NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center will once again participate in the Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show Oct. 28-29, with one of its high-altitude ER-2 Earth science aircraft flying and several other NASA aircraft on static display.

The Lockheed-built ER-2, a civil version of the U-2S military reconnaissance aircraft, is flown by NASA in Earth resources research and satellite sensor validation.

Several of NASA Dryden's research and mission support aircraft will also be on display, either along the flight line or in the NASA exhibit area within Hangar 1600. These include a highly modified McDonnell Douglas NF-15B best known for its role in the Advanced Control Technology for Integrated Vehicles project and currently the testbed for Intelligent Flight Controls research, and another modified F-15B currently being flown in the Gulfstream Quiet Spike sonic boom suppression research. Other NASA aircraft on exhibit are expected to include Boeing's X-48B subscale Blended Wing-Body technology demonstrator, a modified Boeing B-52H air launch aircraft, a modified General Dynamics F-16XL prototype, NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Beechcraft T-34 and McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 mission support aircraft.

Static displays and exhibits in NASA's area in Hangar 1600 will highlight the cutting-edge flight research and technology development that occurs at NASA Dryden. A new display this year, an inflatable Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle exhibit, will showcase NASA's Constellation program to resume human exploration of the solar system. Visitors will also be able to "fly" a high-performance jet from a flight simulator cockpit, and have their photo taken within a virtual space suit helmet. In addition, the Lancaster High School robotics team that is supported in part by NASA Dryden will demonstrate its robot that is entered in the annual high school robotics competition on Oct. 28, with other schools possibly demonstrating their robots the following day.

Focused on the theme "The Edwards Edge -- Making History, Reaching New Heights," the 2006 Edwards AFB Open House and Air Show will highlight Edwards' contributions to the U.S. Air Force and the nation, showcasing the aircraft systems and capabilities of the Air Force Flight Test Center, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, the Air Force Research Laboratory Propulsion Directorate, Marine Aircraft Group 46, and other local and visiting units.

Flight highlights include the famed U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, a precision formation flight demonstration from the Royal Dutch Air Force, and a variety of other military and civilian flight demonstrations.

FFMI: www.edwards.af.mil/openhouse, phone (661) 277-NEWS, www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden