McDonnell/Douglas F-15A (Eagle)
Type: single-seat US Air Force air superiority fighterWingspan: 42'10" Length: 63'9"Gross Weight: 42,206 poundsPower Plant: Two 23,000+ pound thrust Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 turbofans with afterburnerMaximum Speed: 1,650 mph at 60,000'Service Ceiling: 63,000'Armament: One fuselage-mounted six-barrel 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon. Provisions for up to 12,000 pounds of missiles, bombs, fuel or electronics pods on nine external stations.NarrativeWhat would eventually become the F-15 began on December 18, 1965 when the U.S. Air Force requested proposals for an air superiority fighter, then designed as the F-X, to replace the F-4 Phantom II. On January 1, 1970, McDonnell Douglas was awarded the contract, beating out designs from Fairchild-Hiller and North American.The prototype F-15 was rolled out of the McDonnell Douglas plant in St. Louis on June 26, 1972 and flown one month later. The huge fixed-wing fighter featured a raised cockpit canopy for improved visibility and integrated system components that greatly simplified maintenance. The Eagle's armament included a rapid-fire cannon for close-in engagements and a flexible assortment of eight Sidewinder and Sparrow air-to-air missiles.The Eagle's airframe consists of 26.7% titanium, 35.5% aluminum and 37.8% boron-epoxy composites and boasts a relatively low wing loading of 56 pounds per square foot. Its two 23,000+ lb thrust turbofan engines made it the first fighter capable of producing more thrust than its own weight, giving it the power to accelerate in a vertical climb. With this capability, an F-15 known as the "Streak-Eagle" shattered world time-to-climb records in a series of tests at Edwards AFB in 1975.Since the 1970s the F-15 has served with the US Air Force, several Air National Guard units, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the Royal Saudi Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. Both fighter and F-15E "Strike Eagle" attack versions saw extensive use against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.The F-15A on display here, serial number 75-0026, is on loan from the US Air Force. It served with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Virginia between 1976 and 1982, then later with the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB, Florida. It has been restored as an F-15C number 83-033 in honor of former 1st Fighter Wing Commander and trustee of what was the National Warplane Museum (Now Wings of Eagles Discovery Center), Lieutenant General David McCloud, who died in 1998 in a civil airplane accident while serving as a Commander at US Air Force Alaskan Air Command.
Martin RB-57 (Canberra)
Type: US Air Force Reconnaissance AircraftCrew: TwoWingspan: 64' Length: 65'6"Gross Weight: 32,448 poundsPower Plant: Two 7,220 pound thrust Wright J65-W-5 Sapphire turbojetMaximum Speed: 580 mphService Ceiling: 44,550'Armament: NoneNarrativeThe RB-57A is a reconnaissance version of the B-51A, light bomber which was a US adaptation of Britain's English Electric Canberra. It entered operational service in July 1954, nearly three years after it was earmarked to replace the aging B-26 Invader and the USAF's primary light bomber and tactical reconnaissance plane. A total of 67 RB-57As were built, with production ending in August 1954. The B/RB-57A bore a strong resemblance to the British Canberra, featuring side-by-side seating for its two-man crew. The Glenn L. Martin Company built the US version, and incorporated a rotary bomb bay originally developed for its XB-51 bomber into the design. Later B-57s featured a tandem seating arrangement, including some high-altitude versions with a new wing nearly twice as long as the original 64-foot span. Cameras were mounted behind the bomb bay, and the RB-57 could be placed in a bomber configuration with a few changes.The Canberra on display here is the 33rd RB-57A built, and is on long-term loan from the United States Air Force. Code-named "Switchblade", it was signed to the 6091st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS) at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and flew clandestine missions in the Far East in the early 1960's. It is marked as it appeared during its service with the 172nd TRS, Michigan Air National Guard, between 1968 and 1971.
Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D (Corsair II)
Type: Close air-support fixed-wing combat aircraftCrew: oneWingspan: 38'8" Length: 16'1"Gross Weight: 39,325 poundsPower Plant: Allison TF41-A-1 turbofan engine, offering 14,500 pounds of thrustMaximum Speed: 690 mphService Ceiling: 42,000'Armament: 1× M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm (0.787 in) rotary cannon with 1,030 roundsHardpoints: 6× under-wing and 2× fuselage pylon stations (for mounting AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs only) with a capacity of 15,000 lb (6,803.9 kg) total capacity with provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: 4× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 127 mm (5.000 in) Mk 32 Zuni rockets); Missiles: 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile 2× AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile 2× AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided glide bomb 2× AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile 2× AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile 2× GBU-8 HOBOS electro-optically guided glide bomb Bombs: Up to 30× 500 lb (226.8 kg) Mark 82 bombs
Grumman OV-1C (Mohawk)
Type: US Army battlefield surveillance aircraftCrew: TwoWingspan: 48' Length: 41'1"Gross Weight: 12,900 poundsPower Plant: Two 1,150 HP Lycoming T-53-L-15 TurbopropMaximum Speed: 305 mphService Ceiling: 25,000'Armament: Normally flown unarmed, but could be fitted with light rockets and machine guns for attackNarrativeThe Mohawk was the first turboprop-powered aircraft to enter operational service with the US Army, beginning in 1961. It was originally developed as a joint service observation and attach aircraft, capable of operating from short, unimproved airfields.After the Marine Corps backed out of the project in the late 1950s, the Mohawk's attack requirements were minimized. Loaded with electronics and surveillance cameras, Mohawks saw extensive service in Vietnam starting in September, 1962. The OV-1C was the third in the Mohawk series, and was intended for infrared battlefield reconnaissance.The OV-1C on display is painted in the markings of a Mohawk assigned to the US Army's 1st Infantry Division, based at Phu Loi; Vietnam in 1967. It was acquired by the museum in 1989 through the New York State Office of General Services.
Hughes OH-6A (Cayuse)
Type: Light Observation HelicopterCrew: TwoWingspan: 30'10" - 32'2" Length: 8'6" - 11'2"Rotor Diameter: 27'4"Maximum Takeoff Weight: 3,549 poundsPower Plant: 1 x One Alison TT63-A-5A or T63-A-700 turboshaft, 317 hp (236 kW)Maximum Speed: 152 knots (175 mph)Service Ceiling: 15,994'Armament: Guns: two M60 or M134 Minigun 7.62 mm machine guns, two .50 cal MG pods; Rockets: Fourteen 2.75" (70mm) Hydra 70 rockets in two pods; Missiles: Four TOW missiles in two pods, four Hellfire missiles in two pods.NarrativeOfficially named "Cayuse", referring to a cavalry term for a horse, it also bears the nickname "Loach" for its intended purpose as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH = "Loach"). The Cayuse was manufactured by the Hughes Aircraft Corporation starting in 1962 and is now supported by Boeing Company through a series of mergers. It was repurposed in Vietnam through "unauthorized field modification" to many roles such as ambulance and attack. This example is on loan to Wings of Eagles Discovery Center from the US Army.
Douglas B-26B Invader
Type: US Air Force Light BomberCrew: three (3)Wingspan: 70' Length: 50'10"Gross Weight: 31,775 poundsPower Plant: Two 2,000 hp Pritt & Whitney R-2800-79 radial enginesMaximum Speed: 370 mph at 10,000'Service Ceiling: 19,200'Armament: Ten .50 cal. machine guns, six in nose and two each in dorsal and ventral turrets; maximum 6,000 lb bomb load; provisions for wing-mounted bombs or rockets.NarrativeThe Douglas A-26 Invader was delivered in late 1944 as a replacement for the Army Air Force's A-20, B-25 and B-26 Marauder bombers. Invaders saw combat in Europe and in the Pacific, where they excelled in the attack and light bombing roles for which they were designed.In 1948 the A-26 was redesigned to the B-26. The plane distinguished itself in the night interdiction role in Korea, and flew the first and last bombing missions of the war. In 1961, Invaders were again pulled from storage and modified for service in Vietnam. Amazingly, they did not fly their last combat mission until November 1969.The B-26B on display was built during World War II, and following its military service was used as an executive transport for Standard Oil Corporation. It is marked as an Invader with the 149th Bombardment Squadron (Light), Virginia National Guard, and was donated to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in 1990 by Calspan Corporation of Buffalo, New York.
Mikoyan MiG-21 (Fishbed)
Type: All Weather Fighter-Interceptor (former Soviet aircraft)Crew: OneWingspan: 23'6" Length: 51'9" Height: 15'9"Gross Weight: 18,080 poundsPower Plant: One Tumansky R-11F2-300, 13,492 lbs of thrustMaximum Speed: 1,300 mphService Ceiling: 60,058'Range: 400 milesNarrativeThe MiG-21F (Mikoyan--Gurevich-21F) was originally designed to be a short-range day fighter-interceptor. It was the first major production version of the popular MiG-21 series. The E-50 prototype of the MiG-21 was first flown in 1955, and made its first public appearance during the Soviet Aviation Day display at Moscow's Tushino Airport in June 1956. Its original purpose was to be an air-to-air missile platform to defend the Soviet Union from the United States intercontinental bombers like the B-36, B-52 and B-58. Later versions added capabilities such as radar and guns.More than 30 countries, including nations friendly to the United States, have flown the MiG-21. At least 20 versions of the MiG-21 have been produced, some outside the former Soviet Union. Estimates place the number built at more than 8,000, a production total exceeding that of any other modern jet aircraft.In the spring of 1966 the North Vietnamese Air Force (VPAF) began flying the MiG-21 where it quickly proved to be a worthy opponent of the USAF's F-4 Phantom. Even so, between April 26, 1965 and January 8, 1973, USAF F-4s and B-52s downed 68 Mig-21s.The aircraft on display is a MiG-21PFM. PFM: P=radar equipped interceptor, F= afterburner, M = modified for export. It was built in the Soviet Union and flown by the Polish Air Force. It was purchased (along with a MiG 17) from Poland by Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (WEDC) Member Jon Blanchette, who donated it to WEDC in return for hangar space to restore the MiG-17 to flight status, an event which happened during the summer of 2008.
Grumman F-14A (Tomcat)
Type: Carrier-based air superiority fighterCrew: twoWingspan: 38'2" (full sweep) Length: 62'8"Gross Weight: 59,714 poundsPower Plant: Two 20,714 lb thrust Pratt & Whitney TF-30 turbofans with afterburnersMaximum Speed: 1,584 mph (Mach 2.34)Service Ceiling: 60,000'Armament: One fuselage-mounted 20 mm, M-61A1 Vulcan cannon; four AIM-9G Sidewinder; and four AIM-7E Sparrow air-to-air Missiles; provisions for alternate missile loads or up to 14,500 lbs of bombs.NarrativeThe F-14 Tomcat was a product of Grumman's past experience with swing-wing designs, including the XF10F-1 Jaguar and the F111. It first flew on December 21, 1970. It became the Navy's first variable geometry aircraft to enter service in late 1972. Able to track and engage up to six targets at once during flight, the Tomcat's wing sweep could be set to adjust to changing conditions automatically.The F-14 flew combat air patrol during the evacuation of Saigon in April 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. In 1981 a pair of Tomcats from VF-41 shot down two Libyan fighters over the Mediterranean Sea, and in 1989 two VF-32 Tomcats from VF-41 did the same. During Operation Desert Storm, the F-14 primarily flew fleet protection, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions.This F-14A is on long term loan from the US Navy and served with VF-101 at NAS Oceana, Virginia. It is painted in the VF-32 markings of Captain Dale O. Snodgrass, USN, who flew the aircraft to this museum in 1996.
Donors Memorial Rock Garden
Donors honor family members with an engraved stone in the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center Memorial Rock Garden near the museum entrance.
Inside Museum Entrance
Here is the museum entrance. Come inside for more aircraft, history and science exhibits!