Old Bombers and Missiles

Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota

The air park outside the main gate of Grand Forks Air Force Base is satisfyingly varied, accessible, and free. All of the airplanes and missiles on display are carefully restored, at least on the outside, and all were flown or fired by the "Warriors of the North" at the base over many decades.

Visitors can touch and even walk under the largest airplanes, which include a KC-135 Stratotanker and and an ominously black B52G Stratofortress. There are two different helicopters mounted on poles, as well as jet and propellor-driven bombers. One, a B25J named "Flo," dates to World War II.

The Hound Dog air-to-surface missile on display had a supersonic shape so it could arrive at its target before the sound of its giant engine. Also here is a Minuteman III nuclear missile and its motorized Missile Transporter-Erector, which could drive a Minuteman around at 40 mph. Probably not tactically significant, but maybe fast enough to befuddle the Russians.