We spent a good six or seven hours at the USAF in Dayton yesterday. An awesome museum - a huge museum. First on the itinerary was to line up to pass security and get tickets onto the Airforce Base to go to the hangar that houses Air Force One and research and development air craft.
We began in the early aircraft section, moved through aircraft during the Wars, saw the VI and V2 rockets, swiftly guided the children through the section about the Jewish persecution - didn't want to expose them to too much there, and onto Space travel. It was a revelation to me that I enjoyed it all so very much. It made me think about being a Year 9 modern history student - studying the World Wars, understanding it all, but not really 'getting it'. If this (and other museums like it, say the Imperial War Museum in London - geez that was an awesome place) had been around and able to be visited during my studies, I would have excelled. these places really bring history, and in some respects the present, to life - more tangible. I am ever so grateful my children are getting this experience.
We were delayed in leaving around 4:30pm as a line of storms were passing through, and had been advised not to head out in the weather. Our plans for visiting Tecumseh (outdoor drama about the native American leader of the Shawnee) were canned due to some freaky lightning and rain. Oh well - never mind.
Some photos of USAF
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| 1960's Air Force One - the plane where LBJ was sworn in after JFK was assassinated. |
The "Goblin" - a small fighter plane designed to be carried on board the large strategic bombers.
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| Experimental 'flying saucer' shaped aircraft |
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| The low nose cones and wings were dangerous to some taller people - although it was Benedict who clipped his head on a plane! |
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| Air Force Base entrance |
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| V2 rocket |
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| Little Boy (left) Fat Man (right) - replicas, obviously - with the "Bockscar" in the background: the bomber that carried the Fat Man to Nagasaki. |
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| Thermonuclear bomb - and my four 'doodlebugs' - they are all agents of destruction! |
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| Apollo 15 re-entry capsule - the real deal!!!! The bottom was charred!!!!! |
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| The craft that took the 1st chimpanzee into space |
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| close up of chimp all swaddled and strapped in |
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| Real moon rock (positioned under the medallion) - cannot wait to get to the Smithsonian where I believe we can actually touch a moon rock! |
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| Gemini re-entry capsule, and some strange kid photobombing |
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| Minuteman missile and other dual purpose rockets - nuclear destruction and space program. After visiting the Minuteman site it was incredible to see the rockets, and the kids immediately knew what they were and their purpose. I so love that they contextualise so easily!! |
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| Strato Fortress - bombers containing nuclear warheads designed to stay in the atmosphere for days at a time - hence the fuel efficient propellers |
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| Itty Bitty Sputnik - basketball-sized! The original "machine that goes 'ping'". |
