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The big block letters "TEST" on the upper fuselage of this Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer (Bu. No. 139208/NASA tail number 212) denoted the craft as a test plane which was one of the fleet stabled at NASA Flight Research Center from 1961 to 1963 (redesignated the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1976). The calibration hangar, with the door partially open, is shown in the background while nearby the flight technicians are preparing the airplane for another research flight.
In 1963 the F5D-1, NASA 212, was transferred to Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, where it was flown on miscellaneous research projects including supersonic-transport landing studies. The F5D-1 was used to collect data on sink rates and approach characteristics. This particular F5D-1 was retired after several years, and in December 1975, it was loaned to Victor Valley College.