I am surprised that SR-71 was on public display in 1974. Were Soviets not allowed in 🙂

Just as much I’m surprised that F-15 and F-16 were on public display in 1976, the year they entered service.

Just seems too early considering the secrecy and heat of cold war. Those were three top aircraft of US air force.

love to see pic like that though!

thanks for posting!

I think Soviets were not allowed to travel abroad in 1976. USSR spies certainly were there…or could have been.

The F-15 was in bicentennial colors and F-16 IIRC ( seemed to have been the YF-17 ). I remember the whole bunch of us were Finnish Air Force employed people…except me…I was accompanied with my dad…I was 14.

This is what I saw; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYM4oDWrcsY

I think the Hawk trainer was in the sight of the finnish pilots then…YF-17 was just fresh proto back then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Hawk

Alpha jet was one of the candidates too…and Saab 105.