1. Aviation
  2. Aviation Museums

National Museum of the USAF

Read More
  • USAF_Museum_WPAFB_Boeing_B-17G_Flying-Fortress_42-32076_20040514_100_0079_WVB
  • North-American_P-51D_Mustang_USAF-Museum_WPAFB_20040514_100_0078_WVB
  • The UH-19B is a USAF version of the Sikorsky S-55, an aircraft used by all U.S. military services in the 1950s and 1960s. It was the first of the Sikorsky helicopters with enough cabin space and lifting ability to allow satisfactory operation in troop transport or rescue roles. The UH-19B on display is painted and marked as an H-19A known as "Hopalong", one of two H-19s to make the first trans-Atlantic helicopter flight, traveling during the summer of 1952 from Westover AFB, Massachusetts to Scotland.

    The UH-19B is a USAF version of the Sikorsky S-55, an aircraft used by all U.S. military services in the 1950s and 1960s. It was the first of the Sikorsky helicopters with enough cabin space and lifting ability to allow satisfactory operation in troop transport or rescue roles. The UH-19B on display is painted and marked as an H-19A known as "Hopalong", one of two H-19s to make the first trans-Atlantic helicopter flight, traveling during the summer of 1952 from Westover AFB, Massachusetts to Scotland.

  • USAF_Lockheed-VC-140B-Jetstar_61-2492_20040514_WPAFB_KFFO_IMG_0102_WVB
  • USAF_North-American_F-100D_Super_Sabre_USAF-Museum_WPAFB_20040514_100_0094_WVB
  • USAF_Fairchild_C-119J_Flying-Boxcar_51-8037_10915_USAF-Museum_WPAFB_20040515_103_0338_WVB
  • USAF_Fairchild_C-119J_Flying-Boxcar_51-8037_10915_USAF-Museum_WPAFB_20040515_103_0337_WVB
  • USAF_Museum_WPAFB_Convair_B-58A_Hustler_59-2458A_20040514_102_0209_WVB
  • USAF_B-707_NKC-135A-Statotanker_55-3123_17239_USAF-Museum_WPAFB_20040515_103_0335_WVB
  • The Bell X-1 (Bell Model 44) is a rocket engine–powered aircraft, designated originally as the XS-1, and was a joint National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics–U.S. Army Air Forces–U.S. Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Conceived during 1944 and designed and built in 1945, it achieved a speed of nearly 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 km/h; 870 kn) in 1948. A derivative of this same design, the Bell X-1A, having greater fuel capacity and hence longer rocket burning time, exceeded 1,600 miles per hour (2,600 km/h; 1,400 kn) in 1954.The X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager, was the first manned airplane to exceed the speed of sound in level flight and was the first of the X-planes, a series of American experimental rocket planes (and non-rocket planes) designed for testing new technologies.
The X-1B was one of a series of rocket-powered experimental airplanes designed to investigate supersonic flight problems. The X-1B’s flight research primarily related to aerodynamic heating and the use of small “reaction” rockets for directional control.

The X-1B made its first powered flight in October 1954. A few months later, the U.S. Air Force transferred the X-1B to the NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), predecessor to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), which conducted the heating and control tests. The X-1B tests played an important role in developing the control systems for the later X-15.

On test missions, the X-1B was carried under a "mother" airplane and released between 25,000-35,000 feet. After release, the rocket engine fired under full throttle for less than five minutes. After all fuel (an alcohol-water mixture) and liquid oxygen had been consumed, the pilot glided the airplane to earth for a landing.

The X-1B made its last flight in January 1958, and it was transferred to the museum a year later.

TECHNICAL NOTES:
Engine: Reaction Motors XLR-11-RM-6 four-chamber rocket engine of 6,000 lbs. thrust
Maximum speed: 1,650 mph
Maximum altitude: 90,000 feet
Landing speed: 170 mph 
Weight: 16,590 lbs. loaded

    The Bell X-1 (Bell Model 44) is a rocket engine–powered aircraft, designated originally as the XS-1, and was a joint National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics–U.S. Army Air Forces–U.S. Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Conceived during 1944 and designed and built in 1945, it achieved a speed of nearly 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 km/h; 870 kn) in 1948. A derivative of this same design, the Bell X-1A, having greater fuel capacity and hence longer rocket burning time, exceeded 1,600 miles per hour (2,600 km/h; 1,400 kn) in 1954.The X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager, was the first manned airplane to exceed the speed of sound in level flight and was the first of the X-planes, a series of American experimental rocket planes (and non-rocket planes) designed for testing new technologies. The X-1B was one of a series of rocket-powered experimental airplanes designed to investigate supersonic flight problems. The X-1B’s flight research primarily related to aerodynamic heating and the use of small “reaction” rockets for directional control. The X-1B made its first powered flight in October 1954. A few months later, the U.S. Air Force transferred the X-1B to the NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), predecessor to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), which conducted the heating and control tests. The X-1B tests played an important role in developing the control systems for the later X-15. On test missions, the X-1B was carried under a "mother" airplane and released between 25,000-35,000 feet. After release, the rocket engine fired under full throttle for less than five minutes. After all fuel (an alcohol-water mixture) and liquid oxygen had been consumed, the pilot glided the airplane to earth for a landing. The X-1B made its last flight in January 1958, and it was transferred to the museum a year later. TECHNICAL NOTES: Engine: Reaction Motors XLR-11-RM-6 four-chamber rocket engine of 6,000 lbs. thrust Maximum speed: 1,650 mph Maximum altitude: 90,000 feet Landing speed: 170 mph Weight: 16,590 lbs. loaded

  • USAF_Museum_WPAFB_Boeing_B-17G_Flying Fortress_42-32076_20040514_102_0266_WVB
  • USAF_Museum_WPAFB_Consolidated_B-24D_Liberator_42-72843_20040514_100_0080_WVB
  • USAF_Museum_WPAFB_Douglas_A-26C_Invador_44-35733_20040514_101_0145_WVB
  • Close-up of the front section of a NASA North American X-15A-2 (56-6671 ; cn 240-2), preserved - under the enormous wing of an XB-70 - in the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

    Close-up of the front section of a NASA North American X-15A-2 (56-6671 ; cn 240-2), preserved - under the enormous wing of an XB-70 - in the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

  • USAF_Museum_WPAFB_North-American_X-15A-2_rocket-engine_20040514_101_0136_WVB
  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.