USAF Museum Experimental section

[Geedee]

Okeydokey, heres the shots form the Experimental section...right next door to the Presidential section at the USAF Museum in Dayton.

You cannot really go to the USAFM and look at all those stonking Warbirds without nipping next door for a gander at the jet jobbies.

The only drawback here is that you are at Wright Patterson, which spookily enough is an active Military base so you are escorted in by bus and have the grand total of 45 minutes to get around and see everything. Not much fun if you only have one visit as you are trying desperatly to get around each A/C and get those all important piccies with out breally having much time to just stand there and look.

I should point out to those who havent been to the USAF Museum but are thinking about it...GO !!!!...., its snuggled up against the fence of Wright Patterson so there no real travel included...in fact you are picked up and dropped off outside the USAF Museum itself.

There are some real gems in this hangar. First one is obviously that ENORMOUS Valkyrie. I knew it would be big....but that big ?...its heeuuge !....and dead sexy to boot !.

Here you will find a Piper Enforcer, a re-engined Mustang with a turbo prop at the point end......aaaaargh, sacrilage !!!

And dont forget the Thunderscreech !. Some wag thought it'd be a good idea to bolt a high speed prop on the front of a Thunderjet....only problem was that the high speed prop made such a noise, that it induced acute nausea on anyone within a couple of hundred yards when it was running (I'm assuming the pilot had cotton wool buds jammed in his ears under his bone dome !).

And I never knew the X-15 had an opening window ! I can just see the astro-pilot-dude with his arm out of the window scrapping the frost off from those high altitude flights !.

There is also the amazing little Ryan Vertijet, the X3 Stilleto...looks like a mouse from head on !...and if I remember correctly a Pave (Have ?) Blue, looking like something a Storm Trooper would arrive at Jabba's in. And its Blue !. Also nestled in and around the Valkyrie are various lifting bodies from the early days.

Anyway, enough of the smartypants comments, this is a real treasure trove and absolutely has to be on your list of plaeces to visit. Trust me, you absolutely, categorically, will not regret it.

To coin an Americanism...its awesome !!!

[Geedee]

Heres the last batch from this side of the USAFM. I'll do seperate threads on the Cold War, Modern and early years, in the next few days, if thats OK.

[Micdrow]

Sweet shots there Gary, many thanks!!!

[rochie]

very nice Gary, some interesting aircraft there !

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Hey Gary, those are great. The place looks like it's packed. I had not ever seen a 107 before. Checking your 6 would be a bit tough. Thank you for sharing.

[Bill G.]

Great Pictures!

The Air Force Museum is raising money to build a fourth large hanger. The plan is to place the X-Planes and Presidential planes in the new hanger.

Two years ago when I was there, I tried to get onto Wright-Patterson AFB to go the this annex. The fliers and even the sign where you sign up said all you needed was a valid Military ID (which me and my girl friend had) to go over on your own. We tried and were turned away because my car didn't have a Wright-Patterson AFB sticker on it. The security forces (Air Police) are polite, but very serious about security.

It is for the reasons you cite and my failure, that the Museum wants to have the collection all on the same side of the fence. That will be super when it happens.

The problem is that the Museum already has enough planes to fill a fifth hanger! And the XC-99, when it is done, will take up a lot of room. And with the airplanes that still sit outside on the ramp, they have a large problem of lack of room.

The good news is that they do have the XB-70 inside. When I first went there, this plane was sitting outside.

Bill G.

[Gnomey]

Excellent stuff Gary!

Definitely got to get over there at some point, would love to see the XB-70.

[SoD Stitch]

Originally Posted by Bill G.

The good news is that they do have the XB-70 inside. When I first went there, this plane was sitting outside.

Bill G.

Yes, it made me feel much better seeing the one-of-a-kind Valkyrie inside finally, instead of outside exposed to the elements.

[Flyboy2]

Ok maybe these are stupid questions but what is that plane in the second picture down on the second post?
And what modification of the F-16 is that?

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Flyboy2, I believe it is the same as the first photo, the F107A. I could be mistaken though.

[Bill G.]

I just checked the Air Force Museum web site. It is the AFTI F-16. AFTI means Avdanced Fighter Technology Integration.

Here is the Museum Writeup.

The USAF used this highly modified fighter for more than 20 years to test new and award-winning ideas in flight control, electronic targeting and cockpit design. A one-of-a-kind aircraft, the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) F-16 made more than 700 flights in 10 different research programs between 1978 and 2000.

AFTI F-16 programs developed targeting lasers and computers, and new autopilot and ground-avoidance systems allowed pilots to fly faster and lower while seeking and attacking targets. Other AFTI advances included digital flight controls, a voice-activated maneuvering system that allowed the pilot to “point” the aircraft in unusual flight attitudes, and touch-sensitive cockpit displays.

The aircraft’s last project contributed to the Joint Strike Fighter design by reducing aircraft weight and increasing maneuverability. One of this program’s most significant achievements was the first-ever use of all-electric “power by wire” flight controls, with no hydraulic or mechanical backups to move the aircraft’s control surfaces. This milestone won the AFTI team the 2000 Aerospace Industry Award for Engineering, Maintenance and Modification.

The AFTI F-16 was retired Feb. 11, 2001, when it was flown to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Bill G.

[Graeme]

Originally Posted by Flyboy2

what is that plane in the second picture down on the second post?

G'day Flyboy2. This one?...





...it's the...

COMPASS COPE

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/fac...eet.asp?id=607

(Many thanks for photos Gary!)

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Originally Posted by Bill G.

I just checked the Air Force Museum web site. It is the AFTI F-16. AFTI means Avdanced Fighter Technology Integration.

Here is the Museum Writeup.

The USAF used this highly modified fighter for more than 20 years to test new and award-winning ideas in flight control, electronic targeting and cockpit design. A one-of-a-kind aircraft, the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) F-16 made more than 700 flights in 10 different research programs between 1978 and 2000.

AFTI F-16 programs developed targeting lasers and computers, and new autopilot and ground-avoidance systems allowed pilots to fly faster and lower while seeking and attacking targets. Other AFTI advances included digital flight controls, a voice-activated maneuvering system that allowed the pilot to “point” the aircraft in unusual flight attitudes, and touch-sensitive cockpit displays.

The aircraft’s last project contributed to the Joint Strike Fighter design by reducing aircraft weight and increasing maneuverability. One of this program’s most significant achievements was the first-ever use of all-electric “power by wire” flight controls, with no hydraulic or mechanical backups to move the aircraft’s control surfaces. This milestone won the AFTI team the 2000 Aerospace Industry Award for Engineering, Maintenance and Modification.

The AFTI F-16 was retired Feb. 11, 2001, when it was flown to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Bill G.












Search


Advanced Search



Categories
Museum Fact Sheets
Museum Exhibits
Online Historical References


Other Links
Air Force Link
AirForce.com
Defense Link
Wright-Patterson AFB
AF Historical Research Agency
National Archives
Aviation Museums


Museum Foundation

Sorry, my dumba$$ was looking at the first post!

[Heinz]

Wondeful shots Gary thanks mate!

[Trebor]

is that a turboprop Mustang?