The aircraft collection at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (Part 1 here) is quite special. There are several gems hidden among the more ordinary museum pieces.
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The OS2U Kingfisher is the aircraft most identifiable with the USS Alabama. However, it is rather poorly highlighted given the special nature of its connection and rarity (1 of 8 in the world).
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This next aircraft is a rare gem (1 of 2 existing); it is NOT an F-18. I have been looking for an example since 2000 when my future advisor, Dr. Arena at OSU, asked his stability and control class to identify the aircraft. I didn’t get it right.
![](https://charles-oneill.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_4332-1024x768.jpg)
One tell to know this is not an F-18 is the landing gear; this straight gear isn’t designed to survive a carrier landing. Another set of tells are the forward fuselage, chines, and canopy shape. The cobra insignia on the forward fuselage seals the tells.
![](https://charles-oneill.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_4358-768x1024.jpg)
The museum has an A-12, one of three (!!!) in Alabama. The other two are in Huntsville and Birmingham. For my logging purposes, the A12 has it’s own page.
![](https://charles-oneill.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_4374-1024x768.jpg)
There are examples of modern fighters, an F-15 and F-16, and some other examples spread across the 1950s-1980s including an AD-1 Skyraider and an A4 Skyhawk.
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The museum does include a B-52.
![](https://charles-oneill.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_4389-1024x768.jpg)
Students of aerospace structures should notice the buckling in the forward fuselage. This is normal given the thin walled construction.
![](https://charles-oneill.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_4396-1024x768.jpg)
The B-52 is also unique in that it is one of the few aircraft designed where the gear’s “yaw” angle is changed to allow a cross-wind landing. Can you name the other 3 aircraft that I have found over the years with main gear that rotate? Can you up my count of three? Let me know.
![](https://charles-oneill.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_4393-1024x768.jpg)