B-17 Flying Fortress - Early VersionB 17 Flying Fortress airplane model. The B 17 was designed in the mid 1930s to accomplish the Air Corps mission of long range strategic bombing. The problem was that War Department, and the Navy Department did not recognize that mission. Given the isolationist mood in the 1930s that precluded building offensive weapons, the B 17 had to be billed as a "defensive" weapon to defend the coastline. This B 17 model is painted to reflect one that landed

The Albatross is versatile

but by then the type had established itself a useful niche as a utility aircraft

plus a single MC

made its maiden flight on 23 December 1966

was officially turned over to the Smithsonian Institution the next day

the OV-10A is also the aerial platform from which the entire air operation is coordinated

followed by the second in May 1987

Lockheed F-94 Starfire airplane model

Production ended in June 1970 after 532 O-2s had been built for the USAF

Enjoy the sleek lines of this historic aircraft

shot down a Russian-built MiG-15 in the world's first all-jet fighter air battle

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker airplane model