Delivered as a F-4B-19-MC, later converted to YF-4J and served the Naval Air Test Center. From Aug''79 assigned to the Naval Weapons Center and converted to DF-4J drone control aircraft, but continues to carry its YF-4J designation. It then served the Pacific Missile Test Center at Point Mugu (CA) from Oct'81. Returned to NWS in '83, again to PMTC (473) in '84, and was stored at China Lake from Feb'92. To NAD Cherry Point (NC) in Apr'92 and then to Point Mugu for ejection seat trails. To NWTSPM in May'97 and stricken on 9 Jan'03. Preserved China Lake outside main gate since May'12

Although no BuNo visible, this is 152936. Once an A-6A and delivered to the US Navy in 1967, later upgraded to A-6E, served operational fleet squadrons and became a Boeing guided weapons test aircraft between November 1990 and February 1991 before it was transferred to the NAWC-WD. The Intruder served the Weapons Department up to November 1993. It was then stored at China Lake until at least late 1998. It was stricken from Naval inventory on 14 November 2001 and then preserved with the US Naval Museum of Armament and Technology at the base.

Although marked as TA-4F, this is a NTA-4F, with the N assigned in de Naval designations for a permanent test airframe. The nosecone section reveals the deviation with a normal trainer. This Skyhawk made its first flight on 30 Jun'65 and was assigned to VA-125 in 1966. In Apr'71, it was modified to NTA-4F and it never saw operational fleet squadron service again. First assigned to the Naval Air Test Center, then temporarly to transferred to VF-43 (modex 23) before it was assigned as a ground trainer to NATF Lakehurst (NJ. Then moved to the NWC (modex 042). Preserved at China Lake since Oct'96

This F11F-1F Tiger was delivered in 1955. The aircraft received improved engines comparted to the other Tigers in service. In 1957 it was transferred to Edwards AFB (CA) for tests. It became a record aircraft when it set a world altitude record of 76,831 feet on 16 April 1958. It possibly served the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team for a dshort while before it was transferred to NAF China Lake (CA) for tests in 1960. It was modified in January 1961 as a ground trainer for technical crews at the base. Officially stricken from US Navy service on 10 January 1961. Preserved since 1976.

This is the first prototype Hornet, YF-18A-1 from fiscal year 1976. The Hornet made its first flight from McDD St. Louis on 18 Nov'78 and delivered to the US Navy at Paxtuxent River (MD) in Jan'79. The Full-Scale Development Hornet was later converted to RF-18, served the NASA from 3 Jun'85 and returned to the US Navy. The F/A-18A was stricken from service in 1986. It became a range target (!) at China Lake in Apr'90, but was luckily saved from a lot of bullet holes. It was then stored at the base from Nov'92. It is preserved with the US Naval Museum of Armament and Technology since Nov'93

Former JASDF 62-7479/479. First noted as a drone in 1991 and preserved at the Museum of Armament and Technology since September 2011.

First reported in 1975 in service with the US Navy. This Sabreliner belonged to the oldest active US Navy aircraft in service at the time of this picture. The aircraft was withdrawn from service in March 2019 and handed over to the China Lake Museum Foundation. Since it is preserved at it once homebase.

In front of its hangar, this Dust Devils F/A-18C is furnished in a "100 years US Navy" colourscheme. The nice Hornet is a F/A-18C-50 and was delivered in 1997 to the US Navy. First assigned as AB-301 with VFA-82 may97, later as AA-201 and AA-401 with VFA-34. From early 2006 as AG-413 with VFA-131 and then NE-414 with again VFA-34 from early 2007. After an overhaul at NADep North Island in 2010, the aircraft appeared in this scheme from February 2011.

This Skyray is a history maker, in October 1953 it broke the world's air speed record. It was moved to Edwards AFB in July 1955 for all kinds of tests, then transferred in April 1956 to General Electric for turbo jet engine tests. It was written off on 19 October 1960, but restored for preservation. The aircraft carries the Armament and Technology marking on its tail. It is preserved at the gate of China Lake as part of the Museum of Armament and Technology sinceApril 2004.

Cool helicopter at a hot place. 166297 during its warm-up at a spot at China Lake.

This F/A-18F-53 was part of the US Navy Fiscal Year 1998 budget. It was delivered in February 2000 and assigned to the Naval Weapons Test Squadron at China Lake and later to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 Dust Devils at the same base. It is seen here during its take-off run at the hot desert base.

A rare Rhino turning to the runway of its test base. The Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 Dust Devils F/A-18F is marked with a lot of high contrast black and white calibration marks that are used as visual reference points, so that the trajectory of the aircraft and any stores that are launched/dropped can be followed more accurate.

Photographer: Charles E. Stewart.

painted as 627479. Previously used by USAF as 55-3916, before being delivered to the JASDF as '62-7479'. Returned to the US, and was converted to QF-86F

dedicated to Col. Kevin Leffler. His AV-8B (BuNo 162721) lost power over Death Valley National Park, forcing him to eject into high winds. He landed hard in rocky terrain and died of a head injury (30th August, 1999)