Texas Military Museum - Fixed wing aircraft display along Mopac Expressway.

Fixed Wing Aircraft Display

Camp Mabry's Texas Military Museum has on display three of the most successful jet fighters in Air Force history.

On display are three historic fixed wing aircraft and three iconic helicopters along the perimeter fence and visible from Mopac, Loop 1 Expressway.
Fixed Wing Display

F-86D "Sabre Dog" The first exclusively rocket armed, all weather fighter. 
F-4C "Phantom" The Vietnam War era workhorse. 
F-16 "Fighting Falcon" Served in all gulf wars and currently deployed around the world. 
All planes are available for public viewing. 

See links at the end of each plane to see more detailed data, actual vintage film clips, cockpit videos and music from the various time periods.
Example of videos on linked posts: Phantom F-4 and the Blue Angels 1970's. 3 minutes.

North American F-86D "Sabre Dog"

The F-86D was an all weather fighter. The all missile armament carried by the F-86D is mounted in a retractable tray in the fuselage just behind the nose wheel well. When the rockets are fired the tray drops below the fuselage and up to 24 2.75 inch folding fin aircraft rockets can be fired.

This plane was flown by all three Texas National Guard flying units in an air defense mission.

The F-86 Sabre's production run in all its iterations reached 10,000 aircraft, becoming the most numerous manufactured fighter by the western allies.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.27 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 1.5 in (11.31 m)
• Height: 15 ft in (4.57 m)
• Empty weight: 13,518 lb (6,132 kg)
• Gross weight: 19,975 lb (9,060 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × General Electric J47-GE-17B, 5,425 lbf (24.1 kN)dry, 7,500 lbf (33.4 kN) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: 693 mph (1,115 km/h)
• Maximum speed: Mach .91
• Range: 330 miles (531 km)
• Service ceiling: 49,750 ft (15,163 m)
• Rate of climb: 12,150 ft/min (61.7 m/s)

Armament

• 24 × 2.75 in (70 mm) Mighty Mouse FFAR rockets in ventral tray.

CLICK HERE

For more F-86D data, Korean War era music, film clips and short history.

McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II

The F-4C Phantom is a twin engine two seat long-range all weather interceptor and attack bomber. It was developed for close support and attack duties with the tactical air command. The first F-4C flew on May 27, 1963. It was used as an air defense (147th fighter interceptor group) and then air to ground plane (149th fighter group in the Texas air National Guard. 

The F-4 Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built. This extensive run makes it the second most-produced Western jet fighter, behind the F-86 Sabre at just under 10,000 aircraft.

The F-4C's General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in (11.7 m)
• Height: 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m)
• Wing area: 530.0 ft² (49.2 m²)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.23 (1,472 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Cruise speed: 506 kn (585 mph, 940 km/h)
• Combat radius: 367 nmi (422 mi, 680 km)

CLICK HERE

For more F-4C data, Vietnam War era music, film clips and short history.

General Dynamics F-16 "Fighting Falcon"

The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multi role fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multi role aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976.[2] Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built for export customers. 

The F-16's General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
• Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed:
• At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,470 km/h)[57]
• At altitude: Mach 2[1] (1,320 mph, 2,120 km/h) clean configuration
• Combat radius: 340 mi (295 nmi, 550 km)on a hi-lo-hi mission with four 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs

9/11 and Beyond Exhibit. Focus on Camp's F-16. - 5 minutes.

CLICK HERE

For more F-16 data, 1990's era music, videos and short history.

Texas Military Museum - Rotary aircraft display along Mopac Expressway.

Rotary Aircraft Display

Our three iconic helicopters all served important roles in Vietnam and helped shape a complete new military doctrine.
Aircraft on display:

AH-1 "Cobra"  Attack Helicopter The first helicopter designed exclusively as an offensive weapon system. 

UH-1M "Huey" Utility Helicopter Improved from an earlier version, it had an extra brace for weapons mount.

UH-1H "Huey" Utility Helicopter The Vietnam War era workhorse, troop transport and Medivac helicopter.

The AH-1"Cobra", left and the UH-1M, "Huey", Right.

See links at the end of each plane to see more detailed data, actual vintage film clips, cockpit videos and music from the various time periods.

Example of videos on linked posts: The development of the helicopter as a vital component of the War in Vietnam. -1 minute.

This video explains the importance of helicopters in transporting and supporting troops in a modern ground war like Vietnam.

Music from the Vietnam era. The Top Songs of the 1960's. -10 minutes.

The decade of the 60's broke the boundaries of pop music from the 1950's and saw the growth and popularity of rock music. The music became a vital and unique connection between the troops in Vietnam and those protesting the war at home.

Bell AH-1 Cobra

 

The cobra is an armed escort and close support helicopter it was developed to replace the AH-56 a Cheyenne. It flew for the first time on September 7, 1965.  It's small size made it ideal for use in forward areas as it was easily concealed beneath small camouflage nets or under the cover of trees. The stub wings in addition to serving as a carriage for weapons also contributed to total lift during normal cruising flight. It was actually an extensive redesign of the Bell model 204 UH-1 Iroquois better known as the Huey. 

AH-1 General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Main rotor diameter: 44 ft
• Length: 53 ft 11.5 in with rotors
• Height: 12 ft 7 in
• Empty weight: 6,073 lbs
• Mission weight: 9,407 lbs
• Engine: Lycoming T53-L-13 turboshaft, 

In the Cobra the two man crew sit like in a jet fighter. One serves as the pilot while the other the gunner, sits is in the front.

The pilot's view while flying the Cobra. The gunner is seen siting in front.

CLICK HERE

For more AH-1 Cobra, data, Videos, Vietnam War era music and short history.

Bell UH-1M Huey

The first Huey's were  delivered to the Army in 1959.  While the official name is the Iroquois the original designation of the AHU-1 gave rise to the Huey nickname. The UH-1M was the same as the UH-1C with an upgraded engine it has a brace extending from the aft fuselage to the weapons mount it also has improved door hinge rotor with wide cord blades.

  

UH-1M General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Main rotor diameter: 48 ft
• Capacity: 3,880 lbs
• Length: 57 ft 9.5 in with rotors
• Height: 12 ft 7 in
• Empty weight: 5,071 lbs
• Mission weight: 9,499 lbs
• Engine: Lycoming T53-L-13 turboshaft, 
• Cruise speed: 148 mph 
• Range: 382 mi
• Ceiling: 11,500 ft 

CLICK HERE

For more UH-1M Huey with weapon mount, data, videos, Vietnam War era music and mini-gun display film.

Bell UH-1H Huey

Also known as the Bell model 205 UH-1H like the UH-1D before it, had a longer fuselage then the original Huey giving it room for to carry 14 Fully armed troops. The UH-1H was first delivered to the to the Army in September 1967, it is regarded as the workhorse helicopter of Vietnam. 

UH-1H General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Main rotor diameter: 48 ft
• Capacity: 3,880 lbs including 14 troops, or 6 stretchers, or equivalent cargo
• Length: 57 ft 9.5 in with rotors
• Height: 14 ft 6 in
• Empty weight: 5,210 lbs
• Mission weight: 9,039 lbs
• Engine: Lycoming T53-L-13 turboshaft, 
• Cruise speed: 127 mph 
• Range: 318 mi
• Ceiling: 11,500 ft 

CLICK HERE

For more UH-1H Huey as troop carrier, data, videos, Vietnam War era music and new helicopter warfare strategy.