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<-- 1977 1978 Aircraft Photo Gallery. Last updated 27 April, 2008 1979 -->
• Apr 1 -- NAVWPNCEN has 36 aviation officers, 30 other officers, 404 enlisted and 44 aircraft consisting of 1 NA-4E, 1 A-4E, 1 NA-4F, 1 A-4F, 3 TA-4J, 1 NA-6A, 1 A-6E, 3 A-7C, 1 NA-7C, 2 A-7E, 1 UH-1N, 1 T-39D, 1 OV-10A, 2 C-131F, 2 U-9D, 1 U-3A, 6 QF-86H, 8 QF-86F & 7 QT-38A. VX-5 has 30 aviation officers, 6 other officers, 224 enlisted and 15 aircraft consisting of 1 AH-1J, 3 A-7E, 2 A-7C, 5 A-6E, 1 C-1A, 2 A-4M, 1 TA-4. The Aero Club has 1 C-150, 1 C-177RG, 2 C-172, 1 C-210 & 2 T-34.
• Tests conducted at China Lake, under joint Navy & USAF funding, showed that a new short-range missile seeker operating on the 95 ghz frequency can penetrate rain, fog & heavy clouds better than electro-optical or infrared seekers.
• Aug 3 -- The Naval Air Systems Command reported a major advance in the technology of escape systems after the NWC successfully tested a vertical-seeking ejection seat. While carrying a dummy crew member, the seat was fired downward from a suspended test module. It traveled downward less than 45 feet before reversing direction and traveling upward; it then parachuted safely to the ground. These tests demonstrated that the vertical-seeking seat would make it possible to safely eject upside down, within 50 feet of the surface.
• Oct 1 -- NAVWPNCEN has 36 aviation officers, 30 other officers, 401 enlisted and 50 aircraft consisting of 1 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 1 NA-4F, 3 TA-4J, 1 NA-6A, 1 A-6E, 2 A-7C, 1 NA-7C, 4 A-7E, 2 TA-7C, 2 UH-1N, 1 T-39D, 1 OV-10A, 2 C-131F, 2 U-9D, 1 U-3A, 10 QF-86H, 6 QF-86F & 8 QT-38A. VX-5 has 32 aviation officers, 14 other officers, 245 enlisted and 18 aircraft consisting of 2 TA-7C, 6 A-7E, 6 A-6E, 1 TA-4J, 1 C-1A & 2 A-4M. The Aero Club has 2 C-150, 1 C-177RG, 2 C-172, 1 C-210 & 2 T-34.

Trident motor test, Skytop, China Lake, circa 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Trident motor test, Skytop, China Lake, circa 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

QF-86H Sabre s/n 52-2094 featuring the VX-4 Black Bunny logo and Ltjg Rosemary Conatser below the canopy, about 1977-1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo, Duncan Curtis collection.

C-131F Samaritan BuNo 141000 at Lindbergh field, San Diego, January 1978.

Photo © Frank Duarte with his permission.

VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 151565, XE-20, Dobbins AFB, January 1978.

photo by R. Leader via C. T. Robbins.

Target Buggies were developed as moving targets for use on the Ranges, China Lake, March 1978.

Naval Aviation News photo.

Target Buggies were developed as moving targets for use on the Ranges, China Lake, March 1978.

Naval Aviation News photo.

T-38A Talon s/n 61-0855, NAS Miramar, April 1978.

Photo by Doug Siegfried via Tailhook Association.

A-7E Corsair II BuNo 156883, China Lake, April 1978

Photo by R.E. Kling, G. Verver collection.

QF-86F Sabre s/n 55-3903, China Lake #4, 11 April 1978.

Photo by J. R. Owen, G. Verver collection.

QF-86H Sabre drone, #409, BuNo 53-1409, China Lake, about May 1978.

Photo © The Will Blunt/Global Air Images collection.

VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 151565, XE-20, Dobbins AFB, May 1978.

R.E. Kling photo, G. Verver collection

TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156738, #738, China Lake, May 1978

Photographer Taylor.

A-6E Intruder, BuNo 152642, HARM missile, China Lake, 03 May 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 52-5746, China Lake, 13 May 1978.

Photo by P. Bergagnini.

NASA T-37B Tweet s/n 60-0084, China Lake, 13 May 1978.

Photographer unknown,

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 53-1409, NAS Lemoore, 14 May 1978.

Photo by P. Huston, G. Verver collection.

A-6E Intruder, BuNo 152642, HARM missile, ca. May 1978.

Photo from Thomas Tye.

VX-5 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159471, XE-15, 12 June 1978

B.C. Rogers photo, G. Verver collection.

QT-38A Talon s/n 58-1194, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 58-1195, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1594, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1596, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1596, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1600, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1600, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1603, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1603, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1603, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

QT-38A Talon s/n 61-0851, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via Tailhook Association.

NA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152101, China Lake, 1978.

Photo via W. Mutza.

NA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152101, China Lake, 19 June 1978.

Photo by Clay Jansson via The Tailhook Association.

USAF A-10A Thunderbolt, serial 76-522, & 30mm gun. China Lake, 17 July 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo, G. Verver collection.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF A-10A Thunderbolt, serial 76-522, & 30mm gun. China Lake, 17 July 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

vertical-seeking ejection seat carrying a dummy crew member is fired downward from a suspended test module, travelling less than 45' before reversing.

Official U.S. Navy photo

TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156738, Buckley ANG, August 1978.

Photo by T. Srumpf via C. T. Robbins.

A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156739, China Lake, August 1978.

Photo by Roy Locke via the Tailhook Association.

VX-5 TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 156748, XE-08, Kirtland AFB, 08 August 1978.

Photographer John Sheets.

AIM-9 Sidewinder test setup, Skytop, China Lake, 21 August 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-86 Sabre s/n 55-3900, China Lake, 13 Sep 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo from Bob Ziesler.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 153677, SSS pod, China Lake, 02 October 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 153677, SSS pod, China Lake, 02 October 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair BuNo 159300, XE-01, October 1978

Photographer unknown,

QF-86F Sabre drone s/n 55-3883, China Lake #883, November 1978.

Photo by Bob Shane, G. Verver collection.

VX-5 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159485, XE-13, 8 November 1978.

Photo by T. Waddington, G. Verver collection.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 52-2094, China Lake, November 1978.

Photographer unknown, G. Verver collection.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 52-5744, China Lake, November 1978.

Photographer unknown.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 53-1383, China Lake, November 1978.

Photographer unknown, G. Verver collection.

QF-86F Sabre drone s/n 55-3883, #883, Edwards AFB, 12 November 1978.

Photographer unknown, G. Verver collection.

VX-5 A-7 Corsair II, AGM-62 Walleye TV guided bomb, White Sands, 01 Dec 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7E Corsair II, BuNo 156739, AN/ALR-45, China Lake, 07 Dec 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 TA-7C Corsair II BuNu 154458, XE-07, 16 Dec 1978.

Location & photographer unknown.

C-117D Skytrain, BuNo 50821, China Lake, ca. 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo from Mike O'Connell.

HH-1K Huey, BuNo 157201, China Lake, ca. 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo from Mike O'Connell.

DeHavilland UC-8 Buffalo, BuNo 161546, China Lake, ca. 1978.

Aircrew personnel includes ADC O'Connell, AMS1 Christensen, AMHC Watts, LTjg Wood & AMSC Virata.

Official U.S. Navy photo from Mike O'Connell.

DeHavilland UC-8 Buffalo, BuNo 161546, China Lake, ca. 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo from Mike O'Connell.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair II, BuNo 159271, XE-03, hangar 1, China Lake, ca. 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo, PHC Robert Ziesler, USN Ret.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair II, BuNo 159271, XE-03, off the runway, China Lake, ca. 1978.

Official U.S. Navy photo, PHC Robert Ziesler, USN Ret.

VX-4 F-4J Phantom BuNo 153783, XF-1, circa 1978.

Photo from Frank Rizzio.

TA-7C BuNo 154425, China Lake, 1978.

Photo from Michel Klaver.