NWC China Lake AV-8B Harrier BuNo 161398 in-flight, 01 Jan 1989. McDonnell Douglas photo.

VMA-331 Bumblebees AV-8B Harrier formation over a China Lake Range, BuNo 162952, VL-02, in the foreground and VL-07 and VL-12 in the background. 01 January 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake UC-8A Buffalo BuNo 161546, unknown location, circa 1989. Photo courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

AGM-136A Tacit Rainbow missile flying over the NWC China Lake range in 1989. It was launched from an A-6E Intruder that departed from Edwards AFB. Photo by Captain Walter F. Davidson, USAF.

Target vehicle struck by a AGM-136A Tacit Rainbow missile target on a NWC China Lake range in 1989 . It was launched from an A-6E Intruder that departed from Edwards AFB.

VX-5 Vampires A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158426, XE-14, Carswell AFB, 21 January 1989. Photo by Keith Snyder via the Tailhook Association.

NWC China Lake A-7 Corsair II (note the unusual probe) parked next to A-7C BuNo 156785, NWC-707, after a snow, China Lake, 09 February 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

RA-5C Vigi BuNo 156640, Naval Artic Research Laboratory C-117D BuNo 12431, F-111B BuNo 152715, F11F-1F BuNo 138467, XF4D-1 Skyray BuNo 124587 and Naval Artic Research Laboratory C-117D BuNo 17156 after a snow in the compound at the south end of runway 14/32, 09 February 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156753, XE-07, unknown location March 1989. Photographer unknown.

VX-5 Vampires TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156753, XE-07, Andrews AFB, 11 March 1989, Photo by Stephen Miller, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com 

XPad, located at Armitage Airfield, is home for the China Lake Flying Club. Several aircraft are available to club members and flying costs depend upon the type of aircraft required. The Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk is $24 per hour while the Cessna 172N Skyhawk is $31 per hour. The Cessna 172M Skyhawk (Instrument Flght Rules (lFR) maintained) is $32 per hour and the Cessna R-I72K Hawk-XP (also IFR maintained) is $43 per hour. While the Beech D-45 (Navy T-34B) has been down for repairs, Warkentin said the plane should be up soon and goes for $36 per hour. Rental rates cover fuel costs and are for flying times only. NWC China Lake, 17 March 1989. Rocketeer photo.

Larry Warkentin, a member of the China Lake Flying Club, is busy with pre-flight checks before taking this Cessna 172 up in the air. NWC China Lake, 17 March 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAA Cary.

VX-5 Vampires Airman Kelly Kingsley accepts the FOD Award from Capt. Rex Rackiewicz, COMLATWINGPAC. Kingsley, a member of VX-5's Line Division, accepted the award on behalf of the whole squadron. Capt. Rackiewicz credited all hands for contributing to earning this award. VX-5 also won the LATWINGPAC FOD award in 1987. VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 155699, XE-22, in the background. NWC China Lake, 29 March 1989. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires Lt. Ken Enriquez, Lt. Scott McLellan and Lt. Bill Martin (l to r) bring a new EA-6B ICAP II Prowler BuNo 163032, XE-61, to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Five. Capt. Joe Dauplaise and Chief George Dahms were part of the committee the committee gathered to officially welcome the newest addition to VX-5's collection of tactical aircraft. NWC China Lake, 29 March 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAA Cary Brady.

NWC China Lake's TH-1L Huey helicopter team joined up with a member of the British Aerospace team to retrieve valued missile components from a narrow canyon on a NWC range. L to r, the team members are ADAN Sherrill Mitchell, Lt. Jim Krise, Ian Haynes (British Aerospace), and Lt. John Brookes. The team located the missile using a standard search pattern. NWC China Lake, 31 March 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAA Cary Brady.

VX-5 Vampires Lt. Win Everet placed second in the AIR category for this photo VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 161932, XE-34, piloted by Lcdr. Carl Braun in-flight over the Sierra Nevada, April 1989. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 162400, XE-33, and VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 154124, XE-24, (in the background), location unknown, April 1989. Photographer unknown.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 154124, XE-24, empty MER on the wing station, location unknown, April 1989. Photo from Ugo Gabbana Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

Members of the ALRITE team prepare to track a project using ALRITE II on a NWC China Lake range, From left to right are Wayne Johnson, Rick Shedlock, Rob Nagels, Jonny LaBlanco, Dave Thompson, and Wayne Huyler. The Center currently operates two Phase I ALRITEs and two Phase II ALRITEs. Not available for the photo were Ray Kaign and Bill Schorr. NWC China Lake, 14 April 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

NWC China Lake AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162966, NWC-87, MAD Night Attack, China Lake, 25 April 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake F/A-18D Hornet BuNo 163434, NWC-111, Night Vision Goggles (NVG), China Lake, 27 Apr 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires Night Attack F/A-18A Hornet and pilot with Night Vision Googles, China Lake, 02 May 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 155699, XE-22, Night Attack NVG, China Lake, 02 May 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162721, XE-10, May 1989. Photographer unknown.

Harlan Reep, right, is sprayed with water by a co-worker in celebration of reaching 10,000 pilot hours. Reep is one of five civilian pilots at NWC. T-39D Sabreliner BuNo 150992 in the background. NWC China Lake, 12 May 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

Capt. Vanderpoel, left, congratulates the VX-5 Vampires on their impressive safety record after finishing 30,000 hours of mishap-free flying. To achieve this milestone, the Vampires dedicate themselves to sound maintenance procedures. NWC China Lake, 12 May 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

RAdm. Jeremy Taylor was on-board this week for briefings by NWC and VX-5. Terry Mangrum (right), Code 3571, explains the Recoverable Test Vehicle to the OPNAV Director of the Aviation Plans and Requirements Division. NWC technical director, Gerry Schiefer (left), accompanied the admiral around the Center. NWC China Lake, 19 May 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

NWC China Lake A-7E Corsair II BuNo 156883, NWC-709, and Project "Skyray. Spools of fibre-optic line are ready to payout connecting the Corsair to a AGM-62 Walleye allowing for constant two-way communications. With the width of a human hair, the fibre-optic link system has many advantages over the currently used RF communications system. LCdr. Tom Massicote flew the successful air launch mission and has served as the project pilot. SKYRAY is a demonstration project for fiber payout at high velocities (800 ft./sec and greater.) NWC China Lake, 19 May 1989. Rocketeer photo.

NWC China Lake A-7E Corsair II BuNo 156883, NWC-709, launching "Skyray" project fibre-optic guided AGM-62 Walleye, circa May 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of the Maturango Museum.

NWC China Lake A-6E Intruder BuNo 158537, NWC-607, with a AIM-9 Sidewinder missile and VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160729, XE-01, AFD, Mainside, China Lake, 20 May 1989. Photo by Craig Kaston, Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

NWC China Lake AV-8B Harrier BuNo 161576, NWC-08, China Lake, 20 May 1989. Photo by Craig Kaston via the Tailhook Association.

VX-5 Vampires TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 152853, XE-13, China Lake, 20 May 1989. Photo by Craig Kaston, Tailhook Association, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

VX-5 Vampires CO Capt. Eric Vanderpoel shows AFD visitors the cockpit of VX-5 TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 152853, XE-13, Armitage Field, NWC China Lake, 20 May 1989. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 160264, XE-15, Armitage Field, China Lake, June 1989. Photo from Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160724, XE-03, location unknown, June 1989. Photo by J. Geer.

NWC China Lake A-6E Intruder BuNo 154170, NWC-605, in flight over Trona with HARM & Sidewinder missiles, 13 June 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake A-6E Intruder BuNo 154170, NWC-605, firing an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile, 13 June 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires Cdr. J.C. Antonio (center) gives preflight instructions to RAdm. Hugh Webster, Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force, prior to his first ride in the F/A-18D Hornet. The admiral (left) visited VX-5 with his aid, LCdr. Scott Miller, and received NWC orientation last week. NWC China Lake, 30 June 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

NWC personnel worked closely with Air Force personnel to ensure the successful integration of the AGM-88 HARM missile in the USAF F-16C Fighting Falcon. The first HARM was launched from an Edwards AFB F-16D at the Naval Weapons Center on Sept. 23. The Air Force's "Wild Weasel" teams added clout to their mission of attacking and destroying enemy anti-aircraft sites by modifying F-16s, enabling them to carry radar killing High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles. NWC China Lake, 14 July 1989. Rocketeer photo.

Harlan Reep and Dick Wright are NWC's civilian pilots responsible for remote piloting of the full-scale aerial targets, the QF-86 Sabre and the QF-4 Phantom. The pilots are standing next to the modified QF-4 used in the first night no live operator on board (NOLO) flight on 27 June. NWC China Lake, 21 July 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

F/A-18 Hornet with Sidewinder BOA-M missiles, China Lake, 20 July 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162721, XE-10, taxiing, August 1989. Photo by Joe Cupido.

VX-5 Vampires AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162721, XE-10, at the Point Mugu Air Show, 02 August 1989. Photo by Joe Cupido.

Marine Corps testing of the air defense variant of the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) is expected to begin at China Lake in early 1990. Testing will be carried out in three phases at NWC over the next two years. NWC China Lake, 04 August 1989. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 163432, XE-35, on the ramp at sunset with HARM, Maverick & Sidewinder missiles, China Lake, 22 August 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires LtCol. Mark Mitchell checks out instruments in copilot's front seat of the AH-1W Cobra helicopter. Seated behind him is pilot Maj. Bobby Rowland who fired a Sidewinder AIM-9M in the first successful low-level air-to-air night mission on NWC's ranges. NWC China Lake, 29 September 1989. Rocketeer photo by PH2 Gaston.

A well deserved salute goes to the four enlisted men of the Aircraft Division who received commendations at a Center ceremony. NWC Commander, Capt. Douglas Cook, presented (left to right): good conduct awards to OS1 Bruce Katz and AZ3 Scott Fielder; and Navy Achievement Medals to AT1 Manuel Barroga Jr. and AQC Fred Sawyer. NWC A-6E Intruder BuNo 154170, NWC-605, in the background. NWC China Lake, 02 October 1989. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires EA-6B ICAP II Prowler BuNo 163032, XE-61, against the Sierra Nevadas, 03 October 1989. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160724, XE-03, on the ramp at NAS Dallas, 14 October 1989. Photo courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

NWC China Lake QF-4N Phantom II BuNo 152226, on the ramp at Armitage Field, China Lake, 15 October 1989. Photo by Bruce Trombecky, Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

VX-5 Vampires TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 152853, XE-13, Armitage Field, China Lake, 15 October 1989. Photo by Bruce Trombecky, Paul Minert collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

VX-5 Vampires TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156779, XE-06, Armitage Field, China Lake, 15 October 1989. Photo by Bruce Trombecky, Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

NWC China Lake AMSAN Bill Miller (left) and AMS2 Rudy Camarillo, posing in front of a TH-1L Huey, were selected as Junior and Senior Sailor of the Quarter for the third quarter, 1989. Both work in Code 61's Aircraft Support Division. NWC China Lake, 27 October 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

NWC China Lake Cdr. Bob Hartman was at the controls of NWC F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 162396, NWC-105, on October 13 when the 1000th flight of this aircraft in support of the F/A-18 WSSA was recorded. While Cdr. Hartman was the pilot, he noted many hours of hard work by the entire F/A-18 WSSA (NWC, MCAIR, CSC, CTA, RAIL) team was responsible for this flight milestone. NWC China Lake, 03 November 1989. Rocketeer photo.

One of the tallest structures at China Lake, the control tower rises above Hangar 2, home to the VX-5 Vampires. From this vantage point controllers are responsible for ground traffic using the runways and taxiways at Armitage Field as well as incoming and outbound aircraft. VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 154124, XE-24, in the foreground. NWC China Lake, 03 November 1989. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

NWC China Lake F/A-18C Hornet (Production Verification Aircraft) BuNo 162851, NWC-103, plane captain Jeff Wilson, China Lake, November 1988. Photo from Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake F/A-18D Hornet BuNo 163434, NWC-111, A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160857, NWC-708, unknown QF-4N Phantom II, China Lake, 1989. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake F/A-18 Hornet flightline, BuNo 162396, NWC-105 in the foreground, China Lake, 1989. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156750, NWC-701, NWC China Lake, November 1989. Plane captains l-r: ADAN Chris Dusza, ADAN Jose Torres and ADAN Curtis Anderson. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 162851, NWC-103, China Lake, 1989. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake ordnance storage east of the Hot Line, Armitage Field, China Lake, 1989. Tripod at left with the sphere on top looks to be the Soft Landing Vehicle. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake T-39D Sabreliner BuNo 150992, Holloman AFB, December 1989. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake T-39D Sabreliner BuNo 150992, Jeff Wilson on the left facing the camera, returning from Holloman AFB, December 1989. Photo from Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake LOX farm, AMSAN Rick Bartley, Armitage Field, China Lake, 1989. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

NWC China Lake F/A-18 Hornet borrowed from VFA-122 at Holloman AFB carries the China Lake logo on the tail and the VFA-122 side number 552. December 1989. Photo by Jeff Wilson.

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