NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA's F/A-18B #846 flown by research pilot Dick Ewers lifts off the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., during a mission-support flight. The aircraft is one of several early-model F/A-18 aircraft flown by NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center for either research or mission support and pilot proficiency duties. (NASA / Tony Landis)

More on NASA Dryden's use of F/A-18 aircraft is available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-006-DFRC.html

More photos of NASA Dryden's F/A-18 mission support aircraft can be found at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/imagegallery/F-18Chase/index.html