Dee Waldron

The Messerschmitt Me 262. The first jet powered fighter to see war-time operational service. While it was an exceptional aircraft, it was too little, too late. The Junkers Jumo engine lacked metallurgical technology and had an extremely limited life span (about 10 flight hours).

The Messerschmitt Me 163 point-defence interceptor was the first and only rocket powered fighter to see operational duty ever. While it showed great promise during it's initial development, it had many operational limitations and was never as effective as predicted.

The Junkers Ju 88 is a twin-engined multirole combat aircraft. It became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Despite it's round engine nacelles, it was powered by Junkers Jumo V-12 liquid-cooled engines. The USAF museum's Ju 88 is in it's original Romanian AF livery.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (this is a D model). The long nose D model had a Junkers Jumo 213 V12 engine. This allowed the aircraft high altitude performance, something the original FW190As lacked.

Let's look at some WW2 German aircraft in the USAF museum collection. First, this is the Messerschmitt Bf 109. It's said to be the most produced fighter aircraft in history with 34,248 airframes built.

One of my favorites from WW2, the Republic P-47N Thunderbolt. This was the last version of the "Jug". Powered by the P&W R-2800 18 cylinder radial engine. USAF museum.

Grumman J4F Widgeon (this one in U.S. Coast Guard colors). Powered by 2 Ranger inverted 6 cyl engines of 200 hp each. Pima A&SM. The helicopter hanging above is a Hiller H-12.

The North American F-107A was a prototype fighter-bomber that was largely an upgrade of the earlier F-100 Super Sabre.
While test pilots and ground crews all remarked what a fine aircraft it was, it lost the competition to the Republic F-105 Thunderchief. 3 F-107s were built. 2 survive. Pima A&SM.

The BD-5J microjet! Designed by Jim Bede, several of these kit planes flew the airshows during the 1980s and 90s. Was even used in a James Bond movie once! The blue airplane behind it is a Belanca Super Cruiser. Pima Air & Space Museum.

The Northrup P-61A Black Widow night-fighter was probably the deadliest purpose built fighter that the US deployed in WW2. USAF museum

The Bristol Beaufighter was another British built aircraft that saw use by the USAAF during WW2. The USAAF needed a capable night-fighter until the US built P-61 Black Widows came on the scene. The Beufighter packed a powerful punch, with four 20mm cannon and six 30 caliber machine guns!

Here's another British aircraft of WW2 that served with the USAAF. The De Havilland Mosquito. While the museums "Mossie" is actually a post WW2 construction, it's painted and displayed as a weather reconnaissance aircraft of the 653rd Bombardment Squadron based in England in 1944-1945.

Here's another Spitfire that saw service with the USAAF. In North Africa (Operation Torch). Notice the large intake air filter under the engine. USAF museum.

That's right! British Spitfires were flown by the USAAF Eighth Air Force early in the war out of England while waiting for American built fighters to make their way to the front. On the left is the nose of a Curtiss C-46 and hanging above is a Cessna Bamboo Bomber trainer. USAF museum.

Yes! Inquire at the main gate. And then, enjoy!

The MD F-4E Phantom II was briefly used by the USAF Thunderbirds in the early 1970s. It was an expensive airplane to operate for the demo team so was replaced by the T-38. The Thunderbird's F-4s went into storage and this one ended up at the Pima Air & Space museum.

A Mig 15 of the North Korean AF. A defector flew this aircraft out of North Korea shortly after the war ended. The United States actually tried to give the aircraft back later, but North Korea refused it. Now on display at the USAF museum.

The P&W J58 jet engine used on the SR-71. It had one compressor wheel and one turbine wheel and five stages of afterburner. It was basically a ramjet! Pima Air & Space Museum.

The Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant (because of it's jungle camo paint) was the USAF main crew rescue helicopter during the Vietnam War. It also serviced as the recovery ship for Firebee recon drones, literally snatching them out of the air as they descended by parachute!

Piasecki H-21 (B model shown) was developed for the USAF for arctic rescue. They were well suited for extreme cold weather operation and quickly replaced the earlier H-19s. Later designated HH-21, the B model had a more powerful Wright R-1820 radial engine of 1450 hp. Phased out of service in 1965.

The Sikorsky H-19 helicopter was developed for the USAF to perform arctic rescue of downed aircrews. It was a big improvement over the earlier H-5s. Powered by a P&W R-1340 of 600 hp mounted in the nose.

The Bell UH-1 "Huey" helicopter. Thousands were built for the US Armed Forces, every service had their own models. Shown here is the USAF's model UH-1P. There were called Huey by the ground crews because they thought that was the sound the rotors made while at idle. USAF museum.

An early version of the Sikorsky R-5 helicopter. The R-5 (later H-5) was the USAF's first reliable helicopter. It was powered by a 450hp radial engine. USAF museum.

The P&W R-4360 (shown here installed on a Douglas C-124 Globemaster) was a 4 row 28 cylinder radial engine that could make 3000 horsepower at takeoff. USAF museum.

The Packard Merlin V-1650 was a supercharged, water cooled V-12 powerplant. Famously used on many Allied fighters during WW2. Designed by Rolls Royce, the US made engines were produced under license by the Packard Motor Car company. USAF museum.

Hegseth is an idiot. Period. End of discussion.

R-2600

The Wright R-2600. Another powerplant that saw a lot of usage during WW2. A 14 cylinder, 2 row radial engine. Planes like the B-25 Mitchel bomber and A-20 Havoc attack plane all used this powerplant.

P&W R-2800

The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 is a 18 cylinder, 2 row radial engine. It's massive supercharger impeller could be set at two different speeds giving it good high and low altitude performance. A very rugged powerplant! USAF museum.

V-12 aircraft engine

The Allison V-1710 was a V-12 water cooled powerplant. A very sturdy engine, but it had a small supercharger section so wasn't a high altitude engine (by itself). The Lockheed P-38 Lightening used an external turbocharger that really brought this powerplant to life. USAF museum.

The GE J79 turbojet engine was used in several different Air Force and Navy fighter and bombers. It's ability to quickly "spool up" and accelerate gave it a huge advantage over anything else during it's time.