This Kaman helicopter is on display at the museum since 1983.

On display at the museum since 1983.

Delivered to the US Army (not the Air Force) in January 1956. Later to the US Department of Agriculture as N43862. Was on display at the Castle Air Museum by August 1981.

Acquired by the United States Air Force Museum circa 1980 as N230GB, and loaned to the Castle Air Museum shortly thereafter. It was restored in these authentic markings. The "7th Heaven" nose art is only painted on the other side.

Tail markings have faded, but serial "477575" and code "Dinjan - 13" can still be read. Dinjan refers to RAF Dinjan in India, which from 1942 until 1945 was used by the USAAF Air Transport Command as an auxiliary airfield to nearby Chabua, and where a few transport units were based. The badge next to the roundel says "Air Transport Command - Army Air Forces". Also note the "Tiger Fleet" titles on the fuselage. This Curtiss Commando is ex N54510 and was donated to the museum in 1983 by Fred Patterson III.

A more recent acquisition, delivered to the museum on 5 December 2007.

On display at the museum since early 1983.

This Lodestar is ex N102V and it was donated to the museum by owner Gary Larkins in 1984. Until recently it was on display as 1373 of the South African Air Force, which was historically correct (it served as such with the SAAF from 1940 until 1945). It is seen here being prepared for a repaint, with the serial and most of the paint already removed, but the SAAF markings still present. By 2014 it had been repainted as "254" of the SAAF, which unfortunately is a fake serial.

This Canuck was delivered to the museum on 20 January 1982.

Delivered to the USAF in 1953 as a C-45G (rebuilt from an AT-7). Converted to an RC-45G the following year, then to an RC-45H in 1958. Became N87681 in 1963 and went through several governmental owners. Was on display at the museum by September 1982, initially in camo markings as "44588" and coded "V". Later repainted in these authentic markings.

Salvaged from NAWS China Lake, CA and brought to the museum in 1980. For reasons unknown it has been fitted with a B-45C canopy.

has been on display at the Castle Air Museum as 'Thunderbird #6' for many years. In 2013 she was restored and repainted. The restoration was funded by 1972 TB solo pilot Steve Dwelle 'Thunderbird 5', hence tailnumber #5

This is ex N13744, former Hemet Valley Tanker 86. It came to the museum in 1993 and was initially displayed in its airtanker markings. By May 2000 that paint had been removed, and by Sep 2003 it had been restored in its original USAF markings as seen here.

This Convair is pretending to be a HC-131A, but in fact it's a Convair 240-11 (ex N280P) which never saw any military service. It was donated to the Castle Air Museum in 1999 and registered to them as N280P on 23 Jun 1999. By Dec 2003 it had been restored in nice USCG markings as "5785". By Jul 2008 those markings had been removed in preparation of a repaint, which is seen in progress in this photo. By Oct 2011 it was back in now very poorly done USCG markings, again as "5785".

While in service with the USAF, this Albatross was loaned to Pan Am in 1969. It operated a weekly service as PA163 from Mombasa, Kenya to a satellite tracking station at Mahe, Seychelles, on a joint contract with the Philco Radio Corp. and the US government. It flew in bare metal as "0-17163", with a Pan Am logo on the nose. It was withdrawn from use on 3 Nov 1971, and stored at Long Beach, CA. It became N70725 in Sep 1977, and in 1987 it was restored to flying condition and flown to the Castle Air Museum, where it was restored in the markings seen here. The Albatross was first noted on display as such in Nov 1988.

This Phantom served with the Thunderbirds until December 1973, when it went to Edwards AFB for use an an NF-4E chase plane. Its last flight as such was on 21 March 1991, and it went to AMARC a few days later. It was delivered to the Castle Air Museum in January 1995 and placed on display as Thunderbird "6" in April of that year. It actually flew as such in 1972/1973.

In Mar 1957 this gigantic 10-engined B-36 was delivered to Chanute AFB for use as an instructional ground airframe. This lasted until 1970, when it was transferred to the United States Air Force Museum. They loaned the aircraft back to the Chanute AFB collection and it was placed on display there in Sep 1971, falsely painted "492065". In 1990 it was dismantled for transport to the Castle Air Museum, where it arrived on 27 Oct 1990, reportedly in 167 sections. It was stored there in dismantled condition until reassembly in 1993/1994. The work was completed in Oct 1994. The tail number 113730 is on the fin, but it is hard to read due to the flaking paint.

Arrived at the museum in 1981.

Ex N880L, acquired by the United States Air Force Museum in 1981 and loaned to the Castle Air Museum. It was placed on display in August of that year.

Painted in fake markings. This Invader is ex USAAF 41-39472. Struck off charge in August 1957, it became N86482 in 1963 and was illegally sold to the El Salvador Air Force as 601 in August 1969. It had been withdrawn from service by 1972 and was sold as N26VC in April 1974 and flown from El Salvador to San Diego, CA that same month. The Invader was eventually delivered to the Castle Air Museum on 26 October 1980, where it was first displayed as "24-6093". This was later changed to the markings seen here.