Identify these aircraft

"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
12/08/2014 at 15:40 • Filed to: None

I have a new job, which has me working out of a warehouse across the street from an air base/municipal airport (Westover). This morning on the way into work I saw these four planes parked next to the fence by the "passenger terminal" (a small building, 100x100 at most, used for charter jets. There are no regular commercial flights from Westover). I've never seen these planes in the area. When I came back in the afternoon they were flying overhead, and I think I saw two more (painted flat grey) parked in one of the "civilian" hangers. Any idea what the are/whose they are? If you can't tell from the photos, they're single engine. The white ones say "BAE Systems / Flight Systems" on the tails and "EXPERIMENTAL" on the blue stripe below the canopy. They also have ejection seats and pilot call signs painted on just below the canopy glass.

So, who can tell me what/who our guests are?

Also spotted at the airport today: a KC-10 doing touch-and-gos (second time in a week), the standard static line of C-5s and a pair of large private/charter jets by the terminal. Really wish I'd taken a photo of those as well. Next time.

DISCUSSION (19)

Gamecat235 > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 15:43

Those look like A-4's to me. Not sure which variant.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Gamecat235
12/08/2014 at 15:48

Yep, some kind of A4s - the hunchback is a dead giveaway.

Chris Clarke > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 15:49

These appear to be mid '70s MD A-4N's owned by BAE Systems. They develop various flight systems for defense and commercial uses, like this active side stick system used in the new Gulfstream.

Jcarr > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 15:49

A-4N going by the tail number on that closest one.

http://www.planespotters.net/Aviation_Photo…

Jcarr > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
12/08/2014 at 15:52

Hey....

Kinja'd!!!

rhorizon > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 15:53

The three in white/blue livery are McDonnell Douglas A-4N Skyhawk II's, don't know about the other A-4.

The BAE A-4s were used as targets/tugs for the German Air Force some time ago, not sure what they're doing in the US. Nice find!

http://a4skyhawk.org/9e/bae/bae.htm

I would've loved to have seen the KC-10 and the C-5!

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 15:53

A-4N. You can Google the "N" numbers and get really detailed info on them.

Looks like they're used in adversary exercises and target towing.

DCV > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 15:56

ex Israeli Douglas A-4N Skyhawk used by BAe systems for target towing duties for Luftwaffe:

http://www.touchdown-aviation.com/types/german-a…

Effef > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 15:58

Look like privately owned A-4 Skyhawks of some variant.

Rock Bottom > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 16:01

I love me some hunch-back Skyhawks!

Fun fact: the leading edge slats were designed to deploy passively, without a drive motor or hydraulics. At low speeds they automatically popped out. The idea was to make the plane as simple as possible.

Also, best part, the chief engineer for the Skyhawk program was Ed Heinemann, the Colin Chapman of the airplane world! According to legend Ed hung a huge "K.I.S.S." banner in the drawing room at Douglas Aircraft. "Keep It Simple, Stupid." Brilliant.

Rock Bottom > Gamecat235
12/08/2014 at 16:01

It's a later one (-F or later). The earlier ones didn't have the hunch-back... but they were all awesome!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jcarr
12/08/2014 at 16:02

You've probably heard this joke, but it's still worth it:

After the events of HoND...

The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process. After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he had just about decided to call it a day. But just then, an armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer`s job.

Incredulously, the bishop blurted out, "But. . .you have no arms!"

"No matter," said the man: "Observe!"

And he began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. The bishop listened in astonishment, convinced he had finally found a suitable replacement for Quasimodo.

But suddenly, rushing forward to strike a bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window, falling to his death in the street below. The stunned bishop rushed to his side. When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before.

As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, "Bishop, who was this man?" "I don`t know his name," the bishop sadly replied, "but his face rings a bell."

...

The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist, the bishop continued his interviews for a new bell ringer of Notre Dame.

The first man to approach him said, "Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch who fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday. I pray that you honor his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty."

The bishop agreed to give the man an audition, and, as the armless man`s brother stooped to pick up a mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest, and died on the spot.

Two monks, hearing the bishop`s cries of grief at this second tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side.

"What has happened? Who is this man?" the first monk asked breathlessly.

"I don`t know his name," sighed the distraught bishop...

"....but he`s a dead ringer for his brother."

ly2v8-Brian > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 16:05

I'm certain those are jets.

ttyymmnn > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 16:10

Pretty sure that's a pickup truck, dude. Others have correctly ID'd the Skyhawks. So here are some pretty pictures of them. The top picture is of the second aircraft in your photo, and the bottom has the camo plane. I'm not sure where I came across these.

Kinja'd!!!

ttyymmnn > Chris Clarke
12/08/2014 at 16:11

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/pretty-sure-th…

Dusty Ventures > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
12/08/2014 at 16:11

Interesting. Kind of odd they'd be hanging around at Westover then. Westover houses a C-5 airlift wing, none of the regular craft here have offensive capabilities.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Dusty Ventures
12/08/2014 at 16:14

Not really. Westover is a stopping point before hopping the pond. Those jets have been photographed over in Germany (most recently in Ocotber). So they could be either making a trip back over, or on their way to some depot level maintenance here in CONUS.

Dusty Ventures > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
12/08/2014 at 16:26

Good point. I forgot about Westover's role as a tactical truck stop.

Dusty Ventures > rhorizon
12/08/2014 at 16:34

The C-5s live here, so they'll be easy to shoot. I think I might start bringing along my proper camera so I can try and get some shots of the various craft in flight.