A
n open day and air show at the US
Naval Air Test Center (NATC) at
Patuxent River on Saturday, May
27 was not to be missed as many
of the aircraft in the static display were one-
offs in special colour schemes – and there
were aircraft from the US Navy’s Test Pilot
School (TPS) which ew an assortment of
types, including some not in Navy service.
All air shows usually have some civil
participation, and this one was no exception.
We noted North American P-51D Mustang
NL51JB, Grumman FM-2 Wildcat N315E
and Canadian-built T-6 Harvard N98474,
which had been converted to look like the
NA-50/P-64 single-seat ghter variant.
The oldest aircraft on show was Douglas
Dolphin NC14205, which dated back to the
early 1930s. It was a twin-engine, amphibious
ying boat and served as a private ying
yacht, airliner, military transport and in the air-
sea rescue role. One was ordered for Franklin
D Roosevelt, the rst aircraft purchased for a
US President, but he never used it.
Performing formation aerobatics were four
Pitts S2Ss from the Holiday Inn display team.
Meanwhile, aircraft from the NATC included
Kaman SH-2F Seasprite 149021, Lockheed
S-3B Viking 159770, McDonnell Douglas
T-45A Goshawk 162788, Lockheed P-3C
Orion 162770, Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
163029, LTV A-7E Corsair II 156874 and
Grumman C-2A Greyhound 162140.
The TPS operated a wide spectrum
of aircraft – at one end was U-6A Beaver
150191 and at the other, in a wonderful white
and red colour scheme, McDonnell Douglas
Hornet F/A-18B 161249. Others seen were
McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk 152868,
US EAST COAST US EAST COAST
MAY 1989
Gerry Manning concludes his account of a 1989 trip to the US East Coast.
78 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft February 2016
Above: Miami has always been a great place to see exotic airliners from South and Central
America, like Surinam Airways Douglas DC-8-62 N1809E. All photos author
Below: US Navy Test Pilot School North American T-39D Sabreliner 150987 among the static
display at the NAS Patuxent River open day. The aircraft had an F/A-18 radome and APG-65
radar system tted and was used for test purposes by the Navy and the radar’s manufacturer.
Kaman SH-2F Seasprite 149021, Lockheed The TPS operated a wide spectrum
radar system tted and was used for test purposes by the Navy and the radar’s manufacturer.
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