"Balls Eight" takes off on its last flight with the X-43A Hyper-X which operated an air-breathing jet engine at Mach 9.6 after launch over the Pacific.
Previously 161744 with the US Navy, this F/A-18A is now heavily involved with testing the Active Aero-Elastic Wing (AAW) as part of the NASA Dryden test fleet.
An interesting exhibit with a superb piece of 'Tornado' nose art in the static display at the 1993 Edwards AFB Open House, this B-52G was operated by the resident 412th TW.
This aircraft was used to carry out high angle of attack research. It was modified with a thrust vectoring system around the exhaust nozzles of each engine. It is seen in the hangar withdrawn from use as the test programme was completed in May 1996.