"The Luke Air Force Base Air Park is dedicated to the men and women who proudly served at Luke and the heritage of freedom they imparted to our great nation." The nine airplanes on display are examples of the types that have served at Luke over the last sixty years. Luke is located west of Phoenix, Arizona.
Unfortunately, the Air Park is not easily accessible to the general public. Groups can arrange tours through the base public affairs office, but individuals need to know someone on base who can vouch for them.
Contact the Luke public affairs office through the Luke Air Force Base web site.
Most of the pictures below were taken in August 2004. The pictures that are indented were taken nearly twenty-five years earlier, in December 1979.
Ghost of the Past. This 2/3-scale
SPAD XIII wire frame model
is a memorial to 2nd Lt Frank Luke Jr., who shot down 18 enemy aircraft in just nine missions
in World War I. It was constructed from copper tubing by retired Master Sgt. Delbert G. "Lucky"
Styles and Staff Sgt. William Harrick Jr. in 1992.
North
American AT-6G Texan, 42-3984
Lockheed
T-33 Shooting Star, 58-0495
Republic F-84F
Thunderstreak, 52-6782 was painted as 52-6779 of the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds.
Twenty-five years ago, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, 52-6782 as 52-6779 of the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds in December 1979.
North
American F-86F Sabre, 52-5323
Twenty-five years ago, North American F-86F Sabre, 52-5323 was painted as 52-4530. It sat in a cactus garden across the street from the Air Force Base.
North
American F-100C Super Sabre, 73-0108
North
American F-100C Super Sabre, 73-0108
Twenty-five years ago, North American F-100C Super Sabre, 53-1716 was painted as 54-2009 of the U.S.A.F. Skyblazers aerial demonstration team.Link to the Air Force Museum page about the U.S.A.F. Skyblazers aerial demonstration team.
North American F-100C Super Sabre, 53-1716.
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
Twenty-five years ago, The old main gate guard shack can be seen behind the nose of Luftwaffe Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, 104-9012.
Tail markings on Luftwaffe Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, 104-9012.
Luftwaffe Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, 104-9012 was given U.S.A.F. insignia and the fictitious serial number 69-418 on the side facing the perimeter fence.
McDonnell-Douglas
F-4E Phantom II, 67-0327
McDonnell-Douglas
F-4E Phantom II, 67-0327
McDonnell-Douglas
F-4E Phantom II, 67-0327
McDonnell-Douglas
F-4E Phantom II, 67-0327 wears a red star on its intake splitter plate to commemorate
its downing of a MiG over Viet Nam in 1972.
McDonnell-Douglas
F-15B Eagle, 73-0108 was the first operational F-15 delivered to the Air Force. It
arrived at Luke in November 1974. I played hooky from high school to shoot a super-8
movie of its arrival.
McDonnell-Douglas
F-15B Eagle, 73-0108 was restored as it appeared when it was delivered to Luke
just two weeks before these pictures were taken. The first F-15s were delivered in
"Air Superiority Blue" livery. After a short while it was determined that a two-tone
gray camouflage was less visible in the gray skies over Europe.
McDonnell-Douglas
F-15B Eagle, 73-0108
General
Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon, 81-0687 was with the USAF Thunderbirds from 1984 to 1992. It was then transferred to the Singapore Air Force, which operated it at Luke AFB. It serves as a memorial to Lt. Brice Simpson, graduate of F-16 UPT in 1998. Simpson's name appears on the canopy rail.
General
Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon, 81-0687.
General
Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon, 81-0687 wears the badges of the squadrons that have flown
F-16s at Luke on its engine inlet.
Convair F-102A Delta Dagger, 56-1114 graced a pylon in front of the headquarters of NORAD.
Convair F-102A Delta Dagger, 56-1114 has since been transferred to the March Air Reserve Base Museum.
Link to the March Air Field Air Museum web site.
Republic F-105D Thunderchief 61-0188 was painted as 61-0217. Is a gate guard at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
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