Best known for its service with the Claire Chennault
American Volunteer Group, "The Flying Tigers."
North American T6 "Texan" -
1935
Mission
Advanced Fighter Trainer
Max Speed
210 MPH
Range
629 Miles
First Flight
1935
In Service
Operational 1936 - 1958, U.S. (operational in other
countries until 1996)
Other
No other trainer in history has been used by so many
countries spanning the period from 1938
Consolidated PBY Catalina -
1939
Mission
Ocean Reconnaissance, Amphibious flying boat
used to search for Submarines and seaborne enemy battle forces throughout World
War II
Max Speed
178 MPH
Range
2,545 Miles
First Flight
March, 1935
In Service
Throughout World War II and after as both an ocean
reconnaissance plane and as a fire fighter.
Other
Service Ceiling: 15,748'
Crew
8
North American B25 Mitchell -
1940
Mission
Medium Bomber made famous by Doolittle Raid on
Tokyo
Max Speed
284 MPH (15,000 feet)
Range
1,500 miles (3,000 lb. bomb load)
First Flight
1940
In Service
Operational from 1941 - 1945
Other
"Miss Hap" - General Hap Arnold's personal airplane. Other
past owners of this particular aircraft include Howard Hughes.
P-51 Mustang - 1940
Mission
Fighter
Max Speed
437 MPH
Range
1,000 Miles
First Flight
1940
In Service
1941 - 1953
Other
The P-51, originally a photo recon and ground support
aircraft, received a British "Merlin" engine in '43 transforming the P-51 into
a fighter. Flying high-altitude escort to B-17's and B-24's, P-51's fought
German interceptors. By war's end, they had shot down more enemy planes than
any other fighter over Europe and served the U.S. in the Korean conflict. The
P-51 Mustang is part of "Warbirds Over Long Island", a frequent visitor to the
American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport and an honorary member of the AAM
squadron.
Republic P47 Thunderbolt -
1940
Mission
Fighter
Max Speed
467 MPH
Range
800 Miles (without drop tanks)
First Flight
1940
In Service
Operational 1942 - 1967 in other countries (end of WWII
with U.S.)
Other
Largest and heaviest (7-tons) single-seater,
piston-engined fighter in history. Produced on Long Island at the site now
housing the American Air Power Museum. 9,000 Thunderbolts were built on the
Museum's site.
Douglas C47 Skytrain (a.k.a.
DC3 & Dakota) - 1940
Mission
Transport
Max Speed
180 MPH
Range
1,200 NauticalMiles
First Flight
December 1935
In Service
Operational June 1936 (American Airlines) and still being
used commercially across the globe
Other
The C47, originally known as the DC3, started as one of
the first commercial civilian airliners. Best known for the "Berlin Airlift",
the C47 dropped food, clothing and medical supplies to keep Berliners alive
during the Russian occupation after WWII . The museum's C47 is one of the few
flyable C47's with a paratrooper configuration and is a WWII veteran, dropping
troops for the D-Day invasion and also serving, most recently, with the Israeli
Air Force.
Grumman TV Avenger - 1942
Mission
Carrier based torpedo bomber
Max Speed
276 MPH
Range
1010 Miles
First Flight
August 1941
In Service
Operational January 1942 - June 1954
Other
3 man crew, 2 wing guns, one turret gun and one ventral
gun.
Vought FG-1D Corsair - 1942
Mission
Carrier based fighter
Max Speed
446 MPH
Range
1005 Miles
First Flight
May 1940
In Service
Operational June 1942 through the end of the Korean
conflict
Other
Bent wing facilitates the large propeller. Most well known
as the aircraft for the famed "Black Sheep" squadron and saw extensive use by
the Marines.
L-39 Albatross - 1942
Mission
Soviet Jet Trainer
Max Speed
570 MPH (sub-sonic)
Range
995 MIles with external tanks
First Flight
November 1968
In Service
Since 1972 and remains so with as many as 16 nations.
NEW ADDITIONS ON LOAN FROM
Republic F-84 Thunderjet -
1948
Mission
Fighter/Attack-Bomber
Max Speed
620 MPH
Range
1,485 Nautical Miles
In Service
Operational 1948 through the Korean Conflict
Other
One of the first early jets, it's first designation was
P-84 (pursuit), however, when the Army Air Corps became the Air Force the
designation changed to F-84 (fighter). Though produced in huge numbers, it's
early-jet design rendered it obsolete by the time it was in wide use.
Republic RF-84 Thunderflash -
1953
Mission
Photoreconnaissance
Max Speed
720 MPH
First Flight
1953
In Service
1953 through 1971
Other
The RF-84F Thunderflash was the final F-84 version to be
built at Republic Aviation. It was the first of the modern jets to be designed
specifically for photo - reconnaissance and the first fighter-type plane to
carry cameras that could take horizon-to-horizon pictures.
Republic F-105 Thunderchief -
1955
Mission
Fighter/Attack-Bomber
Max Speed
1,390 MPH
Range
2,206 Miles
In Service
1955 through 1980
Other
The F-105D could carry over 12,000 pounds of ordnance, a
heavier bomb load than a WWII B-17. The F-105D was used extensively in the
Vietnam War.
General Dynamics F-111 - 1967
Mission
Long-range, all-weather strike aircraft
Max Speed
mach 1.2 (Supersonic)
Range
3,565 miles (3,100 nautical miles) with external fuel
tanks.
First Flight
1967
In Service
1967 - 1996
Other
First aircraft in service to use the versatile "swing
wing". Rushed into service in Vietnam, the two crew F111 met with mixed
success. However, the aircraft was later used effectively in attacking targets
in Libya and later Iraq.
