Aviation MegaThread!!!!

Those nose wheel Beech 18's (I can't remember the designation) were modified from the taildragger config to the nose wheel config. I don't know what the reason was but I'm quite sure it was an aftermarket mod. Probably had to do with easier operating. Taildragger versus nose wheel.

The guys I spoke too seemed to like the re-engined Beeches. Way less problems in the cold operating a turbine and better reliability with the turbines in a harsh environment.

I like the Beech 18, it's a classic. I believe the Queen Air was the forerunner to the King Air. Thats was a piston aircraft but I don't believe they were re-engined to turbines.

Garrett

A few from the neighborhood

Hi Folks

I'm trying to plan a little get away with my daughter to the Grand Canyon in March and would like to do a side trip to one of the air museums. Being a litle deficient in the area of local geography I would appreciate some advice from you knowledgeable folks reading this thread.

My two choices are Calgary to Las Vegas, or Phoenix. I'm guessing Phoenix is the better choice but would appreciate info on the proximity of the canyon and the air museum. Comments on where to stay would be great as well.

Thanks

Garrett

P.S.
I promise I'll post my pictures. I'm really enjoying this thread. The pics of the warbirds are great. The Police helicopter shots are cool as well.

There's a Queen Air sitting in front of one of the hangars here and it's still got radials. I don't recall ever seeing one that had turbines.


Garrett, I should have read the whole thread before I pm'd you. I see you did fly with Willie's Bandits. Chances are we've crossed paths.

Bruce

Hi Bruce

I PM'd you back.

This was my friday a couple weeks back:

Right seat one of these from CCR down to SNA:


Hop on one these back to OAK:


Take a rental car from OAK to HWD

Hop on one of these from HWD to CCR:

Garrett

I never got your PM.

Bruce

Some of the machines I work on
Twin Otter on amphibious waterbombing floats.







De Havilland Turbo Beaver







CL 415 waterbomber








AS 350 B2



Drip torch used for burn out operations




We do work on them.

So what's it like to dump all that water at once?

for big russian plane make great success!

OK

Try again.

If you go to PHX the only museum I know of there is the Commemerative Air Force (was Confederate Air Force thanks to political correctness) has a pretty nice museum east of Phoenix at Falcon field in Mesa abot 10 miles east off of the I-60.

The Planes of Fame air museum in Chino has a satellite museum at the Valle airport not too far from the Grand Canyon, not been there yet but heard it is nice.

Tucson has the Pima Air Museum, just off of the I-10 at Valencia exit, south side of Davis-Monthan Airforce Base, a really nice museum, with lots to see and you can buy a ticket for a bus ride through the Boneyard on the base.
There is also a restored ICBM launch base close by also, haven't been there yet either, soon though.
South side of the base, there are several civilian scrapyards with some interesting aircraft awaiting their fate......

That a repeater or something like that?

Off airports are the best, theres just no doubt about it.

Here are a few from a day in my life....

Wave


DCA

Where did you get that picture? It was taken from right below my office....

Bruce

Thanks. Looks like Phoenix is the way to go. I'm looking forward to it. I've heard a lot about the museums there...oh yeah and that canyon too

Garrett

If you're from Calgary you could start at the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton. I hear there is some controversy about them wanting to sell the museum's DH Mosquito to a British collector.

Valle Air Museum, a enjoyable small museum. My son and I visited in 2006 and it is just west of the Grant Canyon NP entrance on AZ-64, easy to get to from Flagstaff.
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