April’s theme celebrates Ohio’s impact on transportation on land, in the air, and into space. From canals to aircraft and rockets, these highlights connect Ohio innovation to America’s broader story of mobility, exploration, and progress.

Early Years Gallery

• Wright 1909 Military Flyer — A milestone in transportation history: this reproduction represents the first military heavier‑than‑air flying machine, showing how airpower began transforming the way the U.S. could move people and capability.
• SPAD XIII C.1 — A key connection between Ohio and airpower history—linked to Ohio aviator and Medal of Honor recipient Eddie Rickenbacker, whose story reflects the rapid growth of military aviation.
• Kettering Aerial Torpedo “Bug” — Invented by Dayton’s Charles F. Kettering, this unmanned aerial torpedo points to early innovations that reshaped how the U.S. could reach and strike targets at distance.
• Liberty 12-Cylinder — Experimental refinements at McCook Field and Wright Field connect this engine to Ohio’s role in improving the performance and reliability that made aviation transportation more capable.

• "Stumpy" John Silver — A reminder that transportation isn’t only about vehicles—before modern radios, homing pigeons helped move critical messages reliably across distance.

Kettering Hall

• Eugene W. Kettering Model Aircraft Collection — A visual “timeline” of flight—more than 600 miniature model aircraft that show how aerospace technology evolved across the 20th century.

World War II Gallery

• Waco CG-4A Hadrian — Built by Waco Aircraft Co. of Troy, Ohio, this glider reflects how American manufacturing supported wartime transportation of troops and equipment.
• Aeronca L-3B "Grasshopper — An aircraft type made in Ohio (Aeronca, Middletown) that represents light, practical aviation used to connect people and information where larger aircraft couldn’t.
• Cushman Airborne Scooter — A compact mobility solution used by Allied paratroopers to maintain contact between units—showing how transportation on the ground supported operations after landing.
• Consolidated OA-10 Catalina — An amphibious aircraft that represents transportation and operations across both air and water—extending reach where runways weren’t always available.

Korean War Gallery

• A-3 Lifeboat — Carried by modified B‑29 bombers (SB‑29s), these lifeboats reflect the transportation and rescue systems built to recover aircrew and personnel over open water.
• TACP Jeep — A mobile platform tied to Tactical Air Control Party teams—showing how transportation and communications combined to connect ground commanders with air support.

Southeast Asia War Gallery

• AN/MSR-1 (“Misery”) Communications Intercept Van — A mobile communications platform that monitored radio traffic (air‑to‑air, air‑to‑ground, and intrabase), underscoring the role of moving information in modern operations.
• Cadillac Gage V-100 (XM706E2) Commando — Used by U.S. Air Force Security Police to patrol base perimeters—highlighting the vehicles that protect the transportation hubs and people that enable missions.
• Ford M151-A1 Jeep — Used to haul the AN/MRC‑108 radio communication system—an example of how vehicles carried the equipment that kept units connected.
• Sikorsky CH-3E Black Maria — Used for highly classified special missions—representing the unique mobility and reach that helicopters can provide.

Berlin Airlift

• Berlin Airlift — A fundamental Department of the Air Force transportation story—demonstrating how airlift moved essential supplies at scale and changed history.

Cold War Gallery

• Cougar CAT II A1 — A Mine‑Resistant Ambush‑Protected (MRAP) vehicle used by Air Force explosive ordnance disposal units—built for protected movement in hazardous environments.
• Clarktor-6 Towing Tractor — Flightline support equipment used to tow aircraft and ground support gear—an often‑overlooked part of how transportation systems function day to day.
• Willys Quarter-ton Jeep — A versatile jeep adaptable for many tasks (from pumping air or water to pulling equipment), illustrating flexible ground mobility.
• Kawasaki Model KL 250 — A motorcycle used for rapid movement of personnel over rough terrain—supporting mission requirements when speed matters.
• P-23 Firetruck — From the Wright‑Patterson AFB Fire Department—showing the emergency response vehicles that protect people, aircraft, and facilities.
• R-1 Rescue All Terrain Transport (RATT) — A high‑mobility vehicle used by Air Force special operations to transport and treat casualties in the field and support airfield seizures and utility needs.

Missile Gallery

• CONVAIR LV-3B / SM-65D ATLAS — Represents the launch vehicle for USAF Maj. Gordon Cooper’s Mercury‑Atlas 9 mission (May 15–16, 1963), linking transportation from Earth to orbit.

Space Gallery

• Mercury Space Suit—1963 — Manufactured by B.F. Goodrich in Akron, Ohio—highlighting Ohio’s connection to the equipment that made early human spaceflight possible.
• Apollo 15 Command Module — The fourth successful Moon landing mission and the only Apollo mission with an all‑U.S. Air Force crew—an iconic artifact of transportation beyond Earth.

Research & Development

• Bell P-59B Airacomet — America’s first U.S. jet aircraft—marking a leap in aviation transportation capability.
• North American XB-70 Valkyrie — A Mach 3 bomber prototype and the only one in existence—representing experimental approaches to speed and long‑range flight.
• Lockheed YF-12A — Linked to the story of supersonic flight—showcasing research aimed at pushing speed and altitude boundaries.
• Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie — A modern aircraft tied to automation and machine‑learned operations—pointing to how future transportation and mission systems may evolve.

Global Reach

• Lockheed C-141C Starlifter "Hanoi Taxi" — Airlift history with a strong Wright‑Patterson connection: last served with the 445th Airlift Wing, was the last operational C‑141 in the inventory, and carried the first American POWs from Southeast Asia.
• Compact Rubber Raiding Craft — Lightweight inflatable boats used for special operations missions and water search‑and‑rescue—transportation when waterways are the route.
• Lockheed C-130E Hercules — One of the longest‑serving and most versatile cargo aircraft—representing global transportation and airlift capability; this aircraft flew a mission that earned two Airmen the Air Force Cross in Southeast Asia.

Presidential Aircraft

• Douglas VC-54C “Sacred Cow” — The first aircraft purpose‑built to fly the President—highlighting how air transportation reshaped national leadership travel.
• Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 — A historic aircraft that carried eight U.S. presidents (Kennedy through Clinton), reflecting the role of air transportation in diplomacy and national leadership.

Air Park

• Boeing C-17 Globemaster III — A modern airlift aircraft built to move people and cargo worldwide—representing today’s transportation mission at global scale. Actual aircraft featured in movies “Transformers" (2007), "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009), "Iron Man" (2008), "Iron Man 2" (2010) and “Man of Steel” (2013)