VAF Hat Sightings
 

Spruce Goose.

My lovely wife bought some VIP passes to the Evergreen Flight Museum at a silent auction and we used them while in McMinnnville, OR the day after Christmas.
This was my second trip but what a humbling experience to actually sit in Howard's seat.






The pilot's seat of the Spruce Goose.




An RV grin is better than a Hughes scowl.




Spruce Goose cockpit







Flight engineer's station






View of Spruce Goose cockpit from the ground. Notice the "Experimental" over the door.

(jaw on floor).

Thank you for doing that Mike. Way, way cool !!!

b,
d

Too Cool
 

How would you like to wire that FE panel :eek:

I wanna know how you're supposed to bring all 8 throttles forward together.

I would think you don't, the FE does. Just think about synchronizing all eight engines. Somewhere I read that each engine has five magnetos, I'm still trying to understand the starting procedure on those big radials.

What is really cool is they could walk/crawl down the wing and reach the back of the engine in flight to service it.

If any of you ever get the chance to tour this thing, do it! It is just awesome! (I saw it back in the 80's when it was in LA.)

I got to see the Spruce Goose up close when it was in Long Beach a few years ago. It is an amazing aircraft. The strangest thing to me was being able to walk around in the cockpit like it was a Greyhound bus. It is a must see if you are ever close by.

A few years ago? When I saw it in Long Beach I was in the Navy and we used sail power. ;) (kidding) I think it was moved in 1990.

Look at the rudder peddles, if I remember right this was the first hydraulically controlled rudder to fly. No wires. Pretty amazing for the day.

i really wanna see that bird in person!! what a monster it is!

thanks for the pics! :cool:

How Much is open to walk through?
 

Do they let you walk all around inside the Spruce Goose? Can you walk out to the engines in the wing?

Unfortunately no.

You get to go in behind/below the pilot comp, and that is it. There is a plexiglass wall separating you from the tailcone, but at least you can see back there. You also get to look up towards the cockpit via the ladder way.

Cockpit tour
 

Mike S -

You can see from the pictures there is a way past the plexiglass.

I guess that is what the VIP passes will get ya.;)

Both times I have been there, the ladder was off limits, as well as the upstairs that it led to.

It is my understanding that anyone can get the VIP pass. It is just a matter of donation amount but putting your butt where Howard put his is priceless. The first time I visited the museum you could not even get into the area you described because the elevator (A.D.A. accessability) was not in place. My guess is the rest of the airplane is not accessable to the "public" for similar reasons. I do not know how you could make the cockpit (spiral staircase) or the wings wheelchair accessable.

The museum also holds many other fine examples of flying machines all within the space of the building it took to house the "Goose". Anyone interested in aircraft should make the stop while in the Northwest. Van's Homecoming is a perfect opportunity.

Hat sighting at Lewis Airport Pancake Breakfast
 

The P-51 makes the hat look even better. Or is it the other way around?

Got my Pink Slip Today
 

The Indianapolis FSDO just finished inspecting my kit and now it is an official airplane on the books as an Airworthy RV-7A. Naturally I had to make sure I had my OFFICIAL hat on for the occasion.

And the presentation:

Wow, great elation and somewhat of the downer that you feel once a goal has been achieved. Ok, the downer lasted all of 15 seconds, now I get to go fly this thing that I have been working on since August 31, 2001.

WOW nice!
 

Steve,

Looks great! Give me a call when you are ready to dynamicly balance the propeller! Have fun! 317-201-8517

Dave Cook in Grandby
 

It's kind of an old thread, but it seems the appropriate place...

Dave Cook let me tag along for his weekly breakfast with the guys up in Grandby. We were airborne from KFNL at a little before 7am and were in Grandby (KGNB) about 20-25 minutes later.

I didn't notice until after we landed that Dave was sporting his VAF hat.

Enjoy.

VAF Hat & Grandson at Vietnam Memorial Wall
 

In remembrance of USAF Captain Ron Ashe:

Hangar Hotel - Fredericksburg, Tx

Helping to unfurl the mains'l on Friends Good Will in Lake Michigan off South Haven, MI. July 22, 2010

Flying the 1903 Wright Flyer
 

Matt Burch flies the 1903 Wright Flyer:

Outside my Workshop by Zurich Airport
 

Hat Sighting, Fremont Peak WY
 

Ok I'll give this a try. In July 2010, my son Landon, one of his buds, and I climbed Fremont Peak. From our house, or anywhere around Pinedale, Fremont is the most prominent of the peaks you can see. The first photo is Landon and I on the 12 mile hike into Island Lake, at the base of the peak, where we set up base camp. Fremont is in the background between us. The second photo is at the summit, another 3500 vertical feet above our base camp. I wasn't sure if an old, fat guy still had it in him. But I made it:cool: Good times:D

Alien Sighting
 

Rich Rudolph and I spotted an alien wearing a VAF cap at Area 51 located at North Texas Regional (KGYI). Didn't see what kind of RV he arrived in! :rolleyes:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mrreddic...66487960951938

Summer hat sightings
 

A shot of myself in the reflection of a T-6 spinner at the Arlington airshow. That is a VAF hat i promise. Only turned around to take a picture.


At Leadville taking our tourist shots.



At Oshkosh waiting for the start of the show. Found enough shade to relax by the flight line



Got to shake hands with Paul Poberezney at aeroshell square. What a great guy!!!

Jay & Carol - Rocket 100 - Taylor Municipal (T54)

Found on the web....
 

Awesome :)

TODR

Stelvio Pass in Italy:



https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

Passo dello Stelvio
 

che bello! At 2758 meters, its the second-highest paved pass in the Alps. The climb has about 50 switchbacks. This picture was apparently taken in late summer, because no snow. The ski resort on top is open in July. I climbed Stelvio on bicycle from Bolzano, about 2400 meters of climbing. The descent into Bormio is equally spectacular.

Hat Sighting Darlington "To Tough To Tame" truck races
 

You can't get any closer than this to the race action...1st pit position at the Darlington "To Tough To Tame" truck race on March 12, 2011. A group of my airpark neighbors got pit passes from yet another neighbor who provides all the wreckers for Darlington races.

Paul - Arriving at Lone Star Air Rally in Galveston TX.

VAF In Hungary
 

Over the Danube, Budapest, Hungary 5/26/11.

Hey Mark

We were just up stream from you in Vienna yesterday! We're in Brussels now, Luxembourg tomorrow and who-knows-where after that. I stupidly didn't bring my VAF hat:mad:

Safe travels

Jeremy

Rats!! I will arrive LUX on Saturday at 1740. Check your PM's

while building my RV8, having fun with Falco F8L, always wearing my VAF hat...
greatings from italy,
franz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1914Yig0s0s

the location is Nervesa della battaglia, Treviso (Italy)

Sat over the Atlantic - around 30 West at FL400. 5 hours gone - 4:25 left going from Cancun to Manchester. And just the two of us........... :rolleyes:




Oh - and the little stripe out of the window is Air Transat 688, 1,000' below - also going to Manchester - thanks for getting in the way chaps !

VAF Hat Sighting
 

The first VAF member that correctly guesses what Carribean bar this hat was sighted in today, will get a complimentary sightseeing flight from beautiful New Smyrna Beach, FL in our RV-10 whenever you show up. A post-flight Kalik (hint) beer, or two will be included.

Hanks on Andros Island!

Nope. About 45 minutes SE of Hanks at RV-10 cruise speed. I will post another photo tomorrow.;)

Chat 'N' Chill in Exuma, Bahamas? :D