US Air Force Museum
Early Years Gallery

Avro 504K
Bleriot Monoplane
Boeing P-26A Peashooter
Caproni Ca.36 Bomber
Curtiss 1911 Model D
Curtiss JN-4D Jenny
Curtiss O-52 Owl
DeHavilland Tiger Moth
Fairchild BT-19
Fokker Dr. I
Fokker D. VII
Halberstadt CL IV
Hawker Hurricane
Martin B-10 Bomber

Martin MB 2
Nieuport N-28C
North American BT-14 (NA-64)
North American O-47B Observation Plane
Northrop A-17A
Packard LePere LUSAC
Sopwith F-1 Camel
Spad XIII
Standard J-1
World War I
Wright 1909 Military Flyer

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United States Air Force Museum Early Years Gallery

The Early Years Gallery is an eclectic mix of early biplanes through pre WWII all metal monoplanes. Some of the biplanes are excellent reproductions and a few are originals. The BT-14 trainer crash diorama is very well done and amusing. The color pattern on the Fokker D. VII is quite striking. The Standard J-1 is very impressive as it's translucent fabric reveals a good deal of the internal ribs and spars of the wing. The staff have done a good job with the lighting.

But oddly the exhibit that seemed most striking was the observation balloon hanging from the ceiling. It is dark and dimly lit and you are not entirely aware of it at first, but it seems very large and ominous. The Hawker Hurricane diorama is excellent, but I thought that aircraft should have been in the WWII Air power gallery. This is a wonderful gallery for those fans of early biplanes and related artifacts.