Strategic Air and Space Museum - Part 1

[RichieB16]

OK, so I traveled to Omaha, Nebraska last week to interview for a position at Creighton University's dental school (my interview went really well by the way).  My interview was on friday and I didn't fly home until sunday...so I had some time to do some sight seeing.  So, one of my stops was the Strategic Air and Space Museum which is located about 20 miles outside of Omaha.  This museum displays many of the aircraft used during the Cold War by the Strategic Air Command (which was based at nearby Offutt AFB).

I must apologize for the darkness of the images.  There wasn't much light in the museum and I tried to photoshop them to lighten them up a bit and I did the best I could.  I hope they are OK.  

So, here are some of the photos I took:

Outside the museum, there is an Atlas ICBM on display:

Among other various aircraft is a B-36 Peacemaker.  This is the aircraft I specifically came to this museum to see.  Not only is it one of only 4 remaining of a very unique plane, it holds several other "records."  It is the largest piston driven aircraft ever mass-produced, the first thermonuclear weapon delivery vehicle, the largest combat aircraft ever built (not including transports), and I believe the final piston driven bomber built by the United States.

Here is a shot of the back side of the port wing of the B-36 showing the props.

Here is an XF-85 Goblin Parasite Fighter.  This is one of 2 prototypes built to test the parasite fighter concept for the B-36.  Although the project eventually failed, both prototypes still exist...the other is displayed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.

Here is a Mark-36 Thermonuclear (Hydrogen) Bomb model on display next to the B-36.  This was the type of weapon the aircraft was designed to carry.

I have another thread featuring 5 more photos from the museum.

[C]

Here is a Mark-36 Thermonuclear (Hydrogen) Bomb model on display next to the B-36.  This was the type of weapon the aircraft was designed to carry.

That could certainly ruin your day if you happened to be on the wrong end of it!

[beaky]

A very nice look at the mighty B-36... thanks.  8-)

[RichieB16]

A very nice look at the mighty B-36... thanks.  8-)

No Problem.   8-)

I'm sorry to say that she wasn't in as pristine condition as I had hoped.  Many of the aircraft in this museum were a bit "rough" but it is no doubt incredibly expensive to bring them back to perfect condition.  Its nice to see that they are housed in doors for young people (including myself) to see them...in any shape.

[C]

I'm sorry to say that she wasn't in as pristine condition as I had hoped.  Many of the aircraft in this museum were a bit "rough" but it is no doubt incredibly expensive to bring them back to perfect condition.  Its nice to see that they are housed in doors for young people (including myself) to see them...in any shape.

Thankfully as they are undercover it's not too much of a problem, and I suppose with such a large collection there's a lot of strain on resources and time. Hopefully at some stage they'll all go through a spruce up.