Fort Worth:  Lockheed F-35 Manufacturing Plant -  F-35 Antenna Testing Model   October 2009 - Photo taken from I-820 from at least a half a mile away.  This full scale model lets the Lockheed test engineers do outside testing on the various antennas that are embedded in the aircraft wings and fuselage.  There are no external antennas on the F-35 to detract from its stealth characteristics.

Fort Worth:  OV-10 Bronco Museum and Veteran's Memorial Air Park -  (2)A-4, A-7, (2)F-4, F-5, F-8, F-14, F-105, F-111, O-2, (3)OV-10, T-37, TF-102 October 2009 - The OV-10 Bronco Museum was in the process of finishing up a move to the south side of Meacham Airport from its previous location at Vintage Flying Museum when I visited on October 30, 2009.  President of the OV-10 Association Terry Tabor was kind enough to meet me and show me around the new facilities.  When complete the museum building will not only house the OV-10 Bronco Museum, but the Forward Air Controllers and B-36 museums as well.  Outside of the museum the Veteran's Memorial Air Park that is intended to feature aircraft that were used in the forward air controllers as much as possible.  When complete the entire complex will cover one city block and be very accessible to the public from a main city street.  All aircraft except the F-14 and F-105 had already been moved down from the previous display location and were being readied for movement into final display locations.  At the time I was there the organization had 16 aircraft for the air park which is just about all that will be able to be located in the available space.

I want to thank Terry Tabor for taking several hours to personally show me around and explain the history of the aircraft and the OV-10 Bronco Association.  More can be learned about the group at:  OV-10 Bronco Association

The last time many of us saw this F-5 it supposedly had an F-14 flying upside down over it in the opening scenes of the movie "Top Gun".  It was one of two F-5's that were used in the making of the film.  The other F-5 from the movie is in Glenville, NY at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum.

This is one of two OV-10s at the museum, this one in USMC markings.

The second OV-10 in USAF colors. 

This is one of two A-4s the group has for display.  It was expected to have the two parts back together by the end of the weekend I was there.  This demonstrates how the back half of the aircraft comes off in order to replace an engine.  Terry was estimating it would take about 6 persons to lift the rear section for reassembly.

One of the two F-4 Phantoms that are on display.

This is actually a wooden mockup that ended up in a junk yard and had to be retrieved by the group to save for posterity.

This is the last US Navy F-14 to fly.  It achieved that feat by flying into Meacham Airport in the cargo hold of a USAF C-5 after the F-14s had been pulled from US Navy service.  The nation of Iran still has a few flyable F-14s that were seen flying in 2009. 

With Vought at Grand Prairie in the Dallas area, the OV-10 Association has been able to arrange for Vought Retirees to rebuild this F-8 Crusader to original print specifications.  It will be pristine when complete.

Galveston:  Lone Star Flight Museum -  F-100   March 2009

Harwood:  Tactical Paintball @ I-10 and FM Road & 94   (2) UH-1    November 2009 

Houston:  Ellington Airport -  KC-135   March 2009 - NASA has a facility at this location for its T-38s along with 2 WB-57s.

Houston:  Johnson Space Center -  (2)T-38   March 2009 - This is the public entrance to the Space Center which is for tourists.

Houston:  American Legion Post 490 -  F-84   March 2009

Midland:  Commemorative Air Force   PV-2D    May 2009  I had conversation with the folks at the CAF after I returned from my trip as to why this aircraft is sitting outside while there is plenty of hangar space right behind it.  I was told this is actually on loan from the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL and that there were plans to get it moved.  In order for that to happen new tires have to be purchased and installed to be able to actually move the Harpoon.

Midland:  Commemorative Air Force - Salute to Airmen in Vietnam   AH-1, F-4, F-100, F-105, UH-1   May 2009

Midland:  Army National Guard at the airport   UH-1   May 2009  The day I was there to photograph there was work going on with the Huey.  I took the photos at lunch time when the workers were gone.

Pasadena:  American Legion Post 521  F-4  November 2009

Stanton:  Sam's Surplus  UH-1  May 2009  This is at exit 156 on I-20 and is on the north west corner of the interchange.  It can be seen plainly from the Interstate.

Texas City:  Bay Street City Park  F-100   March 2009

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