Air Force Armament Museum

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GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon on display at the Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida.
GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon on display at the Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida.

The Air Force Armament Museum, adjacent to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the only facility in the U.S. dedicated to the display of Air Force armament. It was founded in 1975 and was originally located in a converted gymnasium on the northeastern edge of the Eglin main base, adjacent to Valparaiso, Florida.

Visitors can view a variety of historical Air Force planes, from a World War II B-17 bomber to an F-4 Phantom II jet. Other aircraft include the SR-71 Blackbird, A-10, C-47, B-25, T-33, P-47, P-51, F-15, F-16, F-80, F-84, F-86, F-89, F-100, F-101, F-104, F-105, F-111, RB-47, RF-4, O-2, C-131, B-52, B-57, and a Soviet MiG-21.

A wide variety of bombs, missiles, and rockets are exhibited, including the newest air-to-air missile, the AMRAAM, and the GBU-28 bunker-buster developed for use during Operation Desert Storm. Other missiles include the Paveway series, Falcons, the Tomahawk, Mace, Hound-dog, radar-controlled, laser-controlled and several guided by a TV camera in the nose. Also on display is the GBU-43 MOAB, Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or by its nickname, "Mother of All Bombs", the world's largest conventional explosive weapon.

A gun vault displays a variety of weapons ranging from a 1903 Springfield rifle to the GAU-8, which is capable of shooting 6,000 rounds per minute. Featured here is the Sikes Antique Pistol Collection, with over 180 handguns, including flintlocks, duelling pistols, Western six-shooters, Civil War pistols, and a wide variety of early military weaponry.

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