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I found this plane on Google Earth. I'm guessing it is being deconstructed, as there are no factories nearby. What countries could it have originated from?

plane

The coordinates are 35°54'10.9"N, 117°43'51.6"W. Here's the location on Google Maps.

The plane is about 41 feet long, and seems to have had a wingspan of about 30 feet.

Also, if it is possible, what kinds of planes could this be?

Sorry if this question is not really possible to answer. I'm a complete beginner at aircraft.

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3 Answers 3

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So, you found what looks like an F-8 missing a wing in the middle of the USN's Air Warfare Center at China Lake.

It resembles the F-8 a lot: enter image description here Image Source

As @Andrew said in a comment, the plane might be an F-11 which has a little closer resemblance to your picture.

enter image description here Image Source

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    $\begingroup$ @MCMastery Probably seems like they are bombing it or something like that since it is an "Air Warfare Center". $\endgroup$
    – SMS von der Tann
    Commented Jun 17, 2016 at 18:04
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    $\begingroup$ I did a quick overlay of the F-8 with the image, and they just don't look like a match to me at all. Look at the sweep of the leading edge of both the wing and the horizontal stabilizer. They're simply not the same airplane. i.sstatic.net/MfJmM.png $\endgroup$
    – Bret Copeland
    Commented Jun 17, 2016 at 18:52
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    $\begingroup$ It is definitely not an F-8. The F-8 has two wings. $\endgroup$
    – user19474
    Commented Jun 17, 2016 at 19:24
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    $\begingroup$ F-11 not F-8? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-11_Tiger#/media/… The fuselage seems to have the same shape, and the F-11 stabilisers look closer to what you have than those on the F-8. $\endgroup$
    – Andrew is gone
    Commented Jun 18, 2016 at 10:27
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    $\begingroup$ Overlay of the F-11 with the image. It's a perfect match, so the plane is/was almost certainly an F-11. $\endgroup$
    – Bret Copeland
    Commented Jun 22, 2016 at 19:38
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Shape of the wing and stabilizers match F-11. (aka F11F) Layout of the fuselage: nose - cockpit - air intakes - tapering fuselage - wing - non tapering fuselage - horizontal stabilizers, match the F-11.

F-8 cockpit much further forward, has no lateral air intakes, horizontal stabilizer shape doesn't match. Gnat has a longer nose, no tapering fuselage ahead of the wing, too much taper on fuselage aft of wing. F-100 has no lateral air intakes.

What's it doing there? It's a simulated target. Photo, radar and electro-optical sensors, not to mention pilot eyes, can locate and identify it. The shipping containers look like shipping container or sand-bag revetments.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you, this is a big reason I was asking the question - What is it doing there? $\endgroup$
    – MCMastery
    Commented Oct 16, 2016 at 2:09
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It could possibly be the Folland Gnat.

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ The profile looks more like the accepted answer. $\endgroup$
    – fooot
    Commented Sep 22, 2016 at 16:36
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    $\begingroup$ This seems extremely unlikely. The US military never used the Gnat, and the Gnat is considerably smaller than the plane pictured (29 long and 22ft wingspan, vs approx 40ft and 30ft). The Gnat tapers much more at its tail, and the wing joins the fuselage right behind the cockpit, whereas the pictured plane doesn't taper much at the tail and the cockpit seems to be a long way forward of the leading edge of the wing. $\endgroup$
    – David Richerby
    Commented Oct 5, 2016 at 12:13

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