CASTLE AIR MUSEUM

'Castle Air Museum' is located in Atwater, California and is one of the largest museums displaying vintage aircraft in the western United States.

Contents

History and information

Aircraft on display

Restoration efforts

See also

References

External links

History and information

The museum opened in 1981, and displays 49 restored aircraft. The outdoor museum covers 11 acres, and among the exhibit highlights are a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (one of only 19 surviving), a Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, and the massive, ten-engined Convair B-36, one of only four surviving and the largest mass-produced piston aircraft in history. The museum also features a periodic "open cockpit day" in which visitors can actually view the interiors of certain planes. An indoor museum features photographs, engines, and a flight deck. The museum is open every day of the year except New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Aircraft on display

Name	Function	Crew
Douglas A-26B Invader	attack bomber	2–4
Avro Vulcan B.2	strategic bomber	5
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress	bomber	10
Douglas B-18 Bolo	bomber	6
Douglas B-23 Dragon	bomber	6
Consolidated B-24M Liberator	bomber	8–10
North American B-25J Mitchell	bomber	6
Boeing B-29 Superfortress	bomber	11
Convair RB-36H Peacemaker	strategic bomber/reconnaissance	22
North American B-45A Tornado	bomber	4
Boeing B-47E Stratojet	bomber	3
Boeing WB-50D Superfortress	weather reconnaissance/bomber	11
Boeing B-52D Stratofortress	bomber	6
Martin EB-57E Canberra	electronic warfare/tactical bomber	2
Vultee BT-13 Valiant	basic trainer	2
Beech C-45G Expeditor	utility/trainer	2
Curtiss C-46D Commando	cargo/transport	4
Douglas C-47A Skytrain	cargo/transport	5
Lockheed 18 (C-56) Lodestar	cargo/executive transport	3
Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar	troop/cargo transport	6
Fairchild C-123K Provider	assault transport	2
Convair 240 (HC-131A Samaritan)	transport	3
Avro-Canada CF-100 Canuck	interceptor	2
Lockheed F-80B Shooting Star	fighter	1
Republic F-84F Thunder Streak	fighter-bomber	1
North American F-86H Sabre	fighter-bomber	1
Northrop F-89J Scorpion	fighter-interceptor	2
North American F-100C Super Sabre	fighter-bomber	1
McDonnell F-101B Voodoo	fighter-interceptor	2
Lockheed F-104D Starfighter	fighter	1
Republic F-105B Thunderchief	fighter-bomber	1
Convair F-106A Delta Dart	fighter	1
General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark	strategic bomber	2
McDonnell F-4E Phantom	fighter/bomber	2
Convair F-102A Delta Dagger	fighter-interceptor	1
Grumman F-14D Tomcat	fighter	2
Kaman HH-43B Huskie	utility/rescue/fire fighting	2–4
Grumman HU-16B Albatross	search & rescue amphibian	4
Kawasaki KAQ-1 Drone	target drone	no crew
Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter	tanker/cargo transport	5
Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker	tanker/cargo	4
Cessna O-2A Super Skymaster	observation	1
Douglas R5D-4 Skymaster	transport	4
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird	reconnaissance	2
North American T-6 Texan	advanced trainer	2
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star	trainer	2
Beech T-34 Mentor	trainer	2
Cessna U-3A Blue Canoe	utility light transport	1
DeHavilland-Canada U-6A Beaver	light utility transport	1

Restoration efforts

The museum has recently received two new planes which are currently under restoration before they will be displayed on the museum grounds:

★ Douglas A-4-arrived August 7, 2006

★ McDonnell-Douglas F-15A-arrived September 1, 2006

See also

★ Castle Air Force Base

References

★ Castle Air Museum Visitor's Guide

★ Compass Maps: Merced, Atwater, Merced County

★ City of Atwater -- Approved Annexations

External links

★ Castle Air Museum website

★ Aviation Enthusiast Corner - Castle Air Museum

★ SR-71 Online - Castle Air Museum Photo Tour