Date: 1954- ca.1962
Country of Origin: United States of America
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 1/2 in. long x 76 13/16 in. diameter (16.51 x 195.07cm)
Other (Span): 20 in. (50.8cm)
Other (Loaded, object is empty): 110 lb. (49.9kg)
Materials:
Magnesium skin with body and fins of glass fiber-reinforced phenolic plastic
This is the Falcon, or GAR-1 (Guided Aircraft Rocket), the first of a large family of U.S. air-to-air solid-fuel guided missiles and the first guided air-to-air missile to enter operational service. GAR-1 was radar-guided. The missile had a range of up to five miles and speed of about Mach 2.8. Designed to destroy enemy bombers, it was carried on the F-89-H, F-102A, and F-106A interceptor aircraft.
Development of the Falcon began in 1947 and it became operational with the U.S. Air Force in 1956. In 1962 GAR-1 was re-designated AIM-4 (Air Interceptor Missile). Several more AIM models later appeared. NASM acquired the missile in 1958 from its developer, the Hughes Aircraft Co.
Gift of Hughes Aircraft Co.
