The Planes of Fame Air Museum is located at the Chino, California, airport. The museum was founded in 1957 by Edward T. Maloney with just 10 airplanes. Today the museum has over 150 aircraft, of which more than 50 are flyable. The Mission of Planes of Fame Air Museum is to preserve aviation history, inspire interest in aviation, educate the public, and honor aviation pioneers and veterans.
Military aviation really came of age during World War I. During the two decades are so between the First World War and the Second World War, the military continued to develop and refine military aircraft, particularly fighters. Shown below are some of the American fighters from this era between the two wars.
Boeing P-26A Peashooter
The P-26A was the first all-metal monoplane fighter used by the U.S. Army Air Corps and it was the last to have fixed landing gear. It had a maximum speed of 234 mph and could cruise at 199 mph. It had a range of 360 miles.
Boeing FB-5
The FB-5 was the first fighter designed specifically for carrier operations. The design was based on studies of the German Fokker D.VII which had been brought back to the United States following World War I. The plane first flew in 1926 and in 1927, 27 were delivered to the U.S. Navy. The plane was retired in 1928 when the Navy standardized aircraft for shipboard operations, requiring an air-cooled radial-engine.
Boeing P-12/F4B
The Boeing P-12/F4B was a fighter plane designed and used between World War I and World War II. This was the last biplane fighter produced for the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Seversky 2PA-204a/AT-12
Alexander de Seversky founded the Seversky Aircraft Company in Farmingdale, New York in 1931. The company was awarded its first military contract in 1936 for the production of the Seversky P-35 pursuit aircraft. In 1937, they developed a two-seat version of the P-35 which was designated 2PA Convoy Fighter.
More Airplanes
Yanks Air Museum: An Overview (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: Multiple Engine Aircraft (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: Observation Aircraft (Photo Diary)
Planes of Fame: The Flying Fortress (Photo Diary)
Planes of Fame: Some Naval Aircraft (Photo Diary)
Planes of Fame: Japanese Airplanes (Photo Diary)
Planes of Fame: Air Racers (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Museum of Flight (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: World War II Airplanes (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Olympic Flight Museum (Photo Diary)
