VX-5 Vampires EA-6B Prowler BuNo 163401, XE-60, on the ramp at an unknown location, February 1991. Photo from Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

The newest piece of equipment in the Engineering Department's Environmental Engineering Branch, the KSR 5500, mass properties table is ready to be used with a MK-82 inert practice bomb configured with a BSU-86/B Snakeye retard fin assembly. China Lake, 07 February 1991. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires Lt. Bruce Bull takes control of an aircraft in a WEPTAC simulation. Nancy Withers, a WEPTAC training specialist, gives Lt. Bull information to assist him with the operation of the simulation, China Lake, 14 February 1991. Rocketeer photo.

Members of the VX-5 Vampires are getting ready to launch F/A-18D Hornet BuNo 163994 strikefighter at NAS Fallon, NV. The entire China Lake-based squadron recently completed a rapid two-week deployment to NAS Fallon. This included more than 300 people and 14 aircraft. They worked on developing night strike and fighter tactics. NAS Fallon, 21 February 1991. Rocketeer photo by PH3 R.C. Foster.

Members of the Royal Force's #32 Joint Trials Unit join Ridgecrest Police DARE officers in urging children to stay off drugs. The unit and their Tornado will be on one of the new DARE trading cards. Pictured: (on steps, back) Squadron Leader Young, Squadron Leader Taylor, (on steps, front) Cpl. Goodwbury, (standing, l to r) Cpl. Goodwill, Cpl. Mills, Sgt. Pinner, Flight Sgt. Beal, Capt. McDonald, Chief Tech Pepper, DARE Officers John Ortiz and Ron Bell, Wing Cdr. Russell, DARE Coordinator Lynn Sullivan, (kneeling) Sgt. Rugg, Chief Tech Harshaw and Chief Tech Taylor. 21 March 1991. Rocketeer photo.

NWC China Lakes PR1 Bill Leuallen opens Saturday's show with the American Flag. China Lake, 22 March 1991. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Cary Brady.

Blue Angels F/A-18A Hornet #1, Armitage Field, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Photo by Larry McCarley.

NWC China Lake TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156738, NWC-700, China Lake, Open House 22 March 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake F/A-18D Hornet BuNo 163989, NWC-112, next to NWC A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160857, NWC-708, Sidewinder missile on the wingtip and what looks to be ARM/HARM and Maverick missiles under the wings, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Hangar 3 at right. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 163429, NWC-108, Sidewinder & HARM missiles, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake F/A-18D Hornet BuNo 163989, NWC-112, Sidewinder missile on the wingtip and what looks to be ARM/HARM and Maverick missiles under the wings, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Hangar 3 at right. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake QF-4N Phantom drone BuNo 150419, NWC-424, next to a QH-50A DASH drone and NWC QF-86F Fury s/n 55-5091, NWC-899, China Lake, Open House 22 March 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162721, NWC-88, Maverick & Sidewinder missiles, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162721, NWC-88, Maverick & Sidewinder missiles, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake NA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 142630, China Lake, Open House 22 March 1991. Bob Niedermeier via the Tailhook Association.

NWC China Lake NA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 142630, China Lake, Open House 22 March 1991. Bob Niedermeier via the Tailhook Association.

NWC China Lake NA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 142630, Armitage Field, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Photo from Paul Minert collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

RAF GR.1 Tornado s/n ZD708 with Air-Launched Anti-Radar Missile (ALARM), China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

NWC China Lake F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 163429, NWC-108, Sidewinder and HARM missiles, north side of hangar 3, China Lake, Open House, 22 March 1991. Photographer unknown.

NWC China Lake QF-4N Phantom drone BuNo 150419, NWC-424, next to a QH-50A DASH drone and NWC QF-86F Sabre FSAT s/n 55-5091, NWC-899, Armitage Field, China Lake, Open House 22 March 1991. Photo courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

NWC China Lake Aircraft Department A-6E Intruder BuNo 154170, NWC-605, Armitage Field, China Lake, Open House 22 March 1991. Photo from Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

NWC China Lake TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156738, NWC-700, Laser Guided bomb on the port side, Armitage Field, China Lake, 23 March 1991. Photo by Vance Vasquez.

Fans of the Patriot Missile gaze at the Scud-Buster. China Lake, 22 March 1991. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Cary Brady.

Blue Angel #1, Cdr. Greg Wooldridge was the re-enlisting officer last week when MS2 Jonathan Rowecliff and AD2 Scott Cooley shipped over for another enlistment in the Navy. Both sailors are members of the Naval Weapons Center Auxiliary Security Force and assisted with security during the air show last Saturday. China Lake, 22 March 1991. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Cary Brady.

Scott Barton, Roger Moorehead and Don Wyrick, who are all part of the team in the Ordnance Division's Air Launched Ordnance Support Branch (Code 6143), carefully assemble a BSU-85 Air Retarder Fin on a MK-83, 1,000 pound inert bomb. The Ordnance Division receives, assembles, provides security, accounting and tracking of all ordnance and ammunition explosives coming aboard or being shipped off the Center. China Lake, 04 April 1991. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Cary Brady.

F/A-18A Hornet firing an AIM-9R Sidewinder missile, 05 April 1991. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 162898, XE-05, HARM missile, Buckley ANG, May 1991. Photo by R. Greby.

Among the military hardware displayed during the Operation Desert Homecoming Parade last week was this exhibit from the Naval Weapons Center. NWC aviation ordnancemen joined the Center's color guard in taking part in the parade in Las Vegas. China Lake, 10 May 1991. Rocketeer photo by Steve Boster.

VX-31 Dust Devils AV-8B Harrier BuNo 164129, DD-88, and Pax River AV-8B Harrier BuNo 161576 SD-620, inflight, MCAS Yuma, 01 July, 1991.

VFA-125 F/A-18D Hornet BuNo 163720, NJ-530, inflight, with Mk-8x bombs and an unknown Hornet, China Lake, 1991. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 162206, XE-21, inflight over Armitage Field with mk-8x bombs on MER's, circa 1991. Photographer unknown.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 162206, XE-21, inflight over Armitage Field with mk-8x bombs on MER's, circa 1991. Photographer unknown.

As part of the preparation work for launching the BOA-M missile, Naval Weapons Center's Patrick Donohue, of the System's Engineering Division's Missiles Systems Branch (Code 3621), reads a strip chart recorder ensuring signals for currents and voltages are correct. The readings transmitted from the recorder let Donohue know if there is enough power available to fire the BOA-M missile, China Lake, 03 July 1991, Rocketeer photo.

A BOA-M PTV-1 (Programed Test Vehicle-One) is installed on a NWC China Lake A-7E Corsair II. Since 1987, the Intercept Weapons Department's BOA program team has been investigating technology which supports future generations of Short Range Missiles (SRMs) beyond the AIM-9R Sidewinder now undergoing developmental testing at the NWC. The program is considered a major step in the air-to-air missile evolution. China Lake, 03 July 1991, Rocketeer photo by by Don Cornelius, TID.

NWC F/A-18 Hornet with Sidewinder AIM-9M and BOA-M missiles, China Lake, 3 July 1991. The BOA-M (left) and Sidewinder AIM-9M (right) are both canard controlled missiles which use forward fins to provide control inputs. The major difference between the two missiles are the sizes of the tails (BOA-M is much smaller). Benefits from reducing the size of the tail on the BOA-M are better maneuverability and a greater drag reduction which enables the missile to fly further and faster. China Lake, 03 July 1991, Rocketeer photo.

Jim Netzer and Larry Strutz of NWC join Ron Smith from NASA Ames to discuss wind tunnel testing of the propfan missile model. China Lake, 01 August 1991, NWC Photo by Leroy Krzycki.

A propfan missile model awaits testing in the NASA Ames wind tunnel. Photo by J.T. Heineck, NASA Ames.

Don Whiteman of NWC operates a telemetry ground station on the receiving end of hard line signals from the propfan missile model's TM system. Data recorded included thrust and propeller strain gage signals from each prop hub, China Lake, 01 August 1991, NWC Photo by Leroy Krzycki.

VX-5 Vampires Lt. Rick "Skyler" Botham and Lt. Eric "Slider" Hinson prior to delivering the final "Harleys", XE-01 and XE-02, to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, near Tucson, Ariz. China Lake, 01 August 1991, VX-5 Photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 162206, XE-21, taxiing at an unknown location, August 1991. Photo from Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo unknown, XE-407, assigned to LCdr. Bob "T-Bob" Hayes, Pt. Mugu, 02 August 1991. Official U.S. Navy Photo by Vance Vasquez.

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo unknown, XE-407, assigned to LCdr. Bob "T-Bob" Hayes, Pt. Mugu, 02 August 1991. Official U.S. Navy Photo by Vance Vasquez.

Col. J.R. Agenbroad, CO, MAD, and CWO4 Bill Porter, look over the Advanced Rocket Systems proof of concept launcher. Lighter by at least 25 percent, more rigid in flight and a reduced radar cross section are among the advantages seen in a new aircraft rocket launcher constructed largely from composite materials by Scaled Composites of Mojave. Mojave airport, 08 August 1991, Photo by Steve Boster.

VX-5 Vampires' new Executive Officer, Cdr. Bert "Berto" O. Schnabel, poses by F/A-18 Hornet BuNo 163432, XE-35, China Lake, 29 August 1991, Rocketeer photo.

Coverage of the night landing of the space shuttle Discovery Sept. 18 was able to actually be seen by way of the Magnavox model IR-18 forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera belonging to NWC China Lakes Signature Measurement & Evaluation Branch. Branch electronics technician Shari Jenkins and tracker Steve Eggers used the IR-18, fitted with a 14x telescopic lens, on an M-45 tracking mount to track and record the landing. Upper left, the shuttle is approximately 3.5 miles out. Upper right, landing gear tires become white moments after touchdown. Bottom shots show tiled nose and underbelly glowing white, still warm from entering the atmosphere and gas escaping in front of tail from locomotivelike exhaust system, 18 September 1991. Quad-split print by Bill Carroll, Video Projects Branch.

NWC China Lake F-4B Phantom II BuNo 150432, BOA-M missile, Armitage Field, China Lake, 26 September 1991. Official U.S. Navy photo.

M-247 Sergeant York (DIVAD), probably around IOB, China Lake, October 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

The thousands of people attending the 1991 Desert Empire Fair will be treated to a display of hot air balloonlng by the U.S. Navy's Hot Air Balloon Flight Demonstration Team. The team offers this interesting display of flight October 18-20. China Lake, 10 October 1991, Rocketeer photo.

NWC China Lake QF-86F Sabre drone s/n 52-4450, NWC-832, 25 October 1991. Photo by Vance Vasquez.

VMA-211 Avengers AV-8B Harriers CF-02 & CF-06 over Indian Wells Valley. BuNo's are probably 164120 & 164128, or 164133 & 164135. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VMA-211 Avengers AV-8B Harriers CF-02 & CF-06 over Indian Wells Valley. BuNo's are probably 164120 & 164128, or 164133 & 164135. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 162206, XE-21, taxiing at unknown location, October 1991. Photo by Bob Niedermeier, Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com