Great Falls, MT, USA - August 2013
Twisting effortlessly in the breezes blowing through Great Falls sits this North American F-86A Sabre. Barely visible from the highway, its almost the only indication
there's an airport nearby. (Trevor McTavish)
If you actually approach the airport, you'll notice a handful of Cold War-era aircraft from the Montana Air National Guard, including this Northrop F-89 Scorpion. (Trevor
McTavish)
The F-89 is anything but attractive, but it was one of the USAF's first all-weather jet interceptors, and it was capable of being armed with nuclear missiles. (Trevor
McTavish)
When the Montana Air National Guard upgraded from the F-89s, their new mount was the supersonic Convair F-102. Although the ANG does have an F-102 in their collection, we
could only see its tail as it was parked airside next to the current F-15s. The F-102 was followed by the faster F-106, which the ANG also has on display in their airpark.
(Trevor McTavish)
To me, the F-106 was the epitomy of the "go fast" look that characterized the Century Series. It just screams "look at me, I'll break the sound barrier with ease."
(Trevor McTavish)
Slower than the F-106, but no less important was the squadron's Lockheed T-33. Used as a general purpose hack and trainer, the T-33 was unsung backbone of the USAF
fighter command. According to the plaque, this particular T-33 was rare in that it was delivered to the Montana ANG right from the Lockheed factory and stayed in Great Falls
until its retirement. (Trevor McTavish)
Obviously the State's motto of "Big Sky Country" had to be incorporated into the final paint scheme. (Trevor McTavish)
Sometimes it pays to read the signage accompanying an airplane. This F-16A might look like every other F-16, but its a Gulf War veteran, and was used during the ceremony
that saw the name "Fighting Falcon" finally adopted as the type's official name. (Trevor McTavish)