NWC China Lake QF-86F Sabre drone s/n 56-2875, NWC-822, NAS Point Mugu, 09 January 1990. Photo by Vance Vasquez.

Members of the West German team responsible for testing of operational flight equipment on the Tornado aircraft arrived at China Lake for a four-month stay on Tuesday afternoon. The German Flight Test Center and Naval Air Wing Two sent 123 people, Including family members, to NWC. China Lake, 09 January 1990. Rocketeer photo by PHAN Cary Brady.

NWC China Lake A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156785, NWC-707, inflight with a Walleye, 10 January 1990. Photo from Larry McCarley.

AIM-9R Sidewinder missile fired from an F/A-18 Hornet streaks over one of the China Lake ranges. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Lt. Mark A. Prusinski, USN, memorial service was held Sunday afternoon at the Naval Weapons Center's All Faith Chapel. Lt. Prusinski died last Wednesday morning in the crash of his QF-86 Sabrejet near Trona. This was the first fatal crash involving an NWC aircraft since LCdr. Theodore Faller died in the crash of his QF-86 in August, 1979. A02 Stefan Fehr sounded taps as the flyby formation neared the All Faith Chapel. Composite photo by Don Cornelius and PHAN Cary Brady. China Lake, 04 April 1990. Rocketeer composite photo by Don Cornelius and PHAN Cary Brady.

Capt. Paul Valovich, former NWC Vice Commander, put in 3,980 hours in A-4s during his career. Before leaving China Lake to take over as C.O. of NAS Pt. Mugu, "Booger" took one last flight in this A-4M Skyhawk from Armitage Field. The change of command ceremony for Capt. Valovich is set for next Friday, June 1, at Pt. Mugu. China Lake, 25 May 1990. TID Photo by Tim Tyson.

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 162826, XE-05, inflight, circa June 1990 after the Vampires changed the insignia on their aircraft by adding the bat and lightning bolt symbol to the existing XE. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 163428, NWC-110, Maverick & AIM-9R Sidewinder missiles, China Lake, circa 1990. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 163428, NWC-110, and ATM-84 series Harpoon/SLAM training missile, China Lake, circa 1990. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NF-14D Tomcat BuNo 161867 assigned to Naval Air Test Center (NATC) Patuxent River, MD, fires an AIM-7 Sparrow missile at Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC) China Lake, California. circa 1990. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 155699, XE-22, unknown location, circa 1990. Photo from Paul Minert collection, courtesy of A. Romano www.navarchives.com

VX-5 Vampires AV-8B Harrier BuNo 163854, XE-11, circa 1990. Photographer unknown.

USAF YF-22A Raptor s/n 87-0700, N22YF, over the 2508R Range complex, circa 1990. USAF photo.

Second grade students from St. Anne's School recently got to sit in the seat of a AH-1 Cobra helicopter during their tour of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Five (VX-5). Acting as the tour guide and answering the many questions was Lt. "Lucky" Luciano. China Lake, 29 June 1990. VX-5 photo.

NWC China Lake QF-86F Sabre drone s/n 55-3905, NWC-829 & NWC F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 163428, NWC-110, inert Sidewinder AIM-9R missiles, China Lake, 11 July 1990. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156768, FLIR, China Lake, July 1990. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

BOA Sidewinder missile and launcher, China Lake, circa 1990. Official U.S. Navy photo.

BOA Sidewinder missile on the wingtip of NWC China Lake F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 162936, NWC-105, China Lake, circa 1990.

NWC China Lake A-7E Corsair II Sidewinder BOA-M upload, China Lake, 13 July 1990. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Children in Vieweg Elementary School's kindergarten class got to tour Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Five (VX-5) before school was let out for the summer. Lt. "Chip" Miller (far left) and Capt. "Spud" Aldridge (far right) showed the children the Cobra helicopter and gave a tour of the Parachute Riggers Shop and the tower. China Lake, 27 July 1990. VX-5 photo.

NWC China Lake NA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 142630, NAS North Island, 07 August 1990. Photo by Scott VanAken, Paul Minert collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

USMC LAV-AD Prototype Light Armored Vehicles-Air Defense from General Electric and FMC are on-board the Naval Weapons Center for testing. The vehicles arrived on Wednesday to start the testing program. China Lake, 10 August 1990. Rocketeer photo.

Ordnance Systems Department employees and experts from Pan Am's Transportation Branch Joined with the Public Works Department to complete the complicated move of massive compressed air tanks at NWC's T-Range earlier this summer. China Lake, 17 August 1990. TID Photo.

PR3 Peggy Myers, NWC's Junior Bluejacket of the Quarter, is captured midair during one of her jumps. The test parachutist is assigned to the Code 64 Parachute Test Operations Branch and is the only known active female jumper in the Navy. China Lake, 24 August 1990. Rocketeer Photo.

Looking a great deal like an unknown creature, Cdr. Chuck (Doc) Antonio of VX-5 models what the well equipped night attack pilot would wear for the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. Night Vision goggles (NVG's) are being evaluated by VX-5 as part of a night attack system. China Lake, 31 August 1990. Rocketeer photo by Tim Tyson.

Maj. Randy S. Siders of the China Lake Marine Aviation Detachment (MAD,) posing by AV-8B BuNo 162966, DD-87, will be awarded the 1990 Bud Baker Trophy at the annual Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) convention in Norfolk, VA, during October. The Bud Baker Trophy is presented by the MCAA to the Marine aviator who has done the most to advance vertical/short take off and landing (V/STOL) capabilities in the Marine Corps. China Lake, 31 August 1990. Rocketeer Photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 155699, XE-22, Night Attack NVG, waits for a night mission at China Lake. China Lake, 31 August 1990. Rocketeer Photo by Tim Tyson.

Unknown EA-6B Prowlers in flight over the desert. Official U. S. Navy photo, China Lake archives.

VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160722, XE-05, inflight over the Mojave Desert with practice bombs an a MER, circa 1990. Photo by PH2 Mahlon Miller courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160722, XE-05, inflight over the Mojave Desert, circa 1990. Photo by PH2 Mahlon Miller courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

Canadian and Grumman Instrument teams with their tracking mounts monitor aircraft flying by during Long Jump IV testing at White Mountain Peak. China Lake, 14 September 1990. Rocketeer photo.

VX-4 Evaluators F-14A Tomcat BuNo 159853 (Vandy-1) and VX-4 F/A-18C Hornet XF-12, China Lake, October 1990. Photo by Joe Cupido.

VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160722, XE-05, taxiing at an unknown location, 16 October 1990. Photo by Scott VanAken, Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

Visitors at NWC's celebration of the Navy's birthday explore the inside of a LAV which was on display at Michelson Lab. MAD Cpl. Mike Sales (center), Sgt. John Caldwell (left) and Cpl. Mike Smith were on hand to answer questions. China Lake, 19 October 1990. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires AH-1 Cobra, during NWC's celebration of the Navy's birthday. China Lake, 19 October 1990. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 158477, XE-14, during NWC's celebration of the Navy's birthday. China Lake, 19 October 1990. Rocketeer photo.

Six NWC enlisted members received honors during a Hangar Three quarters ceremony recently. NWC Commander Capt. Douglas C. Cook made the presentations. China Lake, 09 November 1990. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Cary Brady.

Chuck Pierce shows off his redesigned NA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 142630. Originally used for parachute testing, the Skywarrior is now a full tactical aircraft able to perform project functions in a unique way. China Lake, 16 November 1990. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Cary Brady.

RAF 32 Joint Trial Unit members celebrate in front of a JTU Tornado that has completed its 100th ALARM trials flight at China Lake. China Lake, 06 December 1990. TID photo by Don Cornelius.

F-4C Phantom II N422FS (USAF s/n 63-7564) in flight near the NAWS China Lake carries the "Aircraft Advanced Interdiction Weapon System (AIWS)" developed by McDonnell Douglas and Hughes, 10 December 1990.

The last production delivery of the F-86F Sabre (Block 40) will arrive tomorrow at NWC China Lake. Pictured is NWC QF-86F Sabre s/n 56-2858, NWC-814. China Lake, 13 December 1990. TID photo.

VX-5 Vampires EA-6B ICAP II Prowler BuNo 163406, XE-633, inflight, dated 01 Jan 1991. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires EA-6B ICAP II Prowler BuNo 163406, XE-633, inflight over the China Lake golf course, dated 01 Jan 1991. Official U.S. Navy photo.