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The first generation jet powered Gulfstream, now a throw away testbed and the last of the legacy Gulfstream jet design the G550 sits in its bright USAF dress scheme...
BAE Systems Tech Solutions & Services Sabreliner 65 N65ML on very short final for Runway 33L at BWI. Note the cool attachment hanging down off of the belly.
N1001U - Sud Aviation SE-210-6R Caravelle - Aero Service -
at Pima Air & Space Museum (DMA) in Aug. 2001
c/n 86 - built in 1961 for United Airlines -
operated by Aero Service Corp. Houston TX , since 1976 as Goodyear testbed -
donated to the Pima museum in 1990
scanned from Kodachrome-slide
Photo taken by Wilhelm Hell, scan kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.
München-Riem
1972-10-01 (1 October 1972)
G-AYXR "Mikado II"
Boeing 707-321(F)
17608/122
Donaldson International Airways (DIA)
G-AYXR taxiing towrds the holding point for Riem’s runway 07. The aircraft visited Riem with Donaldson International on 1 October 1972 and would return leased to Syrian Air in February/March 1976 and then with Dan-Air London on 1 May 1977.
Information from flickr - thanks to Paul:
New to Pan Am as N730PA in 1960. Converted to a freighter in 1970 and to Donaldson International Airways as G-AYXR in 1971. To British Midland Airways in 1975 and leased to a number of airlines. To International Air Leases as N37681 in 1980. To General Electric in 1983 and used as an engine testbed. Reregistered as N707GE in 1990. Scrapped at Mojave in 2003.
Registration details for this airframe:
www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/G-AYXR/489311
This airframe as N730PA with Pan American at LHR in August 1961:
abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1037666
G-AYXR with Donaldson International at YYZ in July 1971:
www.flickr.com/photos/158362432@N07/50391050258
G-AYXR with Tunis Air at FRA in June 1976:
www.flickr.com/photos/skypicsintl/16225807938
G-AYXR with Kenya Airways at LHR in February 1977 (Tunis Air cheatline):
www.flickr.com/photos/pslg05896/22818814488
G-AYXR with Kuwait Airways at EMA in ca. 1976:
www.flickr.com/photos/154191970@N03/35532356325
G-AYXR with BMA at LGW in September 1976 (no titles):
www.flickr.com/photos/pslg05896/30695255760
G-AYXR with Kenya Airways at FRA in July 1977 (Tunis Air cheatline, red tail):
abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1268587
G-AYXR with Pakistan International at EMA in April 1980:
abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1282566
This airframe as N37681 with International Air Leases/Batch Air, used as an engine testbed by General Electric, at MHV in October 1984:
www.flickr.com/photos/pslg05896/30490227284
This airframe as N707GE with General Electric at MHV in October 1992:
www.flickr.com/photos/markp51/35448079624
N707GE with a CFM engine in the #2 position:
www.flickr.com/photos/n747ge/6361483173
N707GE stored derelict at MHV in September 2003:
imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/6/2/2/0458226.jpg
Scan from Kodachrome slide (on Kodak Photo CD).
Airbus A350F first flight - 29/09/2026
First A350F followed by the Falcon 20 making an exciting low-pass over the airport, greeting public, press and Airbus staff on the ground.
Airbus A350-1041F. Airbus Industries. F-WXLD. MSN: 700
Photo taken by Wilhelm Hell, scan kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.
München-Riem
ca. late 1970s
OY-APV
Boeing 720-051B
18793 / 384
Maersk Air
OY-APV is taxiing to Riem’s runway 25 for take-off. The airframe was noted at the airport on 2 March 1973 and 30 May 1979 (probably visited more often).
Information from flickr - thanks to Paul:
New to Northwest Orient as N737US in 1964. To Maersk Air as OY-APV in 1974 then to Conair of Scandinavia in 1981. To Air Xport as TF-AYD in 1987 then to Boeing as N771BE in 1988 and used as an avionics testbed. Scrapped at Everett-Paine Field in 1992.
Registration details for this airframe:
rzjets.net/aircraft/?reg=57267
This airframe as N737US with Northwest at JFK in January 1972:
www.flickr.com/photos/154191970@N03/50716164253
N737US with Northwest at JFK in June 1973 (all metal):
imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/6/7/9/1644976.jpg
OY-APV with Maersk at STN in July 1975 (initial colours):
imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/2/6/1/1037162.jpg
OY-APV with Conair of Scandinavia at ZRH in October 1984:
www.flickr.com/photos/157839500@N04/54077253766
This airframe as N771BE with Kingsley Aviation at BRU in 1988:
www.flickr.com/photos/191692050@N04/53248777491
N771BE as Boeing Advanced Avionics Testbed at PAE in October 1991:
imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/0/4/5/0766540.jpg
Scan from Kodachrome slide (on Kodak Photo CD).
OY-KGF - McDonnell Douglas DC-9-21 - SAS - Scandinavian Airlines System
at Duesseldorf International Airport (DUS)
c/n 47.308 - built in 1969 for SAS -
sold to Thomson Electronic used as equipment testbed as F-WTVH -
merged into Thales Systemes Aeroportes SA - re-reg. F-GVTH
scanned from Kodachrome-slide
This was built about 36 years ago by yours truly. The paintjob was not good, I was very young when I made it. Even though I was determined to save it as it was, I needed a platform to practice my painting and I didn't want to buy anything just because of that.
So, I thought what the hey, and here's my MPC snowspeeder revived and repainted. A photo I posted to my IG account on Feb 6 but forgot to add it here.
This is with grey insignia and (X) emblem instead of the ZZ that should be there on the side of the canopy. I didn't have a replacement decal so I used what I had. I think it kinda fits, though, it's like a testbed speeder, not from the rogue squadron. I also made a small opening on the armor with the orange guts revealed. The opening is smaller than in the similarly fashioned model used in The Empire Strikes Back, I know. I just wanted to have some fun while painting this and I kept and painted the panel that was cut out as well, the opening can be covered with it.
Nikkormat FTn w/Vivitar 28mm f 2.8 Prime on Agfachrome 100
Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort (commonly known as Walt Disney World or Disney World) is an entertainment and vacation resort complex located about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Walt Disney Company.
Covering an approximate 27,000 acres (42 sq mi; 109 km2), Walt Disney World contains numerous recreational facilities designed to attract visitors for extended stays, including four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, conference centers, a competitive sports complex and a major shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Additionally, there are 31 Disney-owned resort hotels and one camping resort on the property, and many other non-Disney-operated hotels on and near the property.
Designed to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955, the complex was planned and conceptualized by Walt Disney in the 1960s. Walt's vision for the complex was to build a new, self-contained destination resort on ample land, as he felt Disneyland had become limited by the third-party establishments that had sprung up around it. "The Florida Project", as it was then known, was intended to present a distinct vision with its own diverse set of attractions. Walt's original plans called for the inclusion of an "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" (EPCOT), a planned community intended to serve as a testbed for new city-living innovations. Walt's original vision would not progress past conceptualization, as he died on December 15, 1966, during the initial planning of the complex before construction had begun. After his death, the company wrestled with the idea of whether to bring the Disney World project to fruition; however, Walt's older brother, Roy O. Disney, came out of retirement to ensure the project was realized.
Construction began in 1967, with the company abandoning the planned community concept, instead choosing to build a theme park resort similar to Disneyland. Magic Kingdom was the first theme park to open in the complex in 1971, followed by EPCOT (then known as EPCOT Center) in 1982, Disney's Hollywood Studios (then known as the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park) in 1989, and Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998. Initially known as Disney World, the name of the entire resort was named Walt Disney World at Roy's insistence, to memorialize his brother.
In 2024, Walt Disney World was the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of more than 49 million, while Magic Kingdom has been the most visited theme park in the world for at least the past 24 years. The opening of Walt Disney World helped turn Central Florida into a major global tourism destination and the resort has contributed singificantly to Florida's economy, generating billions in economic activity and supporting a large number of jobs across the state. The resort is the largest single-site employer in the United States, the flagship destination of Disney's worldwide corporate enterprise and has become a staple of American popular culture.
Northrop Grumman CRJ700 N805X with some cool attachments on short final for Runway 33L at BWI. This is the first time I have seen this aircraft since it was delivered - www.flickr.com/photos/bwi2muc/22155599090/
The Pima Air and Space Museum's recently-acquired 747 - formerly GE's engine testbed - is now on display. I know the 747 is called the 'Queen of the Skies,' but she looks pretty regal just sitting on the ground too.
Now working for the Canadian National, a pair of former Illinois Central EMDs built for the Gulf Mobile and Ohio were northbound on the former Wisconsin Central in 2007.
The lead motor was SD40X 6071 built in 1966 as SD40 testbed EMDX 434 and later became GM&O 950. The 6071 is now enjoying retirement at the Monticello Museum awaiting restoration.
The trailing SD40 was built by EMD as GM&O 908 in 1966. Current whereabouts unknown.
Boeing 737-505
cn: 24651 / ln: 1842
ff: 06-04-1990
19-04-1990 LN-BRD Braathens SAFE, config Y125, and as the 2nd 735. Delivered in "Sommerflyet" colours with the first flower decoration earlier shown in 1988 with N197JQ.
09-1990 LN-BRD repainted to standard BU colours and named "Harald Gille"
23-03-1998 LN-BRD Braathens ASA tfd
1999 LN-BRD repainted into the new blue BU colours, still config Y125, "Harald Gille"
winter 2002/2003 repainted into the final BU colours, "Harald Gille"
01-04-2005 LN-BRD SAS Braathens tfd, "Harald Gille" reconfig CY120, operated in full ex BU colours
01-06-2007 LN-BRD SAS Norge tfd still "Harald Gille"
24-07-2007 VP-BRP Aeroflot-Nord, config CY110
(Leased from Aerco)
01-12-2009 VP-BRP Nordavia tfd, config Y110, /leased from (AerCo)
2016 reconfig Y132
12-03-2019 wfu
20-03-2019 VP-BRP Smartavia tfd, config Y135, (leased from AerCo)
19-10-2020 wfu
02-12-2020 stored at Staunton Shenandoah Valley Regional, USA (KSHD / SHD)
07-12-2020 N735T Dynamic Aviation, testbed
30-06-2023 stored at Wichita McConnell Air Force Base (KIAB / IAB)
03-04-2024 entered service as testbed again
Seen while waiting to enter rwy 24 in May 1990
Scanned from original Fuji 200ISO negative film
@ Airbus Industrie
Airbus A350-941 • cn 001
• ENG : 2x RR Trent XWB-84
• REG : F-WXWB
• RMK : Prototype 1st Flight
@ History Aircraft :
• 04.DEC.2012 : Roll-out at Built site Toulouse ( LFBO ) France
• 14.JUN.2013 : First flight of Testbed at LFBO
≠ 14th June 2013. First flight of the A350XWB F-WXWB (cn 001) at Toulouse Blagnac Airport ( TLS ) France
The F-8 Crusader made it's first flight at Edwards AFB on March 25th 1955. NASA's F-8C Digital Fly-By-Wire testbed is one of two F-8s preserved at Edwards, on display at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.
Technology image of the week:
ESA’s light-studded Rover Autonomy Testbed vehicle does a twirl during night testing in Tenerife, intended to simulate the low light environment of the lunar poles.
The testbed, operated by a team from GMV in Spain, plus ESA’s Heavy Duty Planetary Rover, overseen by ESA’s planetary robotics team, have travelled to the Canary Islands for day and night testing in the volcanic, Moon-like environment of Teide National Park.
The two rovers carry navigation aids to work in both light and dark, including stereo cameras, lights, GPS, laser rangers and radar-like lidar. They can build digital 3D maps from these various sensors for both autonomous and teleoperated steering.
Credit: Fernando Gandía/GMV
During several weeks in January and February 1985 Chesapeake and Ohio 614 ran on the C&O mainline between Huntington and Hinton, WV. The 614 was renumbered to 614T with the "T" signifying Test as it was being used as a testbed for technology and performance measuring diagnostics supporting a proposed new generation of coal-burning steam locomotives. American Coal Enterprises was looking at developing a modern coal-fired steam locomotive to be used as an alternative to rising oil costs, known as the ACE 3000 Project. The 4-8-4 Class J3a Greenbrier was the last commercially produced steam locomotive sold in the US. Built by Lima in June 1948 for the C&O it was retired in 1952.
I was a college student at West Virginia University in 1985 and traveled down to the C&O to catch the 614T with another student the weekend of January 18-20, which just happened to be during one of the most intense arctic outbreaks of the 20th century which occurred January 18-22, 1985. Extremely cold temperatures affected every state east of the Rockies with three new state record lows established: -34° at Mt. Mitchell, NC, -19° at Caesar's Head, SC; and -30° at Mountain Lake, VA. According to newspaper reports at least 165 fatalities were attributed to the weather. The inauguration parade for President Reagan's second term was canceled with wind chills in Washington DC colder than -10° F.
The trip got off to a start by stopping to take night shots of helpers at Burnsville, WV on the B&O on the way in absolutly frigid conditions:
The next day we heard that 614T would be returning from Hinton with the test train after dropping off coal loads but had little other information. Hours in the cold waiting east of Charleston was no fun but we did finally get it and chased it to Huntington. Here we see the 614T at Milton, WV at -17° F. It was absolutly amazing to watch the 614T run fast over the C&O in the artic air.
c/n FC001
first all-electric commuter airplane. There will be 3 versions, Passenger, Cargo, and VIP. Sits 9 passengers.
"Clipper Seven Seas" in storage with other 707s after retirement from Pan Am service. N404PA flew, with significant modifications for a testbed role, for many more years, with the US Air Force Systems Command. Its 50th birthday was marked in 2015: www.panam.org/events/462-seven-seas-celebration
In the background of this photo is N793PA, which also flew for many more years, serving variously with Scimitar (G-BGIS), Tradewinds (G-TRAD), TAMPA (HK-3232X) and Air Nacoia Exploraçao de Aeronaves (D2-FAV). It was eventually wfu and broken up at Luanda.
Built in 1983 for Eastern Airlines, the Honeywell 757 test bed aircraft is seen on the FedEx ramp at Memphis International.
A set of GE's pulls a drag freight into the yard at Saginaw, Texas on a hot day in 1986.
None of these engines lasted very long on the Santa Fe, which normally embraced GE power. The leader is one of 3 1984-built B39-8 testbeds which led to the orders for B40-8's but was retired in 1992.
The second and third units are B36-7's which GE had high hopes for but were not big sellers with the exception of Seaboard System which bought over 100 of them. Only two were painted in the SPSF merger scheme. Santa Fe didn't care for them and the 16 they owned were returned to GE in 1989 and were eventually purchased by BC Rail in 1995.
Raytheon 727 testbed aircraft "Voodoo One" seconds from landing on RWY 24R at sunset, while a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 (FLT VIR8) simultaneously climbs out from RWY 24L en route to London Heathrow (EGLL).
Kodachrome collection slide.
Airline : Boeing Company
Aircraft : Boeing 707-3W6C
Registration : N707QT
MSN/LN : 21956 / 941
Location : BFI / KBFI - Boeing Field Int'l Airport
Photographer : UNKNOWN
Date : February 1980
Notes : Flying testbed of the newly fitted CFM-56 hi-bypass engines, an idea that never happened with revenue airlines, unlike the DC-8-60's, only with the military variant the KC-135.
Box 225
With closure apparently not far into the future, a visit to the back side of the old EMD La Grange plant feels timely. UP SD70ACe-T4 3036 and one of the resident testbed units, EMD 90, sit in the evening sun.
Boeing 720-025
cn: 18158 / ln: 234
ff: 05-09-1961 at Renton
19-09-1961 N8704E Eastern Air Lines, config F22Y107, fleet no 704, (leased from Prudential until 10-1966)
25-09-1969 N8704E Boeing (returned)
01-06-1970 LN-TUW Trans Polar, "Richard Evelyn Byrd", (leased from Boeing)
18-06-1971 Impounded at Kastrup (EKCH / CPH) due to an NOK 15 million debt to Boeing
23-06-1971 Boeing (returned)
01-09-1971 N3183B Boeing rr, testbed; Boeing Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) flight test aircraft
16-08-1975 N40102 Boeing testbed, fleet no 8504, Boeing flight test aircraft
08-1977 WFU and stored at Kimgman (KIGM / IGM)
07-1988 broken up there
I recall seeing this one together with my father at FBU in June 1970, My first view of Trens Polar, and I was very impressed.
Wonderful photo shot by Lars Söderström on final apporach to Arlanda in June 1970.
LN-TUW was the only on of three B720s whith grey underside
Seen in May 1970, made ready to be delivered to Trans Polar June 1st.
Scanned from a postcard, photo shot by Henry Tenby ©
(Part of my collection)
Minnesota Commerical Job 19, the "Hugo Job", crosses the diamond over the BNSF St. Paul Sub at Park JCT and approaches the BNSF Midway Sub before entering MNNR's Midway Yard at St. Paul, MN.
Their sole power is a one of a kind SF30B, which was originally built as ATSF U23B No. 6332 in 1970. After Santa Fe's U36C-SF30C rebuild program had proven successful, they then set their sights on rebuilding the smaller 4-axle U23B's. ATSF No. 6332 was chosen specifically as a testbed as it had damage from a wreck, thus already in need of repairs.
The rebuild began in the summer of 1987 at Santa Fe's Cleburne Shops in Cleburne, TX. The shop installed updated 752 traction motors and a General Electric 7FDL-12F30UX prime mover, which increased the horsepower rating from 2,300 to 3,000. The electronics were updated to Dash 7 standards, which internally made this similar to a B30-7, and the Sentry Wheel Slip capability was also added during the rebuild.
The 6332 became the 7200 after the rebuild. Though the rebuild was a success, it was never expanded beyond the prototype. The Cleburne Shops eventually closed and GE was contracted to perform maintenance on Santa Fe's GE-built engines. The 7200 was again renumbered to 6419 to fit in with the B23-7 number series, and GE derated the horsepower rating from 3,000 back to 2,300.
The SF30B survived the BN-ATSF merger in the mid-90's and eventually lived for some time as BNSF No. 4276. BNSF retired it from the roster in 2008, and it was subsequently sold to the Minnesota Commercial where it's called home since then. 7/20/21.
F-WNEW, An Airbus A320NEO testbed aircraft, returning to Toulouse after a mornings testflight.
***UPDATE*** This aircraft is now operating for AirAsia as 9M-AGS
🇺🇸 #N601FE #FEDEX #FX #FDX #MDC #MD-11 #CARGO #PARIS #CDG #LFPG #FRANCE #EUROPE #TAKE-OFF #SUNSET #RWY #MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS #FIST-MD11-BUILT #PROTOTYPE #NAMED #JIM-RIEDMEYE #FEDERAL-EXPRESS © #AWP #CHR-2009
@ Federal Express ( FedEx ) 🇺🇸
McDonnell Douglas MD-11F • msn 48401 / 447
• Engines : 3x GE CF6-80C2D1F
• Aircraft Name : "Jim Riedmeye"
• Reg : N601FE
@ History Aircraft :
• 10.JAN.1990 : First flight with test reg N111MD - Long Beach ( LGB ) CA USA - First MD11 off the production line and flying as the "Prototype" MDC test aircraft.
• 27.JUN.1991 : Delivered to "Federal Express" FX & FDX with Reg N601FE and config cargo
I booked tickets for EAA's 2025 AirVenture after reading the press release about Pratt's 74SP making an appearance.
The SP, the sportiest of the 747s produced, has a special place in the hearts of many avgeeks, being the most interesting variant of one of the world's most iconic airliners.
This particular frame is even more interesting, as it's now used as a flying testbed - there's a mounting point for an additional engine on the right side of the upper hump - cool stuff!
With one of the two Sands aircraft, VQ-BMS, getting broken up in 2021, and SOFIA retiring in 2022, the operating fleet of SPs in North America is rapidly dwindling. Pratt & Whitney has a pair of these stationed in Montreal, C-FPAW and C-GTFF. The remaining half of the former Sands fleet, VP-BLK, residing at MCI with an uncertain future - when I got to see it up close in June of 2024, knowledgeable folks were optimistic, but it has yet to make another flight.