(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . McChord Air Museum: The airplanes (photo diary) [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-28 The McChord Air Museum is located on the McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington. Since the museum is on an active military base, it is necessary to stop at the visitors’ center and show identification and car registration in order to get a temporary pass. As a part of the museum, there is a display of airplanes which have historic ties to the air base. Douglas B-18A Bolo The Douglas B-18 was a military adaptation of the DC-2 airliner. By the end of 1941, it was obsolete, but it was still the most important bomber in service with the Army Air Force when the United States entered into World War II. Some B-18s saw limited combat in World War II when assigned to maritime patrol duties. This aircraft has a crew of 6; a top speed of 215 mph; and a cruising speed of 167 mph. Douglas B-23 Dragon In 1938, the Douglas Aircraft Co. developed the B-23 Drago to rectify the shortcomings of the B-18 Bolo. The B-23 Dragon featured upgraded engines, a considerably refined fuselage, and a manned tail gun position with a .50 caliber machine gun. Early evaluations, however, revealed disappointing performance and it saw only limited service in a coastal control capacity. Ultimately, these planes were relegated to training duties and to utility transport duties. This aircraft had a range of 1,455 miles and a top speed of 282 mph. Consolidated SA-10A Catalina The OA-10 was the Army Air Force version of the Navy PBY (Patrol; Bomber; Consolidate Aircraft). It first flew in 1934. The Catalina was the most widely used amphibian every built. When production ceased in 1945, a total of 3,281 had been built. The USAAF acquired 380 OA-10s for air-sea rescue missions during World War II. In 1948, the surviving OA-10s were re-designated as the SA-10A (Search Amphibian). This aircraft has a range of 2,550 miles, a top speed of 180 mph, and a cruising speed of 117 mph. Douglas C-47 The C-47 was used for personnel transport, cargo hauling, troop carrier, glider tug, navigation trainer, and in the Vietnam war it was used as an airborne gun platform. Almost 11,000 C-47 aircraft were manufactured by 1945, when production ceased. This aircraft carries a crew of 3 to 5 and has a top speed of 229 mph. Fairchild C-82A Packet Airlift experience during World War II demonstrated the need for a large-capacity cargo aircraft that could be loaded from ground level. Named for the packet ships that hauled cargo between coastal seaports, Fairchild produced 223 Packets between 1945 and 1948. This aircraft has a top speed of 250 mph, a range of 2,140 miles, and a ceiling of 27,000 feet. It has a crew of five. Convair F-102A Delta Dagger The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was designed in response to the threat of a Soviet long range bomber attack. It first flew in 1953. This airplane has a top speed of 1,526 mph (Mach 2.3) and a range of 1,718 miles. Convair F-106A Delta Dart The Convair F-106 Delta Dart is a supersonic all weather interceptor which evolved as an advanced version of the Delta Dagger. It first flew in 1959. This airplane has a top speed of 1,526 mph (Mach 2.3) and a range of 1,718 miles. Lockheed C-130E Hercules Designed by as an assault transport able to operate from unpaved airstrips, the C-130 Hercules made its first flight in August 1954. This aircraft can carry six pallets or 74 litters or 16 container delivery system bundles or 92 combat troops or 64 paratroopers, or any combination of these up to 42,000 lbs. Lockheed T-33A On the McChord Air Base, the T-33s were used for instrument raining, certification or requalification of pilots, simulated targets for interceptor training, and aggressors for air defense radar sites. This aircraft has a top speed of 543 mph and a range of 1,300 miles. Fairchild Republic A10A Thunderbolt II The Thunderbolt II, developed to provide ground support in the Vietnam War, was an airplane built around a gun: the “Avenger” Gatling gun which can fire foot long 30mm shells at the rate of 4,000 rounds per minute. This aircraft has a top speed of 420 mph, and a range of 2,541 miles. Douglas C-124C Globemaster II The Globemaster, called “Old Shaky” by some people, is a heavy-life cargo aircraft which was produced from 1949 to 1955. A total of 448 were built. Lockheed-Georgia C-141B Starlifter The Starlifter was introduced slower propeller driven cargo planes such as the Globemaster II. It first flew in 1963 and production began in 1965. A total of 285 planes were built. Beechcraft UC-45J Expeditor The Beechcraft Model18, a civil transport plane, first flew in 1937. In 1940, the United States Army Air Force placed orders for military versions of this aircraft: UC-45 (light transport), AT-11 (trainers), and F-2 (photo survey). Nearly 1,300 were produced. This airplane has a top speed of 225 mph, a range of 1,200 miles, and a service ceiling of 26,000 feet. It has a two-person crew and can carry six passengers. McDonnel Douglas F-15 Eagle The F-15 Eagle first flew in 1972 and entered into service in 1976. The F-15A is a single-seat all-weather fighter. A total of 384 were built. This aircraft has a top speed of Mach 2.54 (1,650 mph), a combat range of 1,061 miles, and a service celing of 65,000 feet. North American F-86D Sabre This was the U.S. Air Force's first swept-wing jet fighter. It first flew in 1948. The F-86 saw service in Korea where it fought against the Soviet MiG-15. A total of 5,500 F-86s were built. This plane has a maximum speed of 685 mph, a range of 1,200 miles, and a ceiling of 49,000 feet. McDonnell CF-101F Voodoo The Voodoo first flew in 1954 and several versions were produced: low-altitude fighter-bomber, photo reconnaissance, two-seat interceptor and transition trainer. To accelerate production, no prototypes were built. This aircraft has a top speed of 1,000 mph, a cruising speed of 440 mph, a range of 2,060 miles, and a ceiling of 45,800 feet. More airplanes Yanks Air Museum: An Overview (Photo Diary) Planes of Fame: Soviet Aircraft (Photo Diary) Museums 101: Vintage Aircraft in the Museum of Mountain Flying (Photo Diary) Museums 101: The Stonehenge Air Museum (Photo Diary) Erickson Aircraft: Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (photo diary) Museums 101: The Evergreen Aviation Museum (photo overview) WAAAM: Curtiss-Wright Airplanes (Photo Diary) Historic Flight: An overview (photo diary) [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/28/2248556/-McChord-Air-Museum-The-airplanes-photo-diary?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=community_groups_Kossack+Air+Force&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/