Trip to the National Museum of the US Air Force

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The swept winged F-84F Thunderstreak was developed from the straight winged F-84G Thunderjet. At first glance it's hard to see the resemblance, but a closer look will show that the basic fuselage is the same with a redesigned canopy, slightly different jet intake, and of course sweptback wings and tail.

 
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The F-89 Scorpion was another early straight winged, two seat, all-weather fighter-interceptor. It was also the first to launch and detonate an air-to-air rocket with a nuclear warhead in a test.

 
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Thanks for the pictures, looking at these photographs is a great trip down memory lane. I love this museum...its a fantastic tribute to the men and woman who built, flew, repaired and lived with these aeroplanes. Your pictures follow the route through the museum pretty well. And I'm reminded of my weak and wobbly knees, as I stood face to face with these incredible, history making, machines. Annnnyway...thanks for posting!


Could I make a request?
Did you get any pictures of the F86H that was cutaway to show the gun bays, ect? I also remember a Mig(19?) that had a stunning camouflage paint job...I think it was a Chinese or maybe a Vietnamese? I didn't manage to get pictures of either of these exhibits.
 
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The Sabres will be up next, and the early MiGs right after (I think the one you remember is the MiG-17)
 
The F-86D was an all-weather interceptor version of the F-86A Sabre. First given the designation F-95 it was changed to F-86D. Instead of a second crewman like other all-weather interceptors, it had a highly sophisticated electronic weapons system. It also carried 24 Mighty Mouse air to air rockets in place of guns, and a radar pod in the nose that changed the entire look of the aircraft inspired the nick name "Dog Sabre"

 
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The F-86H was a larger, heaver fighter bomber version of the Sabre that came out too late to see action in Korea. This one has had most of the exterior skin removed to show what's inside.

 
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The MiG 15 was the main opposition to the F-86 in Korea. This one was brought to Kimpo Air Base in South Korea by a defecting North Korean pilot shortly after the end of the Korean war. He was very surprised and pleased to find that there was a $100,000 reward for the delivery of a MiG. The aircraft was extensively test flown by Air Force test pilots, including Chuck Yeager, before it was brought to the Museum.

 
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The MiG-17 looks very similar to the MiG-15, but it's an entirely different aircraft with greater sweep to the wings, longer fuselage and more powerful engine with afterburner. Although first flown in 1950, the MiG-17 did not see service in Korea. but later served in the air force's of at least 20 different countries. MiGs of the North Vietnamese Air Force met U.S fighters in combat and 61 were shot down. The one at the museum came from the Egyptian Air Force, but is displayed as one from the North Vietnamese Air Force.

 
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The B-50 was an upgraded B-29 with many modifications including an engine upgrade to the Pratt Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major. Between 1948 and 1954, B-50s served with the Strategic Air Command as medium bombers.

 
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Yet another development of the B-29, the C-97 was a cargo version of the Superfortress with a "Double Bubble" Fuselage. The KC-97 was the air to air refueling tanker version. They kept flying into the 1960s when completely replaced with the newer 707 based KC-135s

 
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The C-124 was developed from the C-74 Globemaster which inturn was developed as a larger version of The DC-4/C-54 Skymaster It had 2 decks and was loaded through Clamshell doors and a ramp in the nose and and elevator near the tail The Globemaster IIs were used throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars and were retired in the mid 1970s

 
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