23 May 2007

US Army Aviation Museum

Ok, so this post has a loooott of pictures, so if it takes a while to load I apologize, but there were so many neat things here, despite it being small by aviation museum standards. The museum has several things that while common, are rare simply because they don't find their way into most museums or airshows the way Navy and Air Force planes do. It also has a few things that you may not find anywhere else or even seen before. I will say that before coming here, I considered myself to be fairly knowledgable when it comes to aircraft. Now I have my doubts. So I will do my best here, but I will be honest when I have no clue about something. If you find you know something I don't, please feel free to let me know so I can add the information (and give you credit of course.) Anyway, above is the museum's centerpiece UH1 huey, recreating a famous photo from the Vietnam war of the "Bravo Blues" 1st of the 9th Cavalry.
This is an AH56 Cheyenne. Aparently this odd craft was the forerunner to the well known Apache, though I had never heard of it. Note the unusually long wings, and if you can see them, the two tail rotors, one on the side and one facing back.
A Caribou. Used as a transport during Vietnam.
This display recreates a Louisianna Maneuvers scene. The concept allowed Army field commanders to use Piper aircraft as artillery spotters.

Cessna L19 Bird Dog, another spotter plane.

H19 Chicksaw. Korean era transport.
Apparently, this particular Choctaw copter was once Army One (Presidential copter).
CH37 Mojave
CH47 Chinook






Below we see a couple of what I call Banana copters (I think you can see why). The first is a H21C Shawnee and the second is a H25 Mule. Below that are some small unmanned recon aircraft, followed by a UH60 Blackhawk, made famous in Desert Storm and "Blackhawk Down." And I don't know what the heck is going on with the caption format in this post, but the site is being stupid. So please forgive.



The famous AH64 Apache

A nice pair of AH1 Cobras
A Korea era transport copter, I want to say it's a Sioux.
This display shows an actual UH1 that was shot down in Vietnam, and another copter coming to rescue its crew. Below it is a display showing a Korean era medevac.
A copter and plane fitted with strechers for medevac use.




Below:A group of Hoverfly and Dragonfly copters

Sopwith Camel (one of only two replicas in the museum.)
Some WW1 aircraft.
A Wright B Flyer (the only other replica), a Jenny, and a couple other early aircraft.
U1 Otter Vietnam era transport
Below: CH54 Skycrane, a large copter with little internal space, but carried items slung beneath it.

OV1 Mohawk, Vietnam era observation plane. I really have no idea what this strange jet is, or why the Army would have it. Any ideas?
Um, this looks like a Chinook with a large wings attached. Anyone know anything about this guy?
An Army Neptune.










3 comments:

Anonymous said...

THE CHEYENNE DIDNT HAVE TWO TAIL ROTORS,ONE WAS ACTUALLY A PROPELLER.THE LARGE WEAPONS MOUNTS WERE ACTUALLY WINGS THAT PROVIDE LIFT, THIS HELICOPTER COULD ACHIEVE 215 KNOTS FLAT OUT AND ABOUT 240 KNOTS IN A DIVE, IT COULD ALSO DO LOOPS AND ROLLS, THE APACHE CAN SOMETIMES BUT ONLY WITH A VERY SKILLED PILOT. THE FUNDING FOR THE CONTRACT FOR LOCKHEED RAN OUT BEFORE THEY GOT ALL THE BUGS OUT,THEREFORE,THEY USED THE APACHE INSTEAD. ALSO THE LARGE HELI WITH LITTLE INTERNAL SPACE BUT COULD CARRY THINGS IS KNOWN AS A SKYCRANE, THE ARMY USED THESE TO TRANSPORT VERY HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS TANKS OR FIELD ARTILLERY, ALSO IT HAD A BOX THAT COULD BE HOOKED UP THAT WOULD CARRY TROOPS, OR BE A MOBILE COMMAND CENTER, OR COULD BE USED AS A PORTABLE MASH UNIT OR BE FITTED WITH STRETCHERS AND JUST BE USED AS A LITTER FOR INJURED SOLDIERS. ARMY HAS IT ON RECORD THAT A SKYCRANE ONCE CARRIED 87 TROOPS.

Anonymous said...

American used the Lockheed P-2 Neptune during the Vietnam War as a patrol airplane and sometime as small gunship.

Developped at the end of WWII, the Lockheed P-2 Neptune was an American naval patrol bomber and anti-submarine aircraft.

Lone Star Bird Dawgs said...

Great Site. Enjoyed the write ups as well as all the fine photos.

Thanks for sharing,

Bubba Coston

Lone Star Bird Dawgs