So I took the shuttle to the Flight Innovation Center which is now the main museum. The Flight Discovery Center is where you park the plane and is where the original museum was until it expanded, and its where they do restorations - much more on that later.
After you pay your admission fee, you walk in the Flight Innovation Center.
There as you walk in, you can see the original Angry Birds:
A P-38 Lightning. Hanging from the roof, this twin engine fork-tailed devil struck fear into its enemies' hearts and had such storied missions as the interception and shoot-down of Admiral Yamamoto,
A Bell P-39Q Airacobra.
Not having a turbo-charged engine hampered its high-altitude performance and it was not liked by US pilots. But, the Soviets in World War 2 on the other hand loved them for low-level fighting and ground attack missions that were common on the Eastern front, and over 60% of P-39s were sent to the USSR.
A B-25J Mitchell. Because you can never have enough .50 caliber machine guns. This one, part of the 498th Bomber Squadron (the "Fighting Falcons") was setup as a strafing attack bomber and has 18 fifty cals mounted, with 14 of them facing forward to fire on strafing runs. Note the P-40 angry bird to the side as well.
Then there was much more to see in just the first room of the museum.
3 comments:
Aaron,
Did not know this air museum existed. For some strange reason, I am very interested in them. Might just have to make a run up north to take it all in. Although...I've heard Summer in your part of the world is July 15-18.
Just kidding.
juvat: That museum is well worth the trip. Summer here goes from June 1 - August 31, and it lets you know it,too.
Unfortunately, road construction and obstruction season here starts as soon as the snow melts and continues until the snowfalls. Sigh, but on the other hand, it makes flying there much more preferable.
The P-39 and B-25 are big favorites of mine.
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