U.S. Air Force Museum - Present Day
Northrop B-2 Spirit. The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit merged the high aerodynamic efficiency of the "flying wing" design with composite materials, special coatings and classified stealth technologies. As a result, the B-2 became virtually invisible to even the most sophisticated air defense radar systems.
The public first saw the highly classified B-2 on Nov. 22, 1988, when it rolled out of its hangar at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif. The B-2 first flew on July 17, 1989, at Palmdale, Calif., and Northrop Grumman delivered the first operational B-2 on Dec. 17, 1993. Based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., the B-2 soon demonstrated its combat capabilities in Operation Allied Force over Serbia in 1999, Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan in 2001, and Operation Iraqi Freedom over Iraq in 2003.
With a crew of only two -- the pilot in the left seat and the mission commander in the right -- a typical combat mission consisted of a non-stop flight from Whiteman Air Force Base to the target and back. During these missions, normally lasting more than 30 hours and requiring numerous aerial refuelings, each B-2 delivered up to 40,000 pounds of precision weapons.
General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon. The F-16 evolved from a 1972 USAF Lightweight Fighter prototype program which sought a small, lightweight, low cost, air superiority day fighter designed for high performance and ease of maintenance. The F-16 on display was one of the first F-16s to be received by the Thunderbirds in 1982 when they transitioned from T-38s to F-16s. The Thunderbirds continued to fly this aircraft until 1992 when they converted to F-16Cs.
The F-15 has been produced in single-seat and two-seat versions in its many years of USAF service. The two-seat F-15E Strike Eagle version is a dual-role fighter that can engage both ground and air targets.
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, the world's first operational stealth aircraft.
The first F-117A flew on June 18, 1981, and the first F-117A unit, the 4450th Tactical Group (renamed the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing in October 1989), achieved initial operating capability in October 1983. The aircraft was shrouded in secrecy until it was revealed to the public in 1988. A total of 59 F-117As were built between 1981 and 1990.
The F-117A first saw combat during Operation Just Cause on Dec. 19, 1989, when two F-117As from the 37th TFW attacked military targets in Panama.
The F-117A again went into action during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990-1991 when the 415th and the 416th squadrons of the 37th TFW moved to a base in Saudi Arabia. During Operation Desert Storm, the F-117As flew 1,271 sorties, achieving an 80 percent mission success rate, and suffered no losses or battle damage.
F-117s took part in the conflict in Yugoslavia, where one was shot down and another damaged by surface-to-air missiles (SAM) in 1999.
The U.S. Air Force retired the F-117 in April 2008, primarily due to the fielding of the F-22 Raptor. Despite the type's official retirement, a portion of the fleet has been kept in airworthy condition, and Nighthawks have been observed flying since 2009.
The aircraft on display is the second F-117A built and was specially modified for systems testing.
The B-1B's blended wing/body configuration, variable-geometry design and turbofan engines combined to provide greater range and high speed -- more than 900 mph (Mach 1.2) at sea level. Forward wing settings were used for takeoff, landing and high-altitude maximum cruise. Aft wing settings were used in high subsonic and supersonic flight, which also enhanced the aircraft's maneuverability.
The B-1B employed forward-looking radar and terrain-following radar. It also had an indicator for moving ground targets. Its extremely accurate Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System, Doppler radar and a radar altimeter enabled aircrews to navigate accurately around the world without ground-based navigation aids.
Its three internal weapons bays could accommodate up to 84 Mk-82 general purpose bombs or Mk-62 naval mines, 30 CBU-87/89 cluster munitions or CBU-97 Sensor Fused Weapons, and up to 24 GBU-31 JDAM GPS guided bombs or Mk-84 general purpose bombs. Able to update target information in flight, the B-1B could deliver weapons precisely in a changing combat environment.
First used in combat against Iraq during Operation Desert Fox in 1998, the B-1B has also been employed in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor. The Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor is the world's first stealthy air dominance fighter. Its radar, weapons control and electronic warfare systems work together as one integrated unit. The Raptor combines stealth, maneuverability and the ability to fly long distances at supersonic speeds -- or "supercruise" -- in performance of air superiority and air-to-ground missions. On May 12, 2005, the Raptor program achieved a historic milestone with the delivery of the first combat-capable Raptor to the 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Wing, at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
The USAF had originally planned to buy a total of 750 ATFs. In 2009, the program was cut to 187 operational aircraft due to high costs, a lack of air-to-air missions due to the focus on counterinsurgency operations at the time of production, a ban on exports, and development of the more affordable and versatile F-35, with the last F-22 delivered in 2012.
An F-22 engine.
But where is an F-35?
