2003 Edwards AFB Open House Airshow
October 25, Page 2


(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.

I photographed the airshow from the media site on the south side of the runway on Saturday, October 25.

Lockheed-Martin F-22A Engineering, Manufacture, and Development (EMD) Raptor, 91-4005.

Lockheed-Martin F-22A EMD Raptor, 91-4005.

Lockheed-Martin F-22A EMD Raptor, 91-4005 reveals its rectangular afterburners.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A Globemaster III, 87-0025 of the 412th Test Wing.

Boeing NKC-135E Stratotanker, 55-3135 and General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon 005 of the 412th TW perform a safe refueling simulation.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15D-34 Eagle, 82-0046 Glamorous Glennis of the 412th Test Wing.

Czech Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross 00-0439 of the 412th Test Wing. It carries the civil registration N439RS.

Lockheed-Martin F-117 Stealth Fighter of the 412th Test Wing did not take-off or land at Edwards Air Force Base during the open house. The wide, slender, rectangular exhaust ports are designed to reduce the infrared signature of the Stealth Fighter.

Lockheed-Martin F-22A EMD Raptor, 91-4005 with F-16C of the 412th Test Wing.

Lockheed-Martin F-22A EMD Raptor, 91-4005..

The traditional Edwards AFB parade. I waited a moment too long and couldn't fit all of the airplanes in the picture.

Heavy Metal: Lockheed-Martin C-130J Hercules, 98-1355 of the Maryland ANG, Boeing NKC-135E Stratotanker, 55-3135 412TW, Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A Globemaster III, 87-0025 412TW, Northrop B-2A Spirit, 82-1068 Spirit of New York 412TW, and Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, (83 or 85?)-0068 412TW.

Lockheed-Martin F-117 Stealth Fighter, Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15A-18 Eagle 76-0116, and General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon of the 412th Test Wing.

Lockheed-Martin C-130J Hercules, 98-1355 of the Maryland ANG, Boeing NKC-135E Stratotanker, 55-3135 412TW, and Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A Globemaster III, 87-0025 412TW.

Northrop B-2A Spirit, 82-1068 Spirit of New York and Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, (83 or 85?)-0068 of the 412th Test Wing.

Lockheed-Martin C-130J Hercules, 98-1355 of the Maryland ANG, Boeing NKC-135E Stratotanker, 55-3135 412TW, Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A Globemaster III, 87-0025 412TW, Northrop B-2A Spirit, 82-1068 Spirit of New York 412TW, and Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, (83 or 85?)-0068 412TW.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15D-34 Eagle, 82-0046 Glamorous Glennis, General Dynamics F-16B Block 15AM OCU Fighting Falcon, 90-0952, Northrop T-38A Talon, 61-0904, and Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross, 00-0439 of the Test Pilot School.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15A-18 Eagle, 76-0116 and General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon of the 412th Test Wing.

Northrop B-2A Spirit, 82-1068 Spirit of New York of the 412th Test Wing.

Northrop B-2A Spirit, 82-1068 Spirit of New York taxis to its parking area as Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 0068 approaches for a landing on Runway 04.

Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, (83 or 85?)-0068 of the 412th TW.

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons of the U. S. Air Force Thunderbirds lift off of Runway 04.

The airshow was postponed for a while as the Thunderbirds support team called in Edwards AFB Police to remove the photographers from the media site.

The Thunderbirds transition to the diamond formation immediately after take-off.

The Thunderbirds are performing with a single solo airplane since the loss of #6 earlier this year.

Following the take-off, I moved to a position away from the runway.

The Thunderbirds transition from the in-line formation to the diamond formation while performing a roll.

The bomb burst finale.

The Thunderbirds break into the pattern at the end of the show.


More 2003 Edwards Air Force Base Open House Pages:

Rehearsal, October 22, Page 1

Rehearsal, October 22, Page 2

Military Aircraft Static Displays, October 24

NASA and Vintage Aircraft Static Displays, October 24

Airshow, October 25, Page 1

Thunderbirds


Go to the Airshow Page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.

Send a message to Brian.