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  • Sikorsky YH-5A Dragonfly

    The H-5, originally designated the R-5 ("H" for "Helicopter;" "R" for "Rotorcraft"), was designed to provide a helicopter with a greater useful load, endurance, speed and service ceiling than the earlier R-4. The first of four XR-5s made its initial flight in August 1943. In March 1944 the U.S. Army

  • Lockheed F-94A Starfire

    Developed from the T-33 Shooting Star, the two-place F-94 was the first American all-weather jet interceptor and the first U.S. production jet to have an afterburner. The large radar in the nose permitted the observer in the rear seat to locate an enemy aircraft at night or in poor weather. The

  • Russian VK-1 Jet

    The VK-1 was used to power the MiG-15. It had a thrust of 6,000 pounds. Essentially, it was an improved version of the British-built Rolls-Royce "Nene" engine, incorporating enlarged combustion chambers, turbine blades and tailpipe for handling a greater flow of intake air.Click here to return to

  • Allison J33 Turbojet

    Originally developed by the General Electric Co. for the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the J33 engine is a direct descendant of the British Whittle engine of the early 1940s. The first J33 underwent static testing on Jan. 13, 1944, just 6 1/2 months after development began. Five months later, a J33

  • North American F-86A Sabre

    The F-86, the U.S. Air Force's first swept-wing jet fighter, made its initial flight in October 1947. The first production model flew in May 1948, and four months later, an F-86A set a new world speed record of 670.9 mph. As a day fighter, the F-86A (and later F-86Es and F-86Fs) saw service in Korea

  • Republic F-84E Thunderjet

    The rugged F-84 Thunderjet gained its greatest renown during the Korean War. Initially sent to escort B-29s on long-range missions over North Korea, the Thunderjet excelled as a close air support and daytime interdiction strike aircraft. In Korea, F-84 pilots attacked enemy railroads, dams, bridges,

  • North American F-82G Twin Mustang

    During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82Gs were among the first U.S. Air Force aircraft to operate over Korea. On June 27, 1950, all-weather F-82Gs shot down the first three North Korean aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces.The F-82 was the last propeller-driven fighter acquired in quantity by the USAF.

  • Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star

    The Shooting Star was the first American aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight, the first American jet airplane manufactured in large quantities and the first U.S. Air Force jet used in combat. Designed in 1943, the XP-80 made its maiden flight on Jan. 8, 1944. (The aircraft was redesignated

  • B-29 Walk-through Fuselage

    Note: Visitors are permitted to walk through this aircraft.Command Decision was a 28th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group B-29 that became famous for shooting down five MiG-15s, unofficially making it a bomber "ace." It was named after a popular 1948 film about the difficult decisions and heavy

  • Douglas B-26C (A-26C) Invader

    During the Korean War, the Douglas B-26 played an important part in the U.S. Air Force's interdiction campaign against communist ground forces. Initially, B-26 crews flew during the day, but the introduction of the MiG-15 jet fighter forced them to fly most missions at night.The Douglas B-26