This is kinda neat:

Why The U.S. Built A Giant Sound Stage In The California Desert

A large building at Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake was built in the early ’90’s as a means of testing missile guidance systems. In the Missile Engagement Simulation Arena, full-size aircraft mockups are suspended and maneuvered as marionettes for the benefit of missile sensors.

[youtube 2luHrpYDNc8]