It?s not often that you get a tailwind when you are westbound along the Gulf Coast?.so you have to enjoy it when you do! Yesterday evening I was flying back to Houston Pensacola, cruising along in the Valkyrie at 8500 feet enjoying 15-20 knots on my tail?courtesy of Tropical Storm Isaac, far away down the gulf, but having an influence nonetheless. It was a pretty evening with a few lingering thundershowers along the way, silhouetted by the sun in the western sky. The cells were visible on the XM far in advance so a few degrees left or right was all that was required on the autopilot. Most of the cells were solo affairs, standing out by themselves with no clouds around them, giving a few farm fields a little soaking (which will prove to be unnecessary given what will hit them in a few days). Then, of course, there was a broader area of clouds and an anvil over Lake Arthur in southern Louisiana (as usual)?.I just deviated to the coast and cruised on home from there. Touched down at Polly a half hour before sunset and all was well.
The trip to Pensacola was my first time at the Naval Aviation museum ? ironic that it came on a weekend when we lost Neil, arguably one of the most famous of all men to wear the golden wings, even though most people don?t think of him that way. Yup, we saw the airplanes he flew in Korea ? primitive jets by today?s standards?but part of our history and heritage. There is no doubt that this museum is up there with the Air Force Museum in Dayton and the Udvar Hazey at Dulles. The best part ? the number of cockpits you can find to sit in. Everywhere you look - all around the place are cockpit trainers and simulators just waiting to be tried on for size. Louise and tried a bunch?.the A-4 seemed most reminiscent of the RV-3 ? snug and comfy, everything where you wanted it to be. Must have been a fun jet to fly!
Someone needs to tell the Blues that their jets are dusty!
I found the Harrier to be a nice fit?
While Louise thought the A-4 was a lot like the RV-3!
I?m really glad that we had the chance to get over there while we still lived on the Gulf Coast. It has been recommended here before, so this is just another push for folks to go if you are in range and looking for a way to lose at least a day ? you could probably spend a week! I used Ferguson (82J) for the visit ? nice folks, and a 500? pattern to stay out of the NAS airspace.
Paul
The trip to Pensacola was my first time at the Naval Aviation museum ? ironic that it came on a weekend when we lost Neil, arguably one of the most famous of all men to wear the golden wings, even though most people don?t think of him that way. Yup, we saw the airplanes he flew in Korea ? primitive jets by today?s standards?but part of our history and heritage. There is no doubt that this museum is up there with the Air Force Museum in Dayton and the Udvar Hazey at Dulles. The best part ? the number of cockpits you can find to sit in. Everywhere you look - all around the place are cockpit trainers and simulators just waiting to be tried on for size. Louise and tried a bunch?.the A-4 seemed most reminiscent of the RV-3 ? snug and comfy, everything where you wanted it to be. Must have been a fun jet to fly!
Someone needs to tell the Blues that their jets are dusty!
I found the Harrier to be a nice fit?
While Louise thought the A-4 was a lot like the RV-3!
I?m really glad that we had the chance to get over there while we still lived on the Gulf Coast. It has been recommended here before, so this is just another push for folks to go if you are in range and looking for a way to lose at least a day ? you could probably spend a week! I used Ferguson (82J) for the visit ? nice folks, and a 500? pattern to stay out of the NAS airspace.
Paul
