Spotted - B-2 Spirit Flying Wing

Finally had a chance to see the majestic B-2 Spirit in flight. In this case AV-5 - 82 -1070, Spirit of Ohio who thrilled the crowds with a fly-by during AirExpo 2012 at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

NASA 941 - Aerospacelines Super Guppy Visiting Seattle

Fantastic day today as we got to see another icon of aviation. NASA 941 (NA941),  the last operational Airbus Industries 377SGT-F Super Guppy paid Seattle a visit today. A fly-by over the city followed by a stop at the Museum of Flight to deliver the the first piece of the Space Shuttle Full Fuselage Trainer, it was a show for young and old. What a treat!

Douglas B-18 Bolo at the McChord Air Museum

Last night I was reading about the role the B-18 Bolo played in the Caribbean as submarine patrol during World War II and remembered that we have one of the six remaining examples close by at the McChord Air Museum. Although not open to the general public, back in 2008 I had the chance to take a peek at this forgotten warbird during the airshow. You can learn a bit more about the U-boat war in the Caribbean at the Ramey Air Force Base Historical Association's site.

The Douglas DC-3s at San Juan International Airport

For me, no trip to the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico can be complete without taking a few minutes to enjoy the old DC-3s sitting on the back of the airport. These planes belonged to Four Star Air Cargo, a defunct cargo airline that operated between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands beween 1982 and 2009.

N131FS now sits quietly on a corner awaiting it's fate.

Madrid's Barajas Airport in the Mid 1950's

A Sud Aviation Caravelle and a De Havilland Comet sit quietly outside Madrid's Barajas airport terminal sometime in the mid-1950's. This is what I found this morning while browsing long forgotten travel albums.

Pan Am Boeing 707-321B

One of Pan Am's 707s sitting on a hot tarmac in Mejico's Yucatan Peninsula back in the Summer of 1975. What a sight! This was both my last flight on a Boeing 707 and the last time I boarded a Pan American Airways flight. That was a little over 35 years ago! For a long while I've had this vague memory of taking these two photos. Now they are here courtesy of my mother who saved so many of the photos I took back in the 1970's.

 
I do not remember the details but it looks like the mechanics had to take a look at one of the Pratt & Whitney JT3D low-bypass turbofans before the trip across the Caribbean Sea to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I am still wondering how I managed to get that close. How times have changed!

The Museum of Flight's Boeing B-47 Stratojet

Considered by some as one of the most important planes in Boeing history, the B-47 was the first large aircraft to incorporate swept wings and pod-mounted jet engines. Two major innovations that are all too familiar to all of us who fly commercial airliners today. In service since 1951, it pre-dates the well known B-52 that we mentioned on an earlier post. Following it's military career this particular airframe was stripped of it's combat equipment and converted for weather reconnaissance reclassifying it as a WB-47E. These days it sits proudly at the entrance to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

The Museum of Flight's Boeing B-52 G at Paine Field

Coming across a B-52 bomber is not an everyday occurrence. That is unless you work around Paine Field in Everett, Washington. This is where the Museum of Flight stores it's Stratofortress. This "G" model was one of 110 to saw combat duty during the Vietnam War as part of operation Bullet Shot/Linebacker. Contemporary versions of this amazing airframe continue to serve the U.S. Air Force 50 years after it's introduction. It is sad to see it deteriorating out there. Perhaps one day it will join it's predecessors the B-47, B-29, and B-17 in a facility where the public can enjoy them as a collection.

T Square 54 B-29A Superfortress

I have always had a soft spot for the B-29 Superfortress. Not only because it was a definitive leap forward in aircraft design but because of it's role in ending World War II. Back in the 90's when I first moved to the Puget Sound, I used to stop by the Museum of Flight to see T Square 54, the B-29A (s/n 44-69729) in their collection. This morning I found a photo of it in one of my old albums. Back in those days it sat proudly in front of the museum. It was later moved to a location away from public eyes for a much needed restoration. These days it sits "cocooned" right next to the museum. Let's hope the museum finds a suitable location to once again share this great artifact with younger generations.

Hughes H-4 Hercules

I had a chance to watch the movie The Aviator a few days ago. It reminded me of my visit to the Evergreen Aviation Museum to see the Hughes H-4 Hercules. The scale of it is hard to grasp but the reason it was built in the first place is harder still. The movie certainly helped to put things into perspective. Even as a failue, I think it is still an important achievent in aviation history. It was great to have a chance to see it.

The plane anchors the main collection at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

Atlantis STS-135 Last Space Shuttle Launch

Well, Atlantis is in orbit. Here are my favorite scenes from today's launch:

Concorde G-BOAG at Seattle's Museum of Flight

Independently of it financial failure and environmental drawbacks, the Concorde was such a technological achievement. I was just a kid back in 1976 when I first had a chance to see a Concorde fly overhead. It would be another 27 years before I would have another chance to see one in the air. In 2003 the Museum of Flight was fortunate enough to secure Concorde G-BOAG for it's collection. I took the afternoon off just to get an opportunity to see another flyover and hear those Rolls Royce Olympus engines. It was truly a memorable day. These days "Alpha Golf" sits quietly in the Air Park along East Marginal Way.  The definitive symbol of a by-gone era in luxury air travel.

A Taylor Aerocar III at Seattle's Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington has a Taylor Aerocar III on display. The Aerocar is a two-place roadable aircraft with removable wings and a Lycoming engine mounted over the rear wheels. The propeller is mounted at the end of a long tail cone. Both the cone and the wings were towed behind the vehicle when driving to the airport. It could cruise at around 100 mph, and it initially sold for $25,000. You can find more information about this unusual "car" at the EAA Air Venture Museum site.

Click on the images to enlarge

From My Attic - Aero Mini DC 8-61

There is one keepsake in this series that holds a special place in my collection and that is my Aero Mini DC 8-61. One in a series of cool miniature planes sold during 60 - 70's (some history here). Made out of die cast Zinc, it includes all the necessary sharp edges to makes it an attractive toy for any kid of the era. Mine displays Eastern Airlines "jockey stick" livery. Eastern was the primary commercial carrier for many years where I grew up. It evokes those early days of the jet age and for me, my first trip on a plane. It is a great reminder of where my lifelong passion for travel got started.

Number 1 engine seems to be smoking a little - The product of using a match to simulate smoke

Crazy kids...