China Lake Range Targets

[sandiego89]

Wow, thanks for posting. I am firmly in the "glad" category that several B-29s survived there, not sad at all.

As for google maps, you can still see 2 of the aircraft in the pictures above.

In the museum fenced in area, missing the aft 1/3 fuselage and tail:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Naval ... 3066?hl=en

The heavily damaged airframe still out on the lakebed range.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Naval ... 3066?hl=en

[quemerford]

Sticking to one type, here are a few F9F/F-9:

[menards]

Wow, thanks for posting. I am firmly in the "glad" category that several B-29s survived there, not sad at all.

As for google maps, you can still see 2 of the aircraft in the pictures above.

In the museum fenced in area, missing the aft 1/3 fuselage and tail:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Naval ... 3066?hl=en

The heavily damaged airframe still out on the lakebed range.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Naval ... 3066?hl=en

Que the "Lets go get it" posts...

[pjpahs]

I have seen photos of the B29 being built and I believe that the wing is lowered into the fuse. in one piece, mostly, and the the metal seems to be of a duller finish on the top curvature of wing assy. than the rest of the fuse.. The Feb . 5th posting by Quemerford of aerial photo of the group of 4 B 29s shows this duller color extending almost the entire length of wing along with the top fuse curvature. Is this because it's another grade of allum. than the rest of the aircraft.? I'm thinking that this is the case. Different grades of alum. for strength etc. Good photos from above and first I've noticed the color change the entire wing length.

[quemerford]

A-4 Skyhawks this time:

First one is an A-4A/B range target, i.d unknown:



Next two shots of A-4Bs 142892 and 142948:





TA-4B 144976:





A-4B possibly 139939 + Firebee:





Group shots of A-4A and B:







A-4B 142235:





A-4B 142227:





Range target A-4A 139920:





A-4A 137818:

[airnutz]

Que the "Lets go get it" posts...

"Que", is Spanish for what... "queue", is 2 "ue"s in queue behind a "q". But, I digress...

Great bunch of photos guys, Thanks! What happened to the F9F photos?

[Adam Kline]

Seeing the A4s shot up is almost depressing.

[quemerford]

Que the "Lets go get it" posts...

"Que", is Spanish for what... "queue", is 2 "ue"s in queue behind a "q". But, I digress...

Great bunch of photos guys, Thanks! What happened to the F9F photos?

Strange: posted again:





















More to follow!

[quemerford]

Some USAF types, most of which survive!

B-47E 52-166, now at the Castle Air Museum:




B-47E 53-2275, now at March Field Air Museum:


F-102A 57-777, now with the China Lake museum:




F-89J 52-1927, now with Castle Air Museum:




KC-97G, now with the China Lake museum:




Not sure that this one survives, sadly. Pretty sure it's an F-84D, judging by the lack of auxiliary intakes:






Also one of a number of ex-Ecuador AF F-80s:

[airnutz]

Thank gawd there are no A-10's in these photos...the Air Force has tried to kill off that bird every other way!

Question? What can't an A-10 kill? Answer: The morons who keep trying to phase it out!

[ALOHADAVE]

Thank you for the pictures!