Aircraft

The F-106 was produced as Mach-2 interceptors from 1956 to 1961 and were used by the U.S. Air Force to protect U.S. air space. Its coke bottle shape, developed at Langley Research Center, marks the revolutionary advancement in aircraft design that attributed to attaining supersonic speed in level flight. From 1980 to 1986, the F-106B on display was used for lightning research by NASA Langley Research Center and purposely flown into thunderstorms, being struck more than 700 times by lightning.

The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft.The Fighting Falcon is a fighter with numerous innovations including a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, a seat reclined 30 degrees to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system helps to make it a nimble aircraft. Visitors can peer into the cockpit of this popular fighter for a look at modern-day military and the challenges pilots face.

The Grumman-American Yankee was built in 1969 as a two-seat general aviation passenger plane. This Grumman-American Yankee was used between 1977 and 1987 for stall and spin tests conducted by NASA Langley Research Center. This aircraft, tail number SN 0001, was the first Grumman-Yankee ever built.

The F-18 HARV (High Alpha Research Vehicle), a former NASA research aircraft, was used to improve the safety and maneuverability of modern military fighters in combat situations. Flight research with the HARV increased our understanding of flight at high angles of attack, helping makers of U.S fighter jets design features that will make fighter jets safer to fly.

The “Huey” is a military helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. It was used for transporting personnel and equipment, medical evacuation, and reconnaissance and security duty during the Vietnam War.

The aircraft was used as a research aircraft by the NASA Langley Research Center from 1968 to 1974. The successful demonstration of the Kestrel led to the development of the “Harrier,” the world’s first operational vertical take-off and landing jet fighter.

Manufactured by Consolidated Aviation during WW II, the “Liberator” was built in greater number than any other American combat aircraft, over 19,000. The heavy bomber is 66′ 4″ inches long, has a wingspan of 110 feet, and an empty weight of approximately 25,000 pounds. The B-24D was the first variant to be mass-produced.

The F-4E is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber. During the Vietnam War the F-4 was used extensively; it served as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, and became important in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles late in the war. The aircraft traveled faster than Mach-2 at 40,000 feet and could carry over 18,000 pounds of weapons. The aircraft on display scored two MIG kills during the Vietnam War.

The Rutan Vari-Ez was designed by Burt Rutan, the designer of the famous Voyager airplane, the first airplane to fly non-stop around the world on one tank of gas. The Vari-Ez was one of Rutan’s first composite designs to take hold amongst home-built aviation enthusiasts.

The Schleicher ASW-12 Glider is the production version of the famous D-36, which won the 1964 German Nationals. Generally conceded to be the highest-performance sailplane in the world, until the advent of the Nimbus prototype and the Glasflugel 604 in 1970, it is still a formidable plane.

The “Starfighter” is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it was operated by the air forces of more than a dozen nations from 1958 to 2004. It was nicknamed “the missile with a man in it” since its long, thin fuselage and stubby wings resemble a missile. It was the first interceptor in our nation’s service to fly at sustained speeds above Mach-2.

This trainer was built for the Navy and Marine Corps between 1936 and 1939. Over 10,000 of the various models of the aircraft were produced by the end of WWII. Thousands of pilots received their initial flight instruction in “Stearmans” which were considered ideal for teaching basic flying maneuvers, aerobatics, and takeoffs.

Commissioned by the Virginia Air & Space Science Center and built by Arizona Models in 97 days, the replica 1903 Wright Flyer was the first flyer in the United States to be completed for the Centennial of Flight. The original Wright Flyer is known for achieving the “first flight” at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. An accurate reproduction of the first powered airplane this replica is within 21 lbs. of the original Wright Flyer.

The YF-16 was developed by a team of General Dynamics engineers led by Robert H. Widmer. The first YF-16 was rolled out on 13 December 1973, and its 90-minute maiden flight was made at the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) at Edwards AFB, California, on 2 February 1974.The YF-16 was a no-frills service-test prototype and differed from subsequent F-16’s in having no weapons or radar, thus being lighter with its center of gravity further forward, affording greater maneuverability.