US Army Aviation Museum Ft. Rucker, Alabama

Earlier this year I had the privilege of visiting Ft. Rucker Alabama – home of US Army Aviation training. Basic piloting skills are trained here, then further training on the UH-60 Blackhawk, AH-64 Apache, and CH-46 Chinook are given as pilot skills are developed. It was great for me to see these machines again. Brought back a lot of memories of my time as a Cobra crew chief on Bell AH-1G and AH-1S attack helicopters

On base I discovered a wonderful museum dedicated to US Army Aviation – mostly vertical takeoff and landing craft and helicopters. I was able to spend a day and 1/2 touring the museum and it is one of the best museums I’ve seen. To gain access to the museum you just have to stop at the visitor center and provide a photo id. You also have to go through the normal security checks before being allowed on post. The museum includes several rare examples of vertical lift craft. I’ve tried to show some of those examples on this blog.

Since I was young I’ve always had a fascination of helicopters. I think I got that from my dad. I remember him telling me that if he could fly anything it would be a helicopter. Perhaps that fueled my decision to join the Army as a Cobra crew chief.

One of the unique airframes here is the 1st prototype of the Bell UH-1 Huey. Of the thousands of these produced it was incredible to see the very first one. The restoration for this airframe was outstanding. Great job to the museum staff for preserving such a wonderful piece of aviation history

The history of vertical flight is very well represented at this museum. Several unique airframes from the Ryan company, the Hughes company, the Bell Helicopter, and Sikorsky Helicopter companies are present. I had thought my knowledge of the helicopter and of vertical flight was rather substantial, but after walking through this museum I realized just how much I didn’t know. There are a few of the airframes that I’m still trying to research as to what they are or who manufactured them. Below are several pictures of vertical lift aircraft I had not seen or heard of before.

This is an exclusive special operations variant of the UH-60L known as a DAP (Direct Action Penetrator) In 1993 Super 68 participated in Operation Gothic Serpent and was one of three Blackhawk helicopters shot down during the incident known as The Battle of Mogadishu.The UH-60 Blackhawk shown was actually involved in the battle that the movie “Blackhawk Down” was based on. Very interesting.

This is the RAH-64 Comanche. There were only two of these produced. This was the first attempt at introducing stealth into a helicopter airframe. I heard the rotor blades are not included in the display because they contain technology that the Army doesn’t want anyone to see. I was also told the museum has the one other airframe in storage. I wish the museum could display this in another location. There’s just no really good angles to photograph this unique helicopter. I have added the information board below.

The aircraft show below is one of the most unique in the museum. Having been in aviation for my entire adult life I was drawn to this airplane as I had never heard of or seen anything like it. This is the Lockheed YO-3. It is based on a modified Schweitzer SGS-2-32 glider which Lockheed originally produced 2 for testing. After successful tests in Vietnam the company produced 11 with the YO-3 designation. These airplanes were used for observation and calling out North Vietnamese troop movements during a 14 month period between 1970 and 1971. The airplanes had long wings and a large canopy along with many sound proofing technologies which gave it a very quiet operation. Many of these flights were conducted below a 1000 feet AGL (above ground level). Some flights were conducted as low as 200 feet AGL without being detected.

Nine of the eleven produced served in Vietnam. Six of the original eleven airframes exist today. This example is SN 18000.

The museum also houses some vintage and WWI aircraft. Examples are shown below.

Ryan VZ-3 Vertiplane. Built by the Ryan Aeronautical company the R92 – company name – was an experimental vertical / short take off aircraft.

This type is definitely the most familiar to me. I crewed both the Bell AH-1G and AH-1S models during my enlistment in the US Army.

Summary

This museum has so much to offer anyone who is interested in vertical flight – both helicopters and airplanes. There are several unique rare airframes here. It was great seeing the Cobra models again. Brought back a lot of memories.

Special shout out to docent and former US Army Aviator Jim Yanz. Thanks for all your help researching some of these airplanes for me.

Thanks for reading

God Bless