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ISSUE
102 - January 2010
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2009
Edwards AFB Open House Part 1 |
By Bernard Zee,
Contributing Editor & Photographer
Fremont, California |
Edwards AFB hasn't had an open house
event for 3 years, so there was a lot of interest in the 2009
show. Edwards is the main Air Force flight test center for
the U.S. with a rich aviation history behind it. One of the
more famous exploits there was Chuck Yeager breaking the sound
barrier in the X-1. Edwards is also known for being the alternate
landing site for the Space Shuttle.
For some reason, I wanted
to get there before the gates opened at 7am. In retrospect,
it was a darn good thing I did! Even at 6am, there was a line
of vehicles waiting to get in. By 7, there was a long line
of headlights stretching back on the one lane road from the
main entrance. I found out later that as the day wore on, that
line would get longer and longer, and it would take some people
almost 5 hours before they parked, went through security, got
on a bus, and finally make it on base!
Needless to say, getting
out was really quite nasty as well. The traffic flow and control
did not take into account trying to get 250,000 people out
at the same time. However, IF you could get past the traffic
situation, you were in for a treat, as there were some fantastic
displays and flying to be seen at the Edwards Open House air
show. Oh, and it got HOT too. Something about being a desert
and all that. |
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At the entrance to the base was this grand
old B-52. This 0008 plane was used
by NASA to launch the X-planes.
Lit by the orange rays of the early dawn light. |
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In the hangar on base, a B-1B bomber - otherwise
known as the BONE. |
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As a treat, Edwards had their recently refurbished
SR-71 Blackbird
out on display - an awesome plane with an
equally awesome history!
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Another interesting and unusual aircraft
there was the F-16XL. With a cranked
arrow delta wing, it had
twice the wing area of a standard F-16.
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NASA has its version of the U-2, looking
much more friendly in gloss white.
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A Hughes Loach helicopter. Reminded me of
the one flown by T.C. in Magnum P.I. |
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The T-33 Acemaker was also there at Edwards. |
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Also shiny is the B-25 Pacific Prowler.
It's been pointed to me that the Pacific Prowler
is not part
of the CAF, but operated by Jim Terry. Jim currently keeps
the plane
at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, TX.
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Looking like a Gooney Bird, this is actually
a AC-47 Spooky gunship! |
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A mean looking B-52 on the ground.
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There were quite a few Edward planes on
display and in the air. Just look for the 'ED'
on the tail!
This F-16 is loaded up and surrounded by various weapons it
can carry. |
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Early in the morning, a pair of F-16s take
to the sky. Here in the backseat is General
Chuck Yeager! They
overflew the base and broke the sound barrier at exactly 10am.
The double sonic boom reverberated through the open hangar
in a loud
and most shocking manner, scaring the crap out of
me! Love it!!
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An unexpected treat was the use of pyro
to simulate bomb drops! WOW!!! |
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The Warthog makes several attack runs.
Flying
inverted through the smoke...target destroyed. |
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Next up was a Doolittle raid re-enactment
and other WWII aircraft that
joined in the
mix.
This is the B-17 Sentimental Journey with its bomb bay doors
open. |
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As a finale, the B-17 has a nice banked
photo pass.
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Nice formation shot of the P-51 'Gunfighter'
and the P-38. |
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A beautiful pass by the F-16. Bit of a challenge
with where the sun was all day long! |
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A C-17 from March AFB also did a demo. |
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That's followed by the B-2 Stealth bomber.
Man I need a telescope!
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