The X-5 was the first high-performance aircraft that could vary the sweep of its wings in flight and was an experimental design based upon that of the Messerschmitt P.1101, discovered in Germany at the end of WWII (sweep only adjustable on ground). Two X-5s were built, the first flight occurring in June 1951. One was destroyed in October 1953 when it failed to recover from a spin at 60 degrees sweepback, the survivor being delivered to the USAFM in 1958

Nestled under the XB-70 is the X-1B, which was instrumented to study thermal heating during supersonic flight. In 1957 Neil Armstrong, then a NACA test pilot, tested the installation of a system of small reaction rockets used for directional control. Cracks in the fuel tanks finally grounded the rocket plane with the last of 27 flights being made in January 1958

Displayed with its RAF serial, this Beaufighter was taken up by the RAAF as A19-43 and saw combat in the southwest Pacific with 31 Sqdn. Postwar it was used as an instructional airframe before becoming derelict, finding its way to the Moorabbin Air Museum in 1971. In 1987 it was sold to the USAFM where it was restored to represent the aircraft flown by the Commander of the 415 Night Fighter Sqdn USAAF based in Italy, who shot down a Heinkel He.111 carrying staff officers in September 1944

Ca.1949: TOS USAF. 1955: Sheppard AFB, TX, for maintenance training. 1956: Registered N2566B, exported to Mexico for Chiapas Aero Services, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapa with c/r XA-LOU. By 1960: Open storage in Mexico City. 1978-1988: Derelict, at a farm. 1990: Returned to USA. 1991-1993: Restored to static condition for USAF Museum using components from YC-125A 48-634 (N3756Q). 1994: United States Air Force Museum, 1995: Restoration completed at the museum. Marked as 48-622, which was stationed at Wright-Patterson for cold weather testing. 2022: NMUSAF solicited for buyers. 2025: Engines removed.

This was originally the jet-powered Martin SV-5J, a derivative of the X-24A lifting body built for flight training but never flown. For display purposes, the SV-5J has been modified to represent the X-24A. Martin donated it to the museum in 1971. In 1973 the actual X-24A 66-13551, which made 12 gliding tests in 1969 and 1970 dropped from a NASA modified B-52, was converted into the radically different 'flat-iron' X-24B on display alongside

"SPIDER 12" F-5E on static display at the 88' Luke show

In June 1939 Beech delivered three examples of its popular commercial Model 17 Staggerwing aircraft for evaluation as executive or courier transports under the designation of YC-43, leading in 1942 to an order for 270 UC-43s. A further 118 were purchased or leased from exiting owners to meet Army and Navy needs, those in service with the latter being designated as GB-2s. This one was BuNo 23733, registered N67198 postwar and after landing wheels-up in 1968, was donated to the USAFM in 1974. It is now displayed to represent a UC-43 assigned to the 8th Air Force in England in 1943

Pair of Texas ANG Vipers, including 83-1098, departing Nellis on a Desert Flag change-over

Delivered to the USAF as 73-1151 in 1974. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ in 2010. Scrapped in 2021.

Delivered to the USAF as 73-1149 in 1974. Converted to a CT-43A executive transport aircraft in 1993. Destroyed in fatal crash into a mountain in bad weather while on approach to Dubrovnik, Croatia in 1996.

With 102 RQS/106 RW NY ANG. Has been retired to the bone yard as of Dec 2018. This aircraft did its last deployment to Al Assad AB Iraq Jan 2017 to June 2017 and flew from NY to Iraq when the deployment was completed it flew east bound back to NY which completed an around the world trip.