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Ellsworth Airbase, and the South Dakota Air and Space Museum
    From the outside, it looks a bit as if a gigantic child had left his toy plane collection lying around. On the inside, there are rocket motors, mock ups, aircraft simulators, and scores of aircraft models, as well as various other exhibits. It is the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, and is definitely worth a visit, if you are passing anywhere nearby. It is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB, off of exit 67 on I90.



Having just visited the Minuteman Missile, NHS, it was interesting to see the display offered by the Museum. This is the commander's console, looking very much like the real thing. There are some slight differences; but these might be the results of updating, or equipment changes.

The deputy commander's console looks identical to that which I just visited at the Minuteman Missile NHS. This mock up was not done originally for tourists. this had initially all been part of a Minuteman Missile trainer.

Part of the elaborate communications system which linked the various components of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

This is a section of the intersite connection cable used between the various components of the Minuteman system at it's inception. The system was not totally dependent on the cable, as all of the units could  be linked by radio.

The second stage unit from a Minuteman missile.

These are the rocket engines from the solid fueled  Minuteman missile.

For comparison, this is the rocket engine from a liquid fueled Titan missile. The Titans were long ago retired as a nuclear deterrent; but are still used in what is left of the space program.

This is the shell of a B-83 nuclear bomb. It is the second most powerful bomb in the U.S. arsenal, with a yield of 1.2 mt --- the same as that of the W-56 mounted on the Minuteman.

This is the Genie, the first air launchable nuclear rocket. IT first flew in 1955, and was in service by 1957. This unguided rocket was retired in 1984. It carried a W-25, 1.7 kt warhead.



A shot through a Plexiglas canopy, surrounding a mockup of a B-1 cockpit.

This photo, as well as the one below, are from a trainer. They are mock ups of the rear compartment of a B-1 bomber. These are the weapons officers stations.

An EWO station from a mock up of a B-1 bomber rear compartment.

A cutaway of a J-47 jet engine.

This is a trainer for the Delta Dart. This was an all weather fighter, which was capable of firing the nuclear tipped Genie rocket.

The cockpit of the Delta Dart trainer.

One of the earlier guided missiles. This is the Mace. It is long retired; but was quite the ground breaking weapon when it was first introduced.

This is an older style target drone.

The interior of the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. The interior exhibits are housed in a pair of connected former aircraft hangers.
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