actually 49-389. Later moved to MacDill AFB (FL)

On display at NMUSAF. The Model G-64 Albatross was a successor to the Goose. The USAF showed an early interest for SAR after the prototype flew on 24 Oct 1947. Originally designated SA-16A by the USAF with 297 aircraft ordered, it flew more of these amphibians than the USN. The improved HU-16B had an increased wingspan and larger control surfaces. USAF Albatrosses served in the Korean War and Vietnam War. This HU-16B was the last operational USAF Albatross, setting a world altitude record for piston twin-engine amphibians of 32,883 feet on 4 July 1973 before being retired to the museum.

On display in the Research & Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This aircraft was built in the 1980s as an experimental battlefield surveillance aircraft. It differed from the faceted surfaces of the F-117 Nighthawk and helped in the development of the B-2. Described as one of the most unstable aircraft ever flown, it required a digital fly-by-wire system to control it. Using its SLAR, it could loiter successfully at low speeds over and behind the battlefield as a stealth aircraft. Having been flown 135 times, Tacit Blue was retired in 1985.

On display in the Presidential Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This aircraft carried President Clinton and former Presidents Carter, Ford and George H.W. Bush. It was also used by First Ladies, Secretaries of State and Defense and a number of dignitaries. Operated by 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews AFB with a crew of five, the C-20B had secure, worldwide communication facilities and could operate to smaller airfields which could not be used by larger presidential aircraft. It went to the museum in 2015.

"Miss Behavin" on display in the Cold War Gallery at NMUSAF. A JP233 can be seen fitted underneath. Built in 1982, this Tornado served with No. 17 Sqn. at RAF Bruggen, Germany. Deployed to Dhahran, the aircraft flew combat missions during Op Desert Storm. Tasked with runway denial, GR.1s carried JP 233 bomblet dispensing pods, 495 gal drop tanks, a Sky Shadow jammer and a BOZ-107chaff/flare dispenser for a take-off weight of 30 tons. GR.1s commenced their attacks with Tallil airfield on 16/17 Jan 91.

Photographer: Jim Morrow.

Photographer: Jim Morrow. Assigned to Aeronautical Systems Division.

On display in the R&D Gallery at NMUSAF under the XB-70 Valkyrie. Convair researched the high-speed delta wing after World War II. In response to a USAF requirement for a supersonic interceptor, it built prototype XF-92A. The landing gear, engine, canopy and ejection seat were borrowed from other aircraft. First flown on 18 Sep 48, it was tested by Frank Everest, Chuck Yeager and Scott Crossfield. It was under-powered despite engine changes, and Mach 1.01 was obtained on a dive. This aircraft helped in development of Convair's F-102 Delta Dagger, F-106 Delta Dart and B-58 Hustler.

Constructed as YB-36, all updated features were added to this one while on the production line; retained by Convair. 4 Dec '47: First flight. 15 Dec '47: Third flight, reached 40,000+ ft. 1948: Redesignated YB-36A after several modifications. 31 May '49: TOS USAF; assigned to 72nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) (SAC), Ramey AFB, PR 10/50: Converted to RB-36E with added four J-47 jet engines to the wings and returned to 72nd BW. 18 Feb 1957: Flown from Ramey AFB to Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, for display at the Air Force Museum. 1971: Scrapped. Parts to Walter Soplata of Newbury, OH.

On display in the Research & Development Gallery at NMUSAF. The gyrocopter was an experimental concept to allow flyers downed over Vietnam to use one of these to escape on the ground to a safer area. It was to be stowed in the aircraft and integrated with the aircraft ejection seat. A 90 hp McCullough 4318G four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine powered the X-25A, which would give the pilot limited fly-away capability. First flown on 05 June 1968, it went to the museum in 1969.

This aircraft was on display in a San Diego, CA. playground for many years. In 1959 it was transferred to the USAF Museum. It underwent an in depth restoration from 2000 through 2008, and is now on display in the WW2 Gallery. This slide was taken in the outdoor aircraft display area at the original museum on Patterson AFB.

On display in the Presidential Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This short body T-39A Sabreliner with two triangular windows is one of ten Presidential aircraft in the gallery. Retrofitted to a VIP configuration, it was used by former President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1968 to 1973 to travel to his ranch. Later, it flew as an avionics and communication test bed. It went to the museum in October 1984. One can see the air brake extended behind the nose wheel.

On display in the Cold War Gallery at NMUSAF. The swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak was completely different to the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet. It was powered by a Wright J65-W-3 engine rather than the Thunderjet's Allison J35. The Thunderstreak equipped USAFE squadrons and a large number were supplied to NATO countries under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program during the Cold War. It could deliver a nuclear bomb using LABS. This aircraft served in Europe and the Ohio ANG before being flown to the museum in 1970.

This second prototype F-107A was used for weapons trials from 1956 until the program was cancelled in 1957. Transferred to the USAF Museum in Dayton, it was displayed outside for twenty-two years before being restored and placed inside as the museum grew.

On display in the Research and Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Dwarfing the SR-71, this exotic Valkyrie was intended to be a Mach 3 nuclear bomber. A sharp-edged splitter plate of the wedge-fronted intake reduced airflow to Mach 1.3, the design helping the XB-70 to surf on its shockwave. The wingtips folded downward on the AV-1 at 25 and 65 deg. at supersonic speeds to add to stability, also adding to lift. It had a retractable visor, delta canards and all-moving vertical stabilizers. Power was from six YJ93-GE-3 turbojets using JP-6 fuel.

Photographer: Jack Morris.