Where and what?
Aviator Extraordinaire
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
Age: 76
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Well, at first look the aircraft appears for be a modified F-18 on a rocket track somewhere in the US. It is interesting to note that rather than solid fuel rockets for propulsion there are non-afterburner (reheats) jet engines for acceleration.
A couple of more things regarding the aircraft is if it is a F-18 the cockpit area looks to wide, as if side by side seating and no horizontal stabilizers/elevators.
It will interesting to find out more.
Perhaps a test bed for some new type of very high speed crew escape system?
A couple of more things regarding the aircraft is if it is a F-18 the cockpit area looks to wide, as if side by side seating and no horizontal stabilizers/elevators.
It will interesting to find out more.
Perhaps a test bed for some new type of very high speed crew escape system?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Timbukthree
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Photo taken at the U.S. Naval Air Test Facility (NATF) in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The high-speed rail track facility was built on the west side of the Lakehurst base, sometime between 1958-60. Primary Navy use of tests is wire rope acceptance tests, barricade testing, and arresting gear evaluation and certification. The four J57 jet engines can propel the aircraft at speeds up to 250 knots. Note the A-3 positioned on the track.
Mel, your photo appears to be of a F/A-18, or perhaps a YF-17, taken in the mid-late 1970s.
Last edited by evansb; 5th May 2007 at 16:32.
. I wonder if they had races 