Registered N231YF to Northrop-McDonnell Douglas in 1989, in mid-1990 this aircraft was transferred to the 6511th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB to compete in the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program against the Lockheed YF-22A, the latter winning in 1991 and developing into the F-22 Raptor. In 2000 the YF-23A, unofficially named the Black Widow II, was moved from the Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards to the USAFM where it was restored and placed on display in 2009

This U-4B was used by President Dwight D Eisenhower from 1956 to 1960 for short trips. A pilot himself, he would often take the controls during trips between Washington DC and his farm in Gettysburg, PA. Removed fro presidential service in 1961 and redesignated from L-26B in 1962, it was used to transport high-ranking government officials till 1969 after which cadet parachute training became the aircraft's role. Retired in 1977, it was registered N5379G for the Civil Air Patrol, eventually coming to the USAFM in 1996

By the time production was completed in 1942, the US Army Air Corps had accepted some 1,023 PT-22s as primary trainers. This one was donated to the USAFM in 1969, at the time registered N51713

Built as a F-4E-44-MC by McDonnell Douglas at Saint Louis in 1970, 69-7263 was first assigned to the 4th TFW, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. In 1972/73 it was deployed to Ubon RTAFB and in 1977 it was one of 116 undergoing conversion to F-4G Wild Weasel configuration with electronics to seek out SAM air defence radars. It then served various units at Nellis AFB, George AFB and Spangdahlem in Germany. Deployed to Bahrain with the 35th TFW in early 1991, it launched over 40 missiles during Desert Storm before transfer in 1992 to the 190th TFS/124th FG Idaho ANG at Boise. It joined the USAFM in 1996

Designed and built by Bell at Buffalo, NY in great secrecy during WWII, the P-59 was America's first jet aircraft. After use by the NACA Laboratory at Cleveland, in 1947 it was transferred to Kirtland AFB, NM for further testing. By 1951 it had been placed on display there and after use as a ground instructional airframe, was flown to the USAFM aboard a C-124 in 1956. The 66 P-59s built were powered by two GE turbojets developed from the British Whittle engine. but low thrust and a heavy airframe design resulted in poor performance but did provide valuable development cues. Six now survive

Date range is an estimate. Photographer unknown

Taken on strength with the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron (TES), West Raynham in June 1964 as XS688, in 1966 this Kestrel was one of six transferred to the USA as XV-6As for further trials. In 1970 it was delivered by air aboard a C-5A from Edwards to Wright-Patterson AFB and is seen here sans nose wheel

Assigned to the 495th TFS, 48th TFW at RAF Lakenheath in 1977, in April 1986 this 'Swinger' led an attack on barracks in Libya during Operation El Dorado Canyon. Then in August 1990 it was deployed to Taif in Saudi Arabia, flying 29 combat sorties in Desert Storm and destroying 58 targets. From 1992 it served the 27th FW at Cnnon AFB, NM till ferried to the USAFM in May 1996 where it is now exhibited with the badges of the 492nd, 493rd, 494th and 495th Tactical Fighter Squadrons as operated during Desert Storm

Section approach by a pair of 53FS F-15C's which included 84-0009

Aircraft was written off with the 422TES March 25 2005

Officially commissioned as presidential aircraft in July 1947, "The Independence" carried President Truman to Wake Island in October 1950 to discuss the Korean situation with General MacArthur. In May 1953 it was taken out of presidential service and was transferred to the MATS at Bolling AFB, Washington DC, later moving to Andrews AFB and McDill AFB. In 1964 it was transferred to TAC as a command support aircraft and in July 1966 was flown to Wright Field for storage pending museum construction. My 1973 photo shows it displayed outside in final service markings

This is the only X-3, first flown from Edwards AFB in 1952 and designed to test sustained flight at twice the speed of sound. It also explored the use of very short wings and titanium airframe construction.. Because it was underpowered with an interim J34 engine, it failed to achieve the high speeds for which it was designed. By 1956 it had been transferred to the USAFM

Modified from the civilian Beech 36 Bonanza under the Pave Eagle II program, the 27 QU-22Bs delivered to the USAF were intended as airborne relays for the Igloo White operation during the Southeast Asia War, monitoring ground sensors to detect traffic along the main enemy supply line, the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Remote control equipment allowed the QU-22B to be flown directly by an onboard pilot or as an unmanned drone. In practice flights were all manned and after the loss of several aircraft, in 1972 the program ended. Registered N90637 to a tech college in 1974, this one joined the USAFM in 2001

The Raptor, viewed from the front, has a distinctive, stealthy design. Key features include a curved fuselage, hard-edged angles, and a golden canopy. The F-22s clipped delta wings, large leading-edge flaps, and canted vertical stabilizers are also visible. The front view highlights the aircraft's low observable (stealth) design, minimizing its radar cross-section. And check the enormous reach of the horizontal stabilizers and rudders as well as the camouflage scheme which clearly reveals some new parts on the aircraft.

OLIVE33 from Al Udeid