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 Welcome
to The AMC Museum
The
C-141A Starlifter! |
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| This "A" model C-141 is the very first built, its maiden flight taking place on 17 December 1963, the 60th Anniversary of the Wright brothers first flight. Added to the collection in February 1998, it takes its place beside the C-141B already on display. This Starlifter spent its entire career as a test aircraft in numerous programs. Starlifters served as America's primary strategic airlifter until the C-5 Galaxy came along. It carried troops, equipment and supplies, and transported patients to U.S. hospitals. The Starlifter was the first jet transport from which U.S. Army paratroopers jumped and was the first to land in the Antarctic. A Starlifter also established the world record for heavy cargo drops of 70,195 pounds. | |
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Starting in 1979, most C-141As were converted to C-141Bs. Now visitors can immediately see the air-refueling receptacle and the twenty-five foot longer fuselage that makes the “B” model distinctively different from the “A” model. By 1982, 270 of these planes had been converted. Because of the conversion, there are only four "A" models left today. Just before being retired to the AMC Museum it was used to tow an F-106 fighter on a 1,000-foot-long towrope as a test to study the feasibility of launching the next generation of Space Shuttles from in-flight. Replaced by the C-5 for carrying oversized loads, the C-141 fleet is now retired after more than 35 years of service. |
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The Air Mobility Command Museum 1301 Heritage Rd. Dover AFB, DE 19902 302-677-5938 amcmuseum.org museum@dover.af.mil |
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Closed Mondays and Federal Holidays |