Trip to the National Museum of the US Air Force

[Wayne Little]

catching up again...thanks Glenn!

 

[T Bolt]

More good stuff Glenn, thanks for taking the time and effort to post all these fine pics.

I'm really enjoying this myself. Doing a little research on each aircraft type for the post is making me learn a lot I didn't know. It is slowing down the speed I'm able to post the pictures though.

 

[T Bolt]

The B-58 was the Air Force's first supersonic bomber, first flying in 1956. It had the delta wing shape and wasp waist of the F-102 and F-106 fighters also made by Convair

The nuclear bomb load was not carried internally, but was built in an under-fuselage pod which also contained an extra fuel tank. Therefore the Hustler would become much more aerodynamically clean after delivering the load for a fast trip home. The B-58 never carried a conventional bomb load so fortunately this was never tested in combat. It served with The Strategic Air Command from 1950 until 1960 by which time improved Soviet surface-to-air missiles forced the B-58 into a low-level penetration role that severely limited its range and strategic value.

The Hustler on display at the museum won the Bendix and Mackay Trophies for setting speed records while flying from Los Angeles to New York and back on March 5, 1962.

 

[T Bolt]

The B-66 was yet another aircraft developed for the US Navy and used by the USAF. It was designed as a tactical light bomber and photo reconnaissance aircraft, but the Air Force also developed weather reconnaissance and electronic warfare versions that were used during the Vietnam War.

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff again Glenn. The Hustler was a very futuristic looking aircraft for its time, and I see the old, but basically good, Revell/Monogram 1/48th scale kit has just been re-released again.

 

[T Bolt]

............and I see the old, but basically good, Revell/Monogram 1/48th scale kit has just been re-released again.

I saw that too and was tempted, but would not have space to display a monster like that!

 

[Gnomey]

Good stuff Glenn!

 

[davparlr]

The B-58 was an awesome aircraft with some problems. While flying supersonic if one of outboard engines quit the aircraft would disintegrate due to the yaw. The plane was modified so that when one outboard engine lost thrust, the other outboard engine would shut down. Complexity of the avionics was a constant drag (programmatic, not aerodynamic).

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

More excellent material Glenn! Thank you for taking the time to post and explain. I have always thought the B-58 was a gorgeous craft.

 

[T Bolt]

The MiG 19 was the first production supersonic soviet fighter and was their primary fighter in the second half of the 1950s. Around 10,000 were produced in various versions and used by many nations including China, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Cuba, North Vietnam, North Korea, Iraq and most of the Warsaw Pact nations The USSR used the MiG-19 into the early 1960s when it was phased out in favor of the MiG-21, but it continued to be used my other nations for some years.

 

[T Bolt]

10,645 MiG-21s were build in the Soviet Union in 3 factories plus 194 in Czechoslovakia and 657 in India . They were used by more than 50 countries and participated in most of the wars that took place between the late 1950 through the end of the century. They are still used my many nations more that 50 years since the first one flew.

 

[Crimea_River]

Great stuff Glenn.

 

[Gnomey]

Cool shots Glenn!

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Nice Glenn. I'm still enjoying this tour very much sir. Thank you again!

 

[Airframes]

Nice ones Glenn. The MiG 21 still looks lethal even today.

 

[Wayne Little]

Nice Glenn. I'm still enjoying this tour very much sir. Thank you again!

Yep, me too...

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Still enjoying seeing the pictures too. 8)


Wheels

 

[rochie]

might have to put a MiG 21 on the wish list

 

[T Bolt]

Sorry for the delay guys but I was off last week busy doing projects around the house and didn't have time to add to this thread. I still have plenty of pictures and hope to have more posted in the next few days.

 

[T Bolt]

The H-5 first flew (as the R-5) in 1943 and the first production machine was delivered in early 1945. Over 300 were built in all, many serving during in the Korean War rescuing downed pilots.