Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

[Rhilton4u]

Snapped these yesterday...any comments, critques or suggestions are much appreciated.

Scale Model of USS Hancock (CV-19) Inside the Museum:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4422224248_a977aa0689_o.jpg

Grumman A6E Intruder:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4422243630_692dc975a3_o.jpg

Bell AH-1JL Seacobra:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4422243410_ab2558f48a_o.jpg

Grumman E-2B Hawkeye:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4422243222_9cda30632d_o.jpg

Grumman F-14A Tomcat:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4421476601_907c953548_o.jpg

Nose of the Boeing X-32C Joint Strike Fighter:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4421473541_4b7848bd16_o.jpg

Sidewinder Air to Air Missle on a F/A-18A:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4422234480_31394e2199_o.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

Good shots from there. How long is that model of the Ranger?

[RadAL]

I like how the window of the F14 isn't painted over.

[ChasWG]

None of those aircraft have their windows painted over. The Intruder is just covered in dirt so it looks like bad paint. The sun will eventually destroy the interiors of those displays.

I'd clone out the sign in front of the Tomcat if it were me. Easily done.

[Rhilton4u]

Good shots from there. How long is that model of the Ranger?Not sure specifically but if I was to take a guess I'd say it's somewhere in the range of 6 or 7 feet. They are original shipbuilder concept models and the detail is incredible. I would have taken more of them but the glass casing on the sides were awful, that's why I only got shots from this angle.

None of those aircraft have their windows painted over. The Intruder is just covered in dirt so it looks like bad paint. The sun will eventually destroy the interiors of those displays.

I'd clone out the sign in front of the Tomcat if it were me. Easily done.The outside aircraft displays are indeed suffering. The sun and bird droppings are taking their toll. The museum was supposed to have a new building erected back in 2006 but they apparently are lacking funds. The Harrier Jet at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico came from this place and is in much better shape.

Thought I had 8 images in this thread. Oh well, here's a look at the whole aircraft from #6 in the opening post. It's the Boeing X32B...the Joint Strike Fighter that lost out to the Lockheed Martin X35 which is now apparently too expensive to build.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4422239590_83823393de_o.jpg

[Magic 24]

While onboard the USS Saratoga, CV60, two A6 Intruders dropped a similar payload to the one in your photo. I will never forget the awesome power that 36x500 pounders have, even though, they were two miles away. Out at sea, the Captain decided to have an Air Show. When they hit the water and exploded...it didn't seem like much - until the sound and shock wave caught up to what the eye could see. Rattled my bones!! Glad I wasn't on the receiving end of the raw power the Intruder could produce!!

Nice pics too!

Andy

[Rhilton4u]

While onboard the USS Saratoga, CV60, two A6 Intruders dropped a similar payload to the one in your photo. I will never forget the awesome power that 36x500 pounders have, even though, they were two miles away. Out at sea, the Captain decided to have an Air Show. When they hit the water and exploded...it didn't seem like much - until the sound and shock wave caught up to what the eye could see. Rattled my bones!! Glad I wasn't on the receiving end of the raw power the Intruder could produce!!

Nice pics too!

AndyIntruders certainly weren't as glamourous as most aircraft in the world with it's bulbous nose and big refueling rod sticking out, but they certainly got the job done and had a long service life in the U.S. Navy. And God help any poor soul that ended up on the business end of it's payload.

[By-tor]

Thats the X-32B that I towed while stationed at Little Rock AFB... Great shots...

[FLphotoguy]

The X-32B didn't fare well in the competition for the JSF.