Castle Air Museum

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RB-36H-30CF 51-13730
RB-36H-30CF 51-13730

Castle Air Museum is located in Atwater, California at the site of the former Castle Air Force Base. It is one of the largest museums displaying vintage aircraft in the western United States.

Contents

[edit] History and information

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird at Castle Air Museum
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird at Castle Air Museum

The museum opened in 1981, and currently displays 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft. Thirty-five volunteers restored the aircraft on display.[1] 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.

In May 2008, the museum reached its 50th displayed aircraft milestone with the addition of a Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. The aircraft was shipped to the museum in August 2006, and restored at a cost of $12,000.[1]

[edit] Aircraft on display

Name

Function

Crew
Douglas A-4L Skyhawk attack fighter 1
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 (44-41916) 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 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

[edit] Hidden aircraft collection

Castle Air Museum has several aircraft that are unable to be displayed outdoors, as their fabric coverings do not hold up in the San Joaquin Valley weather. The Museum Foundation is working to raise funds for a suitable building to display these and other items that they do not presently have indoor space to display.[2]

[edit] Restoration efforts

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

[edit] Alleged paranormal occurrences

B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Super Fortress exhibit is reported to be haunted by a spirit named "Arthur". Museum management has reported that visitors, including paranormal investigators, have heard knocking and footsteps from inside the plane. In addition, lights in the aircraft have been known to turn on and off and the propellers are known to turn even though they are locked into place. An apparition has been photographed on several occasions, and paranormal researchers have detected anomalous readings on equipment.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Keeler, Guy. "A safe landing", Fresno Bee, 2008-04-08. Retrieved on 2008-05-03. 
  2. ^ Castle Air Museum - Hidden Aircraft Collection
  3. ^ Ghost Trackers article on the allegedly haunted B29 at Castle Air Museum

[edit] External links

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