The RAAF / Turkish AF 737 AEW&C Wedgetail at Boeing Field (plus the F-22 avionics test plane)

While parking at the Museum of Flight in Seattle I noticed a Wedgetail airframe right off the parking lot behind some fences. In fact there were several plus an E-3 AWACS in the distance. As I was shooting some pics of the Turkish plane a ground guy came up and told us that one would be taking off soon and directed us to another part of the fence.

The Turkish airframe




[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b9dfef831376.jpg[/atsimg]

F-22 Avionics testbed

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/1dd83b4aeadc.jpg[/atsimg]

The line with the E-3 and two other Wedgetails
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/43cf0e6b9d95.jpg[/atsimg]




The taxi (Its hard to see but the pilot was waving at my son as he went by




[edit on 8/25/09 by FredT]

[edit on 8/25/09 by FredT]

That was the F-22 avionics testbed, rather than the F-35. It's actually the first 757 ever built, IIRC. I don't think they still test F-22 avionics on it, but rather fly it around as an experimental jet owned by Boeing.

Thanks for posting.

BTW, did you catch a climpse of the tail numbers the RAAF AEW&C aircraft?


They had to put bigger generators on the engines because that big microwave on the top needs to much power (you can see the bump on the engines). Given the price of the thing, 400 mil +, I'm surprised they let us that close... With Vigilare and all its associated systems, and the Super Hornet purhase this is a MASSIVE increase in RAAF capability...

[edit on 25/8/2009 by C0bzz]

Doubt they really care how close externally you get, within reason of course, considering there are plenty of photos already on the net.

reply to post by C0bzz


Good catch I goofed for sure the JSF used a 737 for its testing

ooooops.

I did not catch the tail number and its too blurry to see in the video