Open: Saturday & Sunday: 10:30am to 4:00pm, Wednesday – Friday: 10:30am to 3:00pm.
Piasecki HUP-2 “Retriever”
The Retriever, in use by the Navy from 1950 to 1956, had a tandem-rotor configuration and a small compact fuselage that enabled the helicopter to be stowed without having to fold back the rotor blades.
At the height of their career, they were aboard all aircraft carriers of the U.S. fleet for rescue operations.
The Retriever on display here, Bureau #128517, was rescued from a field in Brandywine, PA, and restored with the kind assistance and generosity of Carson Helicopters of Perkasie, PA, in 1998. It was cleaned, polished, and returned to the Museum display area in December 2021″. THEN remove the sentence that it was taken off-line.
Aircraft Specifications
Bureau #: 128517
Built: 1952
Crew: 2
Passengers: 3
Retired: 1963
Received: 1997
Restored by:
Restored:
Length: 31′ 10″
Height: 12′ 6″
Rotospan: 35′
Weight Empty: 4,121 lbs
Weight Loaded: 6,100 lbs
Powerplant: Continental R75-42 Radial Engine
Thrust: 550 hp
Max Speed: 108 mph
Range: 360 miles
Manufacturer: Piasecki
Armarment: NA
Ordnance: NA
Ceiling: 12,700 ft
Status: On Display
Fairchild-Republic A10 “Thunderbolt” or “Warthog”
McDonnell-Douglas A4 “Skyhawk”
Grumman C-1A “Trader”
McDonnell-Douglass F/A-18A “Hornet”
Chance-Vought F7U-3 “Cutlass”
Republic F-84F “Thunderstreak”
Vought F8U-1 “Crusader”
Grumman F9F-2 “Panther”
North American FJ-4B “Fury”
Fokker D.VIII “Eindecker”
Bell H-13G “Sioux”
Piasecki HUP-2 “Retriever”
Pitcairn PA-8 “Super Mailwing”
Lockheed P-3B “Orion”
Kaman SH-2G “Sea Sprite”
Beechcraft T-34B “Mentor”
Lockheed P-80C / TV-1 “Shooting Star”
Bell UH-1V Iroquois “Huey”
Sikorsky UH-34D “Sea Bat” and “Sea Horse”
Convair YF-2Y “Sea Dart”
QH-50C Drone Anti-Sub Helicopter “D.A.S.H.”
McDonnell Douglas F-4 “Phantom”
The Exhibition
Located in Horsham Pennsylvania, The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum has a unique and historically significant collection of aircraft and artifacts. In addition to the aircraft, helicopters, and jets, our exhibition includes flight helmets, vintage and modern aviation flight gear, engines, air to air missiles, bombs, detailed aircraft models, vintage Martin Baker ejection seats, and flight simulators. Honoring those who have served our Nation, we are privileged to have an extensive collection of military service medals.
Our collection includes aircraft from the early days of flight, The First World War, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, and the ongoing defense of our Nation. Simply put, Wings of Aviation has one of the greatest collections of restored aircraft in the northeast.
Current Exhibit:
Consistently restoring and adding new aircraft to our collection, our exhibit includes the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, and Bell UH-1V “Huey”. Our indoor collection includes aircraft from the early days of flight, helicopters, aircraft from World War I, engines, helmets, Medals of honor, detailed models, flight gear, flight simulators, and more.
While the name Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum has a relatively short history, the beginnings of displaying aircraft at Willow Grove began shortly after World War II. In May 1946, Lieutenant-Commander David Ascher arrived at Naval Air Station Willow Grove… Read More
Located in Horsham Pennsylvania, Wings of Freedom is open year-round Wednesday through Sunday. We are located along Route 611 between Maple Avenue and County Line Road in Horsham, approximately thirty minutes north of Philadelphia. Plan Your Visit
THE MUSEUM | THE EXHIBIT | PLAN YOUR VISIT | HISTORY | LOCATION | MEMBERSHIP | DONATE | TOURS
The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum is open all year, with walk-ins always welcome, guided visits, and tours for large groups. Located in Montgomery County, we are right next door to Bucks, Delco, and Chester Counties, close to Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. With nature, parks, eateries, dining establishments, shopping, and theme parks close to the museum, Wings of Aviation is the perfect destination or ingredient of a family day out.
