2017 Museum of the United States Air Force

Convair B-36J Peacemaker

Designed during WW II with first flight in August, 1946, the Convair B-36J Peacemaker became operational in June, 1948. Six Pratt & Whitney R-4360 and four General Electric J47s powered the B-36 to 435 mph. The B-36 carried nuclear or conventional bombs totaling 86,000 lbs up to 10,000 miles. The wingspan reaches 230 feet compared to a 747's 196 feet.

North American X-15A-2

North American X-15A-2 Hypersonic Research Aircraft. Maximum speed: 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7). Ceiling: 365,200 feet (67 miles). Pilots who flew this aircraft above 50 miles earned astronaut wings. This example reached Mach 6.7 in October 1967, becoming the fastest X-15.

North American X-15A-2

North American X-15A-2 Hypersonic Research Aircraft. Maximum speed: 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7). Ceiling: 365,200 feet (67 miles). Pilots who flew this aircraft above 50 miles earned astronaut wings. This example reached Mach 6.7 in October 1967, becoming the fastest X-15.

Bell X-1B

Precedessor to the X-15, the Bell X-1B research program focused on aerodynamic heating and the use of reaction rockets for directional control. In the museum this aircraft nestles under the wing of a B-50.

XB-70A and YF-12A

Eisenhower’s Columbine III

The only Lockheed VC-121E built, this aircraft, "Columbine III", served as President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s personal airplane from 1954 until he left office in January 1961. A military version of the famous Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation commercial airliner, it has a fuselage “stretched” 18 feet longer than earlier versions. With more powerful engines, greater fuel capacity and greater speed, these aircraft were popularly known as “Super Connies.”

North American XB-70A Valkyrie

Intended as a high-altitude, nuclear strike bomber flying at Mach 3, by the early 1960s surfact-to-air missles threatened high-altitude bombers. Two XB-70As were built as test platforms after cancellation of the program in 1960. This surviving example flew from 1964 until 1969.

Convair B-58 Hustler

This B-58, an exmaple of the Air Force's first supersonic bomber, set three speed records while flying from Los Angeles to New York and back on March 5, 1962. In all B-58s set 19 world speed and altitude records

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit

The B-2 combines the high aerodynamic efficiency of the "flying wing" design with stealth technologies, producing a bomber invisible to even sophisticated air defense radar.

Lockheed YF-12A

Lockheed designed the YF-12A as a high-altitude, Mach 3 interceptor. This design is the immediate ancestor of the SR-71 Blackbird.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bockscar

This B-29 Superfortress, Bockscar, dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.

Fabric of the Air Force

This distinctive quilt, "Fabric of the Air Force," was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United States Air Force. It contains 100 hand-made squares from virtually every Air Force installation throughout the world.