It's the "F" Day!

Meaning, I went to Fantasy of Flight and the Florida Air Museum today.

I started off by heading up to Fantasy Of Flight to see the second of the "Living History" symposiums, featuring the WASPs (Women Airforces Service Pilots). I didn't get to meet any of the three surviving WASPs that were there, as I got to spot them for about 30 seconds before they left for the day. I'm batting 1000 on these symposiums, I tell ya.

Pause for some Tower Love

One of my absolute favourite fighters EVER. The Fokker DR1 triplane, made famous, unfortunately for him, by Manfred von Richthofen dying in one.
The B-17F "Piccadilly Princess" that Hurricane Andrew tossed about a bit. She doesn't fly thanks to 'drew, but....
You CAN walk through her. This is ALL the room the bombardier had. Yeah. Um......nice view, but I'd like to be able to move.....

So, yeah, I was laying on my stomach for this underwing shot of the GeeBee Y two-seater. This is, obviously, a replica. I say obviously because all of the originals crashed, killing the pilot at the time.

Since Kermit wasn't around, Ken Kellet (Yes, the stunt pilot that did Flyboys) took the Storch through its paces. That camo works well against the trees, no?

From FOF I hit the Florida Air Museum on my way back to the house. Since they are in the middle of setting up for Sun N Fun, I got to shoot some of the normally hangared birds outside.

Now, I'm tall....but not taller than the F-14D Super Tomcat.......until I stand on the roof of the truck, that is....

The Lockheed XFV-1 Salmon, recently restored, sitting outside. This is the only XFV-1 ever to fly, and, as such, needs to stay inside as it is a true treasure. I made a point of mentioning it to the staff, who assured me she would be a Hangar Queen once again after Sun N Fun.......unlike......

.........her sister in uniqueness, the Convair XF2Y-1 Sea Dart. This is one of only four Sea Darts, and, as you can see, she's in pretty bad shape. But there is nowhere inside to put her, so she's probably going to go to waste in the FL sun. We discussed the need for new hangar space for a while, as well.

I don't think I'd ever seen a Cobra in civilian guise before. In Civil parlance it is called the Bell 209. She's used by the Florida Forestry Department.

I like the shadow, too ;)

Ok, tomorrow is the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with Mouse!