Strategic Air & Space Museum 2012

As a teenager, I watched the Vulcan fly at open houses at Barksdale AFB, LA. The airplane looks so ungainly on the ground, but it's a sight to behold in the air.

Ryan BQM-34A Firebee

MGM-13 Mace surface-to-surface missile. 1/4 scale mockup.

A current rotating exhibit is about spacesuits. Most of the ones on display are training suits.

Some of the aircraft, such as the B-47E, show the toll of years of outdoor display. It was very exciting to walk up to and examine each airplane in detail, though!

Bomb bay of the B-47 looking forward.

Bomb cradle detail.

The placards showing bomb load configuration were still intact on the right bomb bay door.

Looking aft in the aft electronics bay.

AGM-28 Hound Dog nuclear air-to-surface missile.

The B-36 is an impressive machine!

Inside the forward bomb bay, looking forward. The yoke mechanism at the bottom center is the operating bellcrank for the bomb bay doors.

The B-36 was capable of carrying nuclear weapons, such as this Mk 36. The bomb is nearly five feet in diameter and weighs over 17,000 pounds. This one, of course, is only the case.

Or, how about carrying your own fighter escort?

An owl? No! This is the #1 & #2 engine pod!