My Photos of the National Museum of the USAF

[waaytoomuchintothis]

So THAT's where she wound up! I remember when she was found very well.

[DAVE]

Great shots. You did this all in one day? It would take me a week. I would have to investigate
every plane thoroughly.

[dreinecke]

[dreinecke]

[dreinecke]

It should have been there then. I just went through all 150+ pics and don't see it. I see lots of other racing planes though.

[RazorJon]

I love the old war birds, thanks Dave

[Cjent]

Awesome pics. Thanks, David!

[biedmatt]

I've been going there since I could drive. Some 35 years now. It's just an hour up the road. Back then it was just the front building and no Imax theater. The growth over the past few decades is remarkable.

I almost forgot. Back in "95 I went up with a few friends in August. I was so tired of all the protesting about the Enola Gay display at the Smithsonian, that I decided to have my picture taken with Bock's car on the 50th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. Even made up a poster to hold for the event. There was a surveyor asking opinions of people touring the museum. He didn't bother to interview us, he knew where we came down on the subject. I'll scan it tonight and post it.

The nose art from de-comissioned B-52s is new and very cool. No XB-70 pics? For years the poor thing sat out front, rotting away in the weather. It was the first thing to greet you as you pulled into the site.

[TsgtRet]

Matt, with the addition of the third building ("Cold War" hangar) the XB-70 was moved to the "R&D hangar" over on the old Wright Field flightline. Unfortunately, due to "sequestration" the R&D and Presidential hangars have been shut down along with the "behind the scenes" restoration tours. They are getting ready build a fourth building at the main museum which will house everything that is remotely located. No government money involved in that: the Foundation and donations will build it.

[biedmatt]

[dreinecke]

The Valkyrie is in the area not open at the moment from my understanding. It is going to be a centerpiece of the new hangar when completed.




Great pic at Bockscar! I was happy to see that they don't have to protect it like the EG at Smithsonian.

[TsgtRet]

[dreinecke]

Well, I'm pretty sure it would take awhile for anyone to find their body...it is a big place after all ;)

As for getting close, you can still get right under a number of them. The B-52 comes to mind as one. You can look into the bomb bay very up-close.

[GoBucks]

Glad you enjoyed the Museum!!! We put lots of time and effort into making it a great place. Come back soon!. (I work at Wright-Patt.) It's a real shame to have the sequestration (ha what a joke). The areas closed off to the public for now have some very beautiful aircraft. Hopefully when all this budget mess clears up and you can view those areas when you come back. Did you get a chance to ride the 2 simulators????

[dreinecke]

GoBucks - you work at the museum? I HATE you now LOL! What an awesome job that must be to be around those fantastic aircraft.

We didn't ride the simulators (out of time), but I did get to play fighter pilot in an F4 and an F16 cockpit they have there. I think I flipped every switch and turned every knob. I LOVED that part too.

We will be out again next year to drag the wife and daughter through it when we visit Chris. He started school at AFIT today!