Robins AFB

Robins AFB has the Museum of Aviation next to the base. Most of the airplanes statically displayed in the airshow were not be enclosed by fences. Many airplanes, including the USAF Thunderbirds, flow. However, they did not use all the sky because of the low cloud.

A-10 Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

Before the Gulf War, the A-10 was planned to be retired in the near future. However, it showed the capability to destroy ground targets efficiently, such as tanks. The A-10 is continuously used so far.

To install the 30 mm Gatling Gun in the nose, the front landing gear is not on the center line as show in the picture. Although the official nickname is Thunderbolt II, the A-10 is sometimes called Warthog because of its unusual appearance.

CF-104 Canadair CF-104 Starfighter

This Starfighter was built in Canada and was used in the Canadian Royal Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force. After that, it was imported to the United States.

This was the first time for me to see the Starfighter flying. The jet engine sometimes sounded like a sorrowful howl.

Starfighters Airshow Demonstration Team: official homepage for the Starfighters Airshow Demonstration Team

EA-6B Grumman EA-6B Prowler

The EA-6B Prowler is a tactical jamming aircraft, which provides an umbrella of protection for strike aircraft, ground troops and ships by jamming enemy radar, electronic data links and communications. Although the original aircraft, A-6, is a two-seater, the EA-6B has four seats for a pilot and three electronic countermeasures officers in the extended cockpit.

The probe shown in front of the cockpit is for aerial refueling. The Navy and Marine aircraft have this kind of probes.

B-52 Boeing B-52H Stratofortress

The B-52H is a long-range, large-payload multi-role bomber. The bomb bay was opened.

E-8C Boeing E-8C Joint STARS

"Joint STARS" means "Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System." The radar is under the fuselage.

The E-8C is based on the Boeing 707-300 commercial aircraft. We took pictures inside the aircraft.

RC-135 Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint

The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint is a reconnaissance aircraft, which supports theater and national level consumers with near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities. The "hog nose" makes it humorous. This aircraft is also based on the Boeing 707.

KC-10 McDonnell Douglas/Boeing KC-10 Extender

The KC-10 Extender is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft based on the McDonnell Douglas/Boeing DC-10. We entered the airplane using the gangway shown in the right. Something under the nose, probably an antenna, looks like a mouse. It makes the airplane attractive.

The KC-135 is another USAF tanker aircraft.

KC-10 Seats for boom operators in the KC-10

The room for the boom operators is located in the tail of the KC-10. The boom is visible through the window and has a wing probably for controlling the boom aerodynamically.

In the US Air Force, it is boom operator's responsibility to guide the end of the boom into the receptacle of a USAF aircraft. In the US Navy/Marine, on the other hand, a receiver needs to connect the probe of the aircraft to the basket from a tanker. A basket for Navy aircraft can be attached to the end of the boom beforehand.