rehearsed their flights on Wednesday, October 22. They were joined by several aircraft that did not participate in the airshow.
The weather was beautiful, sunny and clear. The air was still in the morning with a slight breeze in the afternoon. I was set up just over one mile from the east end of the runway, 500 feet from the centerline, facing away from the sun. About forty photographers spread out along several hundred feet of the runway. Nearly every type of airplane that the Air Force flies flew past several times. The airplanes were usually already off the ground when they got to where I was shooting. The fighters were often in afterburner.
One particularly nice pass was a pair of Raptors from Nellis Air Force Base. One Raptor landed as the other flew a low pass overhead and then around the pattern to land. A B-1B landed. The C-17 dropped two large pallets, then touched down directly in front of me, scratching a cloud of smoke from its tires. A Maryland ANG C-130J took off from mid field and rotated just as it passed me, 1300 feet from where it started rolling. The VISTA F-16 departed and returned and much, much more...
A pair of Lockheed-Martin F/A-22A
Production Representative Test Vehicle (PRTV) Raptors, 99-4010
and 99-4011 of the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group based at Nellis
Air Force Base landed on Runway 22 at the beginning of the day.
Lockheed-Martin F/A-22A PRTV Raptor, 99-4010 of the 53rd TEG.
You can buy framed prints or greeting cards of this photograph.
Lockheed-Martin F/A-22A PRTV
Raptor, 99-4011 opened its payload bay as it taxied down Runway
22.
Lockheed-Martin F/A-22A PRTV
Raptor, 99-4010 of the 53rd TEG. It carries tail code OT.
General Dynamics NF-16D Variable
Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA), 86-0048 is
assigned to the Air Force Test Pilot School.
Northrop T-38A Talon, 61-0904 wears
the ED tail code of the 412th Test Wing.
Lear 25B, N102VS is equipped with a
variable stability control system to allow it to simulate other
types of airplanes in flight. It is owned by the Calspan
Corporation of Buffalo, New York.
Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer,
85-0075 of the 412th Test Wing.
General Dynamics F-16C Block 40A
Fighting Falcon, 87-0352 of the 412th TW carries AIM-9
Sidewinders, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and AGM-88 HARM missiles.
Link to the Federation of American Scientists page about the AGM-88 HARM missile.
Lockheed-Martin F-16C Fighting
Falcon, 83-0118 of the 412th Test Wing based at
Edwards Air Force Base.
General Dynamics NF-16D VISTA,
86-0048
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker,
57-1456 of the 6th Military Airlift Wing taxis along Runway 22 as
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A Globemaster III, 87-0025 prepares
to take off.
The main landing gear doors are just closing on
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker 57-1456 of the 6th Military Airlift
Wing.
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A
Globemaster III, 87-0025 was the first C-17 built.
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A
Globemaster III, 87-0025.
Lockheed-Martin F-22A Engineering, Manufacture,
and Development (EMD) Raptor, 91-4003.
Lockheed-Martin F-22A EMD Raptor, 91-4007 of
the 412th TW.
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15D-34
Eagle 82-0046 Glamorous Glennis of the 412th Test Wing
carried two unusual multi-port sensors during the rehearsal on
Wednesday.
The pod on the left wing of Glamorous
Glennis is the Airborne Turret Infra-red Measurement System
(ATIMS) III.
The left afterburner shut down
first.
General Dynamics F-16C Block 50D
Fighting Falcon, 83-1045 of the 412TW wears an uncommon
camouflage pattern revealing that it formerly belonged to the
Greek Air Force. It is carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-84
Harpoon missiles.
Link to the Federation of American Scientists page about the AGM-84 Harpoon missile.
General Dynamics F-16B Block 15AR
Operational Capability Upgrade (OCU) Fighting Falcon, 92-0454 of
the 412th TW was initially intended for the Pakistani Air Force.
It was embargoed at AMARC for several years.
Boeing NKC-135E Stratotanker,
55-3135 of the 412th TW is equipped with JT3D low-bypass turbofan
engines. It is equipped with multiple ports on the right side of
the fuselage. Its right wing and engines are painted black to
reduce glare.
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15D-38
Eagle, 84-0046 Eagle Pride of the 412th Test Wing.
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15D-38
Eagle, 84-0046 Eagle Pride.
Drogue chutes extract pallets from
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A Globemaster III, 87-0025.
The pallets were
each lowered by a single cargo parachute during the rehearsal.
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A
Globemaster III, 87-0025 of the 412th Test Wing.
Military
Aircraft Static Displays, October 24
NASA and
Vintage Aircraft Static Displays, October 24
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Lockheed-Martin F/A-22A Raptors at Edwards Air Force Base.
A dozen photos of Lockheed-Martin F/A-22A Raptors at Edwards Air Force Base. Raptors pictured include F-22A Engineering, Manufacture Development (EMD) Raptors, 91-4003, 91-4005, 91-4006, 91-4007, and 91-4009 of the 412th Test Wing and F/A-22A Production Representative Test Vehicle (PRTV) Raptor, 99-4010 of the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group.
Put a copy of the Lockheed-Martin F/A-22A Raptors at Edwards Air Force Base: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
Go to the Airshow Page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.
Send a message to Brian.
