If you live in southern California and love aviation, this is the weekend for you! Edwards Air Force Base is hosting their first public air show in 13 years. As we profiled the lineup in an earlier story, this airshow will be a very unique, must-see event. Notably, Top Gun’s Mach 10+ Darkstar aircraft that was specially built by Lockheed Martin for the hit movie will be on display. It is the first time that the public will be able to see the aircraft.
First Video Walk Through Of The Hypersonic Movie Prop
Our very own Mike Killian is on the ground at Edwards AFB reporting on the events this weekend. Darkstar is parked next to its other fast flying Lockheed cousin, the venerable SR-71. He was able to walk around the very realistic looking movie prop and shared it in an exclusive Avgeekery.com video.
While the Darkstar looks like a realistic hypersonic jet, it is really just an expensive non-flying movie prop for the mega-successful movie Top Gun: Maverick.
The aircraft was designed in partnership with Lockheed Martin. Without giving away spoilers, the jet flies at Mach 10+ in the movie. In reality, this prop will never fly but it does have a functional cockpit that was used as part of filming the movie. Lockheed Martin profiled their work in the video released last summer. You can see it below.
Even More Action Packed Events At Edwards AFB
The show will feature the first supersonic airshow in the US in over 13 years. Due to the location and mission of Edwards Air Force Base, sonic booms are authorized at this location. The Thunderbirds will be in attendance. It will also be your last chance to see NASA’s SOFIA Boeing 747SP flying before it is parked and retired (we’ll have more on this next week).
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The world’s only flying Lockheed L-1011, Northrop’s Stargazer, will be on static display. Every tactical fighter in the USAF inventory will be present. B-1 and B-52 bombers will be part of the show.
Gregory “WIRED” Colyer from Ace Maker Airshows will be flying his famous T-33 demo.
The event is free to the public on both Saturday Oct 15th and Sunday October 16th. Gates will open at 8:30am on both days. The base will close when it hits capacity of 50,000 people. Premium VIP viewing options are available to purchase.
Visit www.AVairshow.com for more info.
