RV Odyssey: The Air Combat & National Guard Museums

Today, Will and I went to both the Air Combat and National Guard museums (they were right next to each other). After the thirty-minute drive to get to the airstrip (both museums were placed in the vicinity of an air force refueling station), we disembarked from our small Honda Odyssey to the site of three large missiles and a cannon. After a while of looking at and taking pictures, we walked into the large hangar that was the museum. Then, a quick chat with the gift shop clerk, some money exchanging hands, and we were off to see the main attraction, the planes.

Ben outside the museum

Mig 15

We walked through the first hangar, Will noting to me all the different kinds of planes, including a few MIGs, which Will was very excited about. The one thing that got me excited though was the large transport helicopter at the far side of the hangar, which we actually got to get into and look around at the inside (I was so excited about this because I REALLY like helicopters and think they are awesome).

Ben inside a CH-46 Sea Knight

Will inside a CH-46 Sea Knight

We were on our way to the next hangar when we remembered that there were two planes parked between the hangars, one of which we actually got inside of. The one that we got inside of was a command and intelligence plane with large radar domes and lots of cushy seats inside. The other was yet another MIG, very exciting. There were also a few APCs and artillery pieces, but these were boring to me and Will’s standards.

EC-121T Warning Star - Military version of the Super Constellation. Used as an early warning system to supplement the DEW line. Cool stuff about it here.

Ben checking out a radar station on the Warning Star

A Self Propelled Gun

Polish MiG 17 - unrestored.

The second hangar was full of multiple finished planes, but also had lots of works in progress. One that was particularly interesting was a cargo helicopter, which could actually sever its line if the wind picked up, using shaped explosives. Also, there were lots of cool navy and air force jets as well as a cool Huey helicopter. I especially liked the Huey helicopter because it was the gunship model, meaning that it had lots of rockets and machine guns strapped on. The second hangar was just as, if not more, interesting than its predecessor.

The main hook on the Sikorsky helicopter. Position of the shaped charge is marked by the arrow.

A Huey helicopter.

Afterwards, we went to the National Guard museum, which had lots of cool tanks and things. One that I really liked was the Abrams, and I think that Will probably did too. It is the one American tank, which has never been destroyed in combat. I even got to hold a real present-day bazooka. I enjoyed both museums and I hope Will did too.