Road trip - Calgary to Santa Monica

[India Four Two]

I'm on the road to visit my daughter and grand-daughter in Santa Monica. I'll also have the opportunity to see piperboy84's new Maule. ;)

It's a long trip - about 1600 miles direct, but 2200 for me due to a detour to see the Grand Canyon.

I thought I would stop and photograph road-side aircraft on the way, to make the trip more interesting. First stop was the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, south of Calgary:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/nanton_4caf91133188609985ee5c4be4720184846e40bd.jpeg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/clunk_06296ae7c69e73d1b8f84b8cd77082a424dd9cf5.jpeg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/museum_04f13f3f24548f12e1e45d7694810a6d56e53629.jpeg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/lanc_12fff31036b36972c5c3a64c8d0cce63a9cfab16.jpeg


Ten days ago, I was ferrying a glider towplane past Nanton and I was pleased to see that they had the Lancaster outside, because it was a holiday weekend. That certainly slows down the traffic!

The only other aircraft I saw was a Huey on a pole at Helena's airport. I wasn't able to stop, so here's a photo from the web:

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/88/08859b6a-193b-11e4-a432-001a4bcf887a/53db230a58096.preview-620.jpg

Non-aviation aside:
It is many years since I drove across Montana and I had forgotten how big and empty it is. It's nearly twice the area of the UK but has a population of only one million. I drove about 400 miles on Interstate 15 from north to south and that's the narrow dimension! During my drive I could frequently see about two miles of the highway behind and in front of me and often there were only one or two vehicles visible and sometimes none! I probably saw less than 300 vehicles while crossing the state!

I drove 670 miles today to Idaho Falls, so I'm a bit knackered! However, tomorrow is an easy day - three hours to Ogden, Utah and the Hill AFB museum. I'm also meeting someone to view a very rare glider. So stay tuned. ;)

[Bob Viking]

You lucky bugger. I've just moved back to the UK after 3.5 years in Alberta and road trips through the States is one of the things I'll miss most. Montana was one of my favourites if not the favourite of all the states I visited.

Happy driving.

BV

[India Four Two]

BV,
I'm old enough to remember when the day time speed limit in Montana was "reasonable and prudent". Fun times with a fast sports car!

Leaving Idaho Falls, I saw an Ag Wagon at low-level. The first time I've seen an operational crop-duster for many years.

No roadside aircraft on I15 until Hill AFB. Before reaching Hill, I was driving through Ogden, when I saw a steam locomotive, which caused me to screech to a halt at what turned out to be a railroad museum at the old Union Station. I know there are quite a few railway enthusiasts here, so I thought I would post a couple of pictures:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/up_fd920db26d8d325e8bc4016828f6e13cbac9a2dc.jpeg

UP Northern class 4-8-4. Six-foot drivers and a top speed of over 100 mph.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/x26_af3fb314b94f6cac54492d8b06ed3de26e52759f.jpeg
A slight aeronautical connection. This is UP X-26, a gas turbine-electric locomotive, with an 8500 HP GE turbine, driving a generator. Designed to replace the Big Boy locomotives, it had a tractive effort of 212,000 lb.

Further down the road, after coming off I15, the Hill Museum is hard to miss:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/hill_8c087a1329e54247b175b0496fe0ad9a45816b33.jpeg

It is an extremely good museum, with a lot of exhibits, both inside and outside. I decided to photograph only aircraft I had not seen before. I'll post them on the museum thread, but here are my three favourites:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/c124_cacc26fe4bb04d9f491ef18bb9892527fb717563.jpeg
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/f89_4bba3a3436617314161c62d134249a66c27a4c23.jpeg
Northrop F-89 Scorpion

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/b57_36780fcb10052628d198c4b4fb53ae8decdb50e6.jpeg
Martin RB-57A

After the museum, I drove to Morgan County Airport, in the mountains, east of Ogden. I had an appointment to follow up on something I had spotted on Google Earth - the unmistakeable outline of a Slingsby T-53. It's languishing de-rigged in a hangar and has been sold. My guide had flown it and said its handling was somewhat reminiscent of a Blanik L-13, but with poor ergonomics, particularly the front rudder pedals. He showed me a repair of the spar carry-through structure, required by an AD. A previous owner had merely stop-drilled the cracks!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/t53_227e2e293ac488de6e69d18bc1d899695bf1577f.jpeg

I was then given a tour of some of the hangars and saw many interesting aeroplanes. The highlight was an immaculate 3/4 scale Fiesler Storch:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/storch_ee7357fce90a18b8d37fb0de2502fc11e1252812.jpeg

I then drove to Heber, Utah via the Park City ski area. Off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

[treadigraph]

Fantastic trip!

Remind me, did the Yorkshire Sailplanes YS-53 begat the T-53 or was it the other way round? Never seen one, somehow seems odd to come across one in the USA!

Keep the reports coming...

[India Four Two]

treaders,

The T-53 begat the YS-53. There's an existing thread here, started by the previous owner of the one I saw at Morgan County Airport:

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/406927-slingsby-t53b.html


On the driving side, I've now done about 1000 miles, mostly on Interstate highways. Since crossing the border from Canada, I have not seen a single accident or any police cars! Everyone seems to drive 5-10 mph faster than the limit, which has mostly been 65 (UT), 70 (MT) or 80 (ID). The traffic only started to become heavier in northern Utah and the number of lanes each way correspondingly increased from two to three or four.

[Airclues]

I42

Two personal recommendations;

Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, California.

PLANES OF FAME - Chino, CA Location (http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=admission-hours-and-directions)

The fish and chips at Ye Olde Kings Head Pub, Santa Monica.

Dave

[treadigraph]

Thanks for the link I42, needs a proper read on Sunday! The Sigma, forgotten about that, first pic I've seen of it on the ground, bit ungainly!

Chino, PoF is superb, so too the Yanks Museum if they are still there.

Have fun you lucky so and so...

[India Four Two]

No aeronautical sights today, so TAPs can skip to the end.

After looking at the map, I decided to change my itinerary. Instead of going directly to the Grand Canyon, I made a detour to the southeast, heading for Meteor Crater, east of Flagstaff. This allowed me to drive through Moab, which has some spectacular scenery and geology, which was a bonus for me, since I'm a geologist. I took Highway 40 to Duschene and then south on 191 through spectacular mountains to Carbonville (a coal mining town - no surprise there) and then on to Green River, passing the spectacular Book Cliffs on the way (not my photo):
https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.summitpost.org%2Fimages%2Foriginal%2F228 573.jpg&f=1

A short drive along I70 and then back onto 191 to Moab. Before entering Moab, I went into Arches National Park.

Absolutely stunning scenery:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/arch_1_67bc3e7841ef61eb3bb49625e584b11fb888ac4a.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/arch_2_4ecd8b0895a461b0aa7ae147ee587dc6f9bfd84f.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/arch_3_4202e467b79e4b638a900aa53b32c0efb40a5a26.jpeg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x500/arch_4_73692e5486930f85296c3cec2002bf478b5e103d.jpeg

To get to Delicate Arch (last two photos), I had to hike 1.5 miles each way, with a height gain of 500'. The hike is described somewhat euphemistically by the Parks Service as "moderately strenuous". There was a Ranger at the trailhead, making sure that everyone had water - the temperature was about 30° C - and I suspect she was also assessing the ability of the candidates. Apparently I passed and I made it up and back in one piece, but I was so tired, I decided to check into a motel in Moab, rather than continue.

Moab is a nice, tourist oriented town. I chose a Mexican restaurant that came highly recommended in Tripadvisor. The food was very good, but this was the first Mexican restaurant I have been to that did not serve alcohol. Only in Utah!

What did not surprise me is that when I opened the desk drawer in my room, there was not only the ubiquitous Gideon Bible, but also the Book of Mormon.

So today's trip was almost a local jaunt compared to days one and two - only 300 miles. One piece of advice for anyone driving in the US, particularly in the west. Always fill your tank before setting off in the morning. It is much better to have half a tank left when you've got about 100 miles to go, rather than having the low-fuel light come on in the middle of nowhere. ;)

Airclues,
I replied to your post but apparently it didn't get posted. Chino is on my to-do list for when I am in Santa Monica. Concerning the King's Head, my wife and I had Sunday lunch there once and it was awful. However, I'll go back and try the fish and chips.

treaders,

I'm trying to get hold of a write up of what Dave Marsden did to the Sigma and what happened to it subsequently. He put full-span slotted flaps on it, based on his experience with his side-by-side Gemini. There is some information about Dave here:
Ken Armstrong Articles July 04 (http://archive.copanational.org/non-members/KenArmstrong/2004/KenArmstrongJuly04.htm)

I was surprised by the construction of the T-53. Reminiscent of the HP-14, which is to be expected, but the build-quality and detail design was very amateurish. Also, as has often been commented on, there are way too many ribs - the spacing looked about a foot to me. You need a large crew to rig and derig, because of the weight of the wings. This is one of those gliders you want to leave in the hangar, fully rigged!


340 miles and 5:30 to Meteor Crater tomorrow. I had better get to bed.

[54Phan]

Great photos sir, and :ok:for the Uncle Roger reference. It gave me a chuckle. Enjoy your trip and stay safe.

[India Four Two]

Phan54,

Glad you like the pictures. Your name reminded me that I've got a couple of photos from the Hill AFB Museum that I must post on Phantom Friday. I'm also pleased you got the Roger Bacon reference. ;)

Another non-aeronautical day, but bear with me - I'll make up for it on Saturday.

380 miles today, slightly longer than the direct route, due to a couple of detours. I think driving in the West alters your sense of scale. Shortly after leaving Moab, I reached this sign:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/4_1_ed372eeb24f7600c3ae7627ea827745f9e90c38e.jpeg
"Hmm, only 44 miles there and back to Needles Overlook. Just a short detour!"

It was worth it. This is the Colorado River valley, BEFORE it becomes the Grand Canyon:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/4_2_b225c991b15a12139bca61269724b5f21461cdc1.jpeg

Once I had left Utah and was in Arizona, driving through the Navajo Nation, I realized I was going to pass very near Canyon de Chelly, so I drove in to have a look. Spectacular:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/4_3_94e456663cb325ba2db6b83c7dba0774b78ab8d4.jpeg

My detours meant I didn't make it to Meteor Crater, so I stopped for the night in Winslow, a town that is dying on its feet. I got a good motel room for $39!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/4_4_3e2a3e0810460d396dcf51f717ff15630305807a.jpeg

Well if you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66.Just before Winslow, I saw my first police car on the highway after 1500 miles of driving - an Arizona Highway Patrol officer writing up a speeding ticket.

[Spooky 2]

FWIW, Kingman AZ has a pretty good airliner bone yard and a small museum of sorts. Drive from Kingman to Las Vegas. Get a good look at Hoover Damn and catch some of the action around Nellis AFB and then Interstate 15 all the way into LAX. About a five hour drive from LAS.

[Dora-9]

I42:

I always knew you were a man of taste (you like Chipmunks after all); now you've confirmed this with your appreciation of steam locomotives!

I'm really enjoying this thread - more please.

Cheers!

[evansb]

I am enjoying your travelogue Simon, and you are clearly a man of good taste, but these Alberta-based pedestal mounts mustn't have been on your road-side route whilst southbound from Calgary:

http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/gumpjr_bucket/calgarycf5.jpg
Calgary - Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter

http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/gumpjr_bucket/claresholm.jpg
Claresholm - Canadian Car & Foundry Harvard

http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/gumpjr_bucket/lethbridge.jpg
Lethbridge - Canadair CT-133 Silver Star

http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/gumpjr_bucket/warner_1.jpg
Warner - Canadair CT-133 Silver Star


When in Santa Monica, I highly recommend "The Lobster" restaurant on Ocean Ave. Reservations recommended.

[India Four Two]

Dora 9,

I'm glad you liked the locomotive pictures. They were acquired at significant personal cost and inconvenience. I tripped and skinned my knee quite badly and then while recovering from the shock, I discovered I had locked my keys in the car. Luckily the AAA came to my rescue very quickly.

bri,

I didn't think of photographing road-side aircraft until after I had driven past the CF-5 in Calgary; I decided the Claresholm Harvard was too far off the road; I didn't know about the Silver Stars in Lethbridge and Warner. However, thanks for adding them to my travelogue.

Spooky 2,

Thanks for the suggestion. Las Vegas is too far north. I've decided to drive via Edwards and Lancaster.

Plenty of aircraft today, plus some more geology.

I left Winslow earlier than I planned, because I was still on Mountain Daylight Time and I hadn't realized that Arizona stays on Standard Time. I drove a short distance west on I40 and turned off on a road which must be unique in terms of its name and speed limit:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_1_3dae8aa9eb0235c26c5622a37a1a64c87a090088.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_2_ccc5d034df06456e6d58306a0961354b95aa46dd.jpeg

The crater rim is on the skyline and looks like a small ridge at this distance. It's a lot different when you get there:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x354/5_3_125848f0ed771e20c8f6f6a65404c59c9e0d3701.jpeg

Three-quarters of a mile wide and 560' deep (originally deeper), created 50,000 years ago by a 50 m wide nickel-iron meteorite. Estimated impact energy 10 megatons.

There are two aeronautical connections, one I knew about and one I was surprised by.

In the courtyard of the visitor center is an Apollo "boiler plate" module, which was used for flotation and recovery tests. It is there to commemorate the use of the crater by Gene Shoemaker to teach crater geology to Apollo astronauts:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_4_18c7a0fc3e8b9650b26d3253d4a5d0c12c6d4ca1.jpeg


In August 1964, a C-150 pilot tried to orbit within the crater and got done-in by the density altitude. The elevation is 5700'.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x487/5_5_5e2742a9419302443782be9443f4d7a29a6c9e57.jpeg

Most of the wreckage has been removed, but one wing and the rear fuselage are still there. No one is allowed on the crater floor anymore.

I left the crater and continued west on I40, which follows the course of the old Route 66, through Winona and then Flagstaff, where I turned northwards for the Grand Canyon. On the way I stopped off at the Planes of Fame museum at Valle. I spent MUCH more time there than I had planned. Here's a selection of pictures.

Grumman F-11-F1 Tiger (looks like a Gnat on steroids):
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_6_316aa7014c4271e003f3786bd9514ea5cd6a8b46.jpeg


Siemens-Schuckert D IV
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_7_f4a5802bc7292804778e21d146f7d5102642c9d9.jpeg


A very sad Vampire
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_8_06aa586c1f70761474de78cded03c0634d57019e.jpeg

A Constellation being returned to the air after 20 years
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_9_46bc3bc383ce10c4a8e94dfd57eb804e81d3a6e7.jpeg

While I was there, the crew mounted the last engine.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_10_ef01aad4a6fd83a706417542dbaea571cfd7cf93.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_11_9297262d5d800810cf7e69b4e33a392c968f29b1.jpeg

It took them about twenty minutes to get it bolted on. Not a hard-hat, safety glasses, steel-toed boot or fluorescent jacket in sight!

If restoring an essentially complete aircraft doesn't appeal and you've got plenty of money, how about this?

Take the wing of a KC-97 (and engines):
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_12_17dd4b773151e78054b9fadb85249ce0cff18233.jpeg


and mate them with the rear fuselage of a B-50:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_13_66be3707484c91a9d7044e4ec219ae9a310b69b2.jpeg

and the front fuselage stored at Chino and turn it into an airworthy B-50. Not just any B-50 - this fuselage is 46-0010 Lucky Lady II, which flew around the world non-stop in 1949.

Anyone know what this is?
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_14_1a85bf2357d94d58ec3cd11c5ee158655a2a0e65.jpeg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_15_1234ba016cef82896ed2b4211474951a6ee557c2.jpeg

To be continued.

[Stanwell]

I42,
I'm so envious but I'd like to echo Dora-9's earlier comment - keep it coming!

[Lordflasheart]

Anyone know what this is?

Left hand one is a Hindustan Gnat - Ajeet.

T'other one might be a Douglas Skyknight F3D

Wonderful thread. What's your wheels Simon ? .......... LFH

[India Four Two]

LFH,

I thought it looked a bit Gnat-like, but I was put off by the nose cone and the circular object in the intake. That makes it the 4th Ajeet I've seen - in my defence, the other three were from a distance while driving. I hadn't thought about the other aircraft.

I'm driving a 2007 Jetta.

No time to finish yesterday's writeup yet. I'm off to raft down the Colorado from Lake Powell to Lee's Ferry! ��

[Lordflasheart]

The nose cone probably encloses the gunsight radar ranging.

The circular object in the intake is associated with (ie it's a housing rather than the gun muzzle per se.) the 30mm ADEN cannon - one each side. I think it was 60 rounds per gun. I hate to think what firing did to disrupt the intake airflow, but if there was a problem I guess it was made to work a la Hunter and Swift (not.)

Apparently it is difficult to distinguish between the Folland or HAL-built Gnat F.1 and the HAL-built improved Gnat that they called the Ajeet. It could be either.

Scuttlebutt says the Yanks wanted 500 but when Folland heard they were to be used as targets they threw a wobbly and declined the order

[India Four Two]

There are so many interesting aircraft at the Planes of Fame Museum at Valle, I felt I should post a few more.

Martin MGM-1 Matador - the USAF's first cruise missile
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_1_c09b1c98d88dbb0ba34d3986b812fdd742b01a60.jpeg

Bf-109G-10 (airworthy, except for the prop)
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_2_71415a9331ef7af2a660984fff2f59210724cb21.jpeg

Hispano Ha. 200 Saeta
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_3_3bcef5c584ef81ce75011a5e4dfbbb9c2b0872ef.jpeg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_4_a45253e66241cfca3f096c4f277fa0601db932c0.jpeg

Convair L-13A Grasshopper
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x768/5_5_48adb610b7a8f658752312709554867692adf696.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x768/5_6_10be0d552f11b0620a06b20ba673b302ef69c9d3.jpeg


Grumman F-3F-2
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_7_60e57ea96f22250050812320c375813f728bd9eb.jpeg

Standard J-1
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_8_2419190d7c95eadc9100fbea31966cb83be88f96.jpeg

Aichi D3A Val Replica (made from a BT-15) - Tora Tora Tora movie
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_9_074b9ba1559f19ca7044955f9ab589856b49d75d.jpeg

Another BT-15
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_10_3ef47989ca421a5e6d29c43ccfd64e92ab0214b7.jpeg

I forgot to write down the name of this biplane. 2022 - I shouldn't have been so lazy. The Chino website tells me it's a Fleet Model 2:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_11_67922529bb8016f5100aef7435d6fad26ec2ca80.jpeg

2022 - Go to the Planes of Fame website to see their amazing collection. Sort by Location to see the Chino collection first and then Valle.

https://planesoffame.org/aircraft?planespagelimit=10000

After I left the museum, I drove north to the Grand Canyon Airport and went for a tour of the canyon in an EC-120:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_12_c482f4f6864793610ad9f1f3ed7170c080f806a6.jpeg

Don't even think about trying to set QFE here - the elevation is 6600' !

I took a video which I'll edit into something usable.

In the meantime, here are three of my "sunset" pictures.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_13_b0d2fc22d0107114facb93ee1f1c3bb966a1635c.jpeg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_14_29351b9bda4176c0406f72c65cf29c62a8b2c9e1.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/5_15_ba01b2d9feff8bba4697c757d3305363635f8ede.jpeg

It's hard to get a sense of scale - the river is 5000' down and the cliffs on the far side - the North Rim - are 12 miles away!

This is one of those places where pictures are no substitute for being there.

[India Four Two]

I meant to post this earlier but forgot. I bought a SPOT satellite tracker before leaving Calgary and have been testing it during my trip.

If anyone is interested, you can follow my progress here (there are currently 13 pages):

SPOT Shared Page (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ABrWckKBcQDDGaEI5jgHJ2FtYGog8K4Y)

I'm very impressed with the SPOT. Besides the tracking mode, there are three buttons for sending text messages to family and friends. You set up the text of the messages online in advance. So on this trip, I send an "I'm here" message to my family at the end of the day. I had a message yesterday from my daughter who said "Dad, I see you are travelling down the Colorado River. I hope that is on a raft and not in your car."

There is also a guarded SOS switch which will send a position to the appropriate SAR authority.

[India Four Two]

Better than a fair ground ride.

Altitude 7500', 500' AGL
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x445/6_2_e05d0e612e296c2c4f0d4f468f6dae702a666ce5.jpeg

Altitude 7500', here we go over the cliff!
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x451/6_3_1528d4c9cacf0dd20a066fd0f4fd1b35fda5fdc2.jpeg

Altitude 7500', 4500' above the Colorado River
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x449/6_4_937eaba809464919012d5e65b0a3aff91de1c3cf.jpeg

[India Four Two]

I got up at 5:00am for a 6:30 departure from the airport. My first flight in a Caravan (Grand Canyon Airlines)
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_5_822eef6103a0d83a6db3e4a54c85edfb2f9c3bbb.jpeg

We zig-zagged across the canyon as we flew to Page, at the south end of Lake Powell.

Movie screen-grabs:

Horseshoe bend
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x571/6_6_1befbc4e23c8e08ceefd2a1eeb6e99eb4b025f00.jpeg

Glen Canyon dam at the south end of Lake Powell
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x573/6_7_6cf5b069907a80fd5149b5b7770d6f1a69c04354.jpeg

We drove to Antelope Canyon near Page in one of these very suspect trucks
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_8_c26cfdbd9e8b5d37242e272e40ab937a96e8a235.jpeg

Antelope Canyon is a "slot canyon". Very narrow but over 100' high. During flash floods, the water level can rise over 50'
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x768/6_9_687b43d3d7207704424d0520c9b24419e566e523.jpeg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x768/6_10_647176812fd301ced7a78e340fa8f4695a19744f.jpeg

We then went to the dam and drove down the two mile, unlighted access tunnel to get to our rafts
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_11_da3147cbd2e5ce676dba24da0e342327039c4a4b.jpeg

Glen Canyon Dam
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/673x1080/6_12_4687eb3f4cf0298aba00ffc905040aec8b019bea.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_13_e2e360d849db739121e550349731a5c140e2239e.jpeg


1500' cliffs
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_14_e57dc16b232fe5b52ee8838789463b369c19a464.jpeg

Stop to view pictographs
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_15_ff6448efa8841aade1aaf498cf84176d8de009a6.jpeg

Pronghorn antelope
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_16_61400df1be9dac4369eacf5d306a2a45c972c156.jpeg

Some people went for a swim - I declined - the water is 7° C, because it comes from the bottom of Lake Powell
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_17_5923e981e2a58c467305a4a6553e53abc94866bb.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x768/6_18_b7d6060a8b44e02f810a51d2f6a56a0dcb06c0c1.jpeg

We docked at Lee's Ferry at about 3pm and then took a bus back to the Grand Canyon airport arriving at 5pm. I then drove 160 miles to Kingman and overnighted. A long day.

[India Four Two]

LFH,

I wondered if those objects in the intakes of the Ajeet might be related to cannon, but I thought nobody would be stupid enough to mount a cannon in the intake! I expect the firing trials were interesting. :E

Spooky 2,

I took up your suggestion and went to the Kingman airport, but before that, I went to Locomotive Park

[Network problems - to be continued]

[victor tango]

Thank you for taking the trouble to post these wonderful pics IFT.

My wife and I looked at them all and feel as if we have had a nice holiday !!!:ok:

[SpringHeeledJack]

I would also like to express my thanks for this vicarious road trip courtesy of mr IFT :D

Some of the places I've had the good fortune to visit in the past, many others not. All the same very interesting.


SHJ

[India Four Two]

SHJ et al,

Thanks for the feedback. I was a bit concerned that I might be overdoing the thread drift by including too much geology. However, the remaining posts are firmly, if not exclusively, in the AH&N camp.

vt,
If you've had such a nice holiday, perhaps you would like to contribute to my expenses? Gasoline is cheap here, by comparison to the UK! ;)

As I posted earlier, before Motel 8's network frustrated me, I went down to Locomotive Park in Kingman. Here are a couple of pictures for PPRuNe's ferroequinologists (I love that word. I have only just discovered it, so much nicer and more erudite than gricer)

AT&SF 4-8-4 Mountain
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_19_379ef92db20dafcc361bcb57fdafc2ff2b6f2c31.jpeg

The scale of these locomotives is hard to gauge from a distance. Here's a close up:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_20_e712e6bcb7298f8179bffb44361e4b89aaab5161.jpeg

The drivers are 6' 8" in diameter and the conncting rod is about a foot high. The walkway from the cab to the front of the boiler (I forget the technical term) was about 10' from the ground.

Afterwards, based on Spooky 2's suggestion, I drove out to Kingman airport. On the way, I saw a sign that reminded me I was in the US, just in case I had forgotten:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_21_24b108b0daddcb43592b70740ff4cac87695935d.jpeg

The first thing I saw as I drove into the airport was the WWII tower:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x768/6_22_782f128b50f07030b7920117b447fbf4c5703495.jpeg

The museum was shut - "due to the temperatures and lack of airconditioning" but I was able to take several pictures of the modern boneyard:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_23_f3782c4ef566c21bcfb18fe7762a6f09634f828c.jpeg
DC-4 on the right?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_25_9223cf529c629df3e05fb5500781da3d7023acf3.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_26_09c60aa309cbb0bac9e8dc4ab04e5162b99040cb.jpeg

A couple of more interesting types:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_27_249661e15b1309134eac7080f400efdce950ad7c.jpeg

I had to carefully pick my way through 50 m of grass and bushes to get this shot, just in case there was a rattlesnake basking in the sun. Unlikely but you never know.

My pictures don't really do justice to the size of this boneyard, so here's a GE picture:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x671/6_28_2cf884d1d41d78f8613b70f96025229b28903cc2.jpeg

I then set off on I40 again, heading to Barstow. While still in Kingman, I passed this great example of a normal fault, which I had to stop and take a photo of - it is a textbook example:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_29_6dc3f7ec9665414481cb6648b68e898a189c30a8.jpeg


On the way, I made a detour to Lake Havasu City to see John Rennie's London Bridge:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_30_da3c0ef4882e61dd758e9c15466cd94366d3b741.jpeg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/6_31_ef3854714bc9e2aff594cca27797d2496e141a68.jpeg

The last time I saw this bridge was in London, when I was a lot younger, there were no palm trees and it wasn't as hot:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/359x640/6_32_04786450b39d4f648e93e30129194f3b5fc0e707.jpeg

Prior to reaching Lake Havasu City, I had experienced temperatures between 80° and 90° F for nearly a week, but the humidity was so low, that I didn't notice any sweat. Not the case when the temperature was 109° F!

[India Four Two]

While at the Visitor Center by the bridge, I picked up a brochure which I couldn't resist and I drove here:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x768/7_1_00dcaa5fbc99567ca5c829ca375a051621fc7f6d.jpeg


I wanted to try a Lanchester, but unfortunately, it wasn't operational, so I had to settle for a Thompson, a BAR, an Mp. 41 and a Sten Mk. V. Great fun, but quite expensive. I was firing on an indoor rifle range and the guys next door on the pistol range, commented that it sounded like WWIII had broken out!

I had a good look at the Lanchester - quite heavy and very nicely made, but very complex. I can see why the Sten was developed.

Here is about one-quarter of the store - note the pink rifles!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x768/7_2_c682b50eecb8a2b70ca6d3bedb88a34dc0162d59.jpeg


Having got the aggression out of my system :E, I crossed the Colorado River into California and headed west for Barstow.

[India Four Two]

Barstow is home to a Marine Corps Logistics Base. I passed a compound that looked like it had enough Humvees to equip the whole British Army!

This is where I left I-40 and headed NW towards Edwards AFB. Over the past three days, I had traveled about 400 miles on I-40, which follows the route of, but has replaced Route 66. However, the highways into each town that I-40 bypasses are called Historic Route 66, in order to attract tourists. In each town that I drove through (Winslow, Flagstaff, Kingman and Barstow), I felt as if I was in a time warp. A lot of motels, gas stations and restaurants appeared to have changed very little from the 50s. It was also obvious that the economies were suffering - many closed businesses and For Sale signs, particularly in Winslow, which is almost a ghost town.

Before I arrived at Edwards, I made a detour into Boron, "the Borax Capital of the World":
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/7_1_03a47a34ec6e0d5a7b52abc8c068e9de9a6a039c.jpeg

I went there to see this (and visit the Saxon Aerospace Museum):
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/7_2_d527cd01ce586e42b6deb85800c0a828dfe031b9.jpeg

Unfortunately the museum was closed, but this was an unexpected bonus - my first SAAB Draken:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/7_3_e878d2114acd9cedd09bff2855e0624a5f2d496c.jpeg

Back on the highway, I turned off here to Edwards AFB North Gate:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/7_4_4bfec8084c60ebd8718858a13fef1df1f450847b.jpeg

The museum at Edwards is not accessible to the public these days, for security reasons, but there is a B-52 at the North Gate and several aircraft at the West Gate, that can be viewed:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/7_5_b09ee2bfb6a60649ceba959b96eaf331e68e6508.jpeg

This is not just any old B-52, this is B-52B "008", which was NASA's mother ship for all air-drop tests, starting with the X-15 and ending with the X-43A:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/7_6_43db9725c89b118635d86df128e1e7cd82c0eff8.jpeg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/606x1080/7_7_2a782781797f6a94dafceec4653cde8c0bba22f1.jpeg

See here for the history: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/X-Press/stories/123104_b-52b_remembered.html

[India Four Two]

In order to get from the North Gate to the West Gate at Edwards, I had to make a detour of 18 miles. However, the detour took me past Mojave Airport, so I stopped there to have a look. Lots of interesting aircraft.

The first one, at the gate, was a Convair 990:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_1_40f083b55b86129325ce6e67c2881c903e0f2fc8.jpeg

N801NA - originally an American Airlines aircraft that ended its days with NASA.

Next was another Draken :ok::
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_2_b7807814af5379ff7ad5012a6f561d68aaa27cf8.jpeg


An L-1011 N140SC, used to air-launch Pegasus rockets:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_3_7b5e64307961f358baf1e90c92a18f12c2274ed3.jpeg


Note another Draken lurking in the distance.

A very sad-looking Canadian Chipmunk, a DHC-1B-2-S5:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_4_a534e1a2a0ab331eab10d003e680fa18238395aa.jpeg
In the background is an Experimental twin, N9760A. Does anyone know what this is?

A Dove:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_5_db0a8060dfeb538a8bd7ca2e2faa81a34b5592d7.jpeg

and another dismantled Dove:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_6_6387eccbeaf4f78f1ac5747ffc137fab4910be26.jpeg


Plenty of Aermacchi MB-326 spare parts (ex-South Africa):
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_7_ffa2cce438f05b68d6741e7643975c28f3f65f8d.jpeg

Anyone want a 747?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_8_234732235de4028b053464813fb99c010a6d172e.jpeg

Rotary Rocket:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/606x1080/8_9_0ca1a1d682cfb3f922608164ef08ec1c9cc801ae.jpeg

An-2:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_10_8646cfdc8267b1debe1f59abd23810f75330023b.jpeg

Sawyer Skyjacker II
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_11_cebd5458af469eedcc660044573ac4b8136beafa.jpeg

The Skyjacker II was designed to explore ultra-low aspect ratio wing designs and in particular the stability, controllability and capability of the configuration. The blunt trailing edges are interesting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawyer_Skyjacker_II


I had lunch in the Voyager Restaurant "Aviation Spoken Here" and had a good view of this civilian ex-RNZAF A-4K starting up and departing
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_12_360a99254cd8c37d542de35044ae7bcbc4998ac1.jpeg

Draken International is basically a "Red Air Rental" company with a fleet of over 50 jets: Aircraft Inventory | Draken International (http://drakenintl.com/aircraft-inventory.html)

"Nothing to see here - move right along!" ;)
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/607x1080/8_13_7ec86334d347a3f93d5bf032d89f367a00b05234.jpeg

[India Four Two]

So I moved on to where the natives are slightly more friendly - Edwards AFB West Gate - Century Circle

YF-100 - the second of the two Super Sabre prototypes:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_1_85e26a4032409151b83a5d75b771d4bac766e702.jpeg

F-101B Voodoo:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_2_d27c9b72b529b598a47a8f5c8bf0995fbbbc4214.jpeg

TF-102A Delta Dagger - side-by-side trainer, used for its whole career at Edwards for testing:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_3_a407f4e51411d5e856ffd072dab5a582b648ce60.jpeg

I had to do an Internet search to remind myself why the F-103 is missing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-103

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x768/f_103_f7753037604a0cb07c07ba7aaecc4d0cee69d4d5.jpg

F-104A Starfighter, also an Edwards test aircraft:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_4_0a6349432989994cef92a2977df037b032cdce95.jpeg

This is the leading edge of the wing, NOT the trailing edge:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_5_f76af74e7dc8578666591ad8888b73c8af6b582b.jpeg

F-105D Thunderchief "Thud" (the biggest single-seater I have ever seen - it's 64' long, 9' longer than a Lightning):
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_6_7eb99c272b2adf1ae2391d48ccacba9356c397bf.jpeg

F-106B Delta Dart:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_7_e77a836ef46909705476f302699767b74b5d9e71.jpeg

YC-15:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_8_37d96b22508445efce55a0975bc435974d419814.jpeg

I only saw this sign, AFTER I had finished walking around :eek: :
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_9_70fc789beb1540ef09ebe97d83b296064a7657c9.jpeg

[India Four Two]

I had hoped that I might be able to go and see the remains of the Happy Bottom Riding Club, but unfortunately, it is within the base area.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Bottom_Riding_Club

So I drove west back to Rosamond and then south to Lancaster, where I went to the campus of the Antelope Valley College to see a special aircraft, the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket - the first aircraft to exceed Mach 2, flown by Scott Crossfield. This is the third and last example:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_1_ada3d4e12828ca3e535a5719e470f8d4d98ed2ac.jpeg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_D-558-2_Skyrocket
I nearly gave up on this one, because I had difficulty finding somewhere to park, but I'm glad I didn't.

Then on to my last aircraft stop at Palmdale on the south side of the airport. There are two open-air museums, side-by-side, the Blackbird Airpark and the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark. Both were closed, but I had reasonably good access, looking through the fence.

Lockheed A-12 "OXCART":
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_2_ff551a9cfacd7664c0fb654648d219393c562601.jpeg

This is the first A-12, which was known as "Article 121" for security reasons.
See this website for a lot of interesting information on the A-12 and SR-71: Declassified Legacy of America's Secret Heroes of NASA and Area 51 (http://area51specialprojects.com/)

Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_3_3147d09b28e3ce895c4628633340fd91168dfeb7.jpeg


Spot the differences:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_4_7abaf67359e4505088c9bec3a85727a91c0ee0cc.jpeg

Lockheed D-21B Drone:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_5_2b0ca1b9ed4e3da49ada2c2b35b805b0c6ca9329.jpeg

Lockheed U-2D Dragon Lady:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/9_6_5704401b8674de57030258018aae14ada681f166.jpeg

[India Four Two]

Joe Davies Heritage Airpark

Curtiss C-46 Commando:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_1_bd4a5088eb918a55de3cf69fc487dd77a5c95a20.jpeg

Thunderbirds F-100
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_2_720d0050c43f98673659ed7309a7ed8d3bec2d5c.jpeg

Scaled Composites Triumph twin-jet - built for Beechcraft in 1988:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_3_c6d45d46787de27c596b93f5076813c7515c5a41.jpeg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaled_Composites_Triumph

NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier (I didn't know this was here):
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_4_80c1ab8c93e54ad42b2c33fde4943b4b851d4778.jpeg

AGM-28 Hound Dog:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_5_237eb7682df9148a6f88a6c41b4a12efbc7bc147.jpeg

One last geological picture. This is a road-cut on the Antelope Valley Freeway, south of Lancaster, showing the distortions created by the horizontal motion of the San Andreas fault (which runs at right angles to the road orientation):
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/8_6_10e219ef5ffd0fde93e540b64af07c4e9d6019f4.jpeg


The San Andreas fault is about 100 m to the right (south) of this location and is not visible in the road cut, but is marked by an abrupt change in the surface elevation. The rocks on the south side of the fault have moved hundreds of kilometres northwestward, relative to the rocks in this picture.

There were no more aviation or geological stops for the remaining 60 miles of my drive and the traffic was relatively light by Los Angeles standards, considering it was the beginning of the afternoon rush hour. At the first traffic light in Santa Monica, I pulled up behind a Tesla Model S. It felt like I was entering a parallel universe, compared to the towns I had driven through in Utah and Arizona!

[Cubs2jets]

The aircraft in the background in the picture of the Canadian DHC-1 Chipmunk is a Wing Derringer. A two seat twin from the 1970's.

C2j

[ancientaviator62]

IFT,
here in cool wet England your pictures of a/c and scenery are a real tonic.
Thank you for posting them and I look forward to the return journey !

[India Four Two]

C2j,

Thanks. I thought it looked familiar. I vaguely remember a picture on the cover of Flying.

aa62,

I'm glad you enjoyed them. The return journey will be up the coast and so I plan on seeing the Spruce Goose, Mt. St. Helens, Seattle area museums and the Victoria airport museum, including the Mosquito if I am lucky.

[treadigraph]

Hi I42, really enjoying this travelogue, fancy another trip out there myself!

Cheers

Treadders

[Dora-9]

I42:

This is great stuff! Aeroplanes/steam engines/geology - I'm thoroughly enjoying your postings. Even the sad-looking DHC-1B - what did they do to the wing?

Now, about the naked ladies...

Cheers.

[Spooky 2]

Great pictures! You were at the cradle of American military aviation and had you stopped at a few watering holes between Mojave and Palmdale you have seen some incredible memorabilia on those walls.

There are a number of wreck sites just outside the perimeter of Edwards that date back as far as WWll.


Great trip and excellent reporting:ok:

[India Four Two]

Even the sad-looking DHC-1B - what did they do to the wing?

The leading edge is stove-in as far as the spar. I think they hit something with the wing and then went up on the nose - note the bent prop. It's an NTPS aircraft. They also have a T10.

About the naked ladies, I thought you could just nip down to one of your local Sunshine Coast beaches! :ok:

[Cubs2jets]

That would be a nip slip, wouldn't it?

Ok, ok, I'm leaving...

C2j

[India Four Two]

Well, I've been in Santa Monica for three days now, recovering from the trip and playing with my granddaughter. :)

I neglected to mention that the reason I drove rather than flew, was that I was delivering a family heirloom that I didn't want to ship. My father, who was in the furniture industry in High Wycombe, had a child-sized Windsor chair made for me, by one of the last "chair bodgers", Jack Goodchild of Naphill. My daughter used it when she was young and now her daughter is the proud owner of it.

I must say it feels very odd driving around Santa Monica in my own car, rather than an airport rental car.

The direct route would have been 1600 miles. I ended up driving 2500 miles! That's like driving to Los Angeles from Pittsburgh.

Alternatively, in European terms, it's like driving from Aberdeen to Vienna, and then continuing to Istanbul.

Thanks to all for the positive feedback - it encouraged me to visit many more locations than I had planned and to see many more interesting aircraft.

[Stanwell]

I42,
Thank you so much for taking to time and trouble to post that log of your purposeful meanderings.

For me (and, I'm sure, lots of others) it held particular interest because it featured airplanes, locomotives and geology.
I savoured every picture - Good work! :ok:

[ancientaviator62]

When your father had that chair made he could never have envisaged that it would be the direct cause of your giving so much pleasure not only to your grandaughter but to all of us who have so enjoyed (and envied) your wonderful road trip. Another demonstration of the only universal law, The Law of Unintended Consequences. Thank you.

[Sir George Cayley]

For me (and, I'm sure, lots of others) it held particular interest because it featured airplanes, locomotives and geology.

For your next trip can I ask for automobiles and hot chicks as well?

And late to this thread I missed the Eagles reference to Winslow.

"Well, I'm standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona,
and such a fine sight to see
it's a girl, my Lord, in a flat bed Ford
slowin' down to take a look at me......"

Take easy.

SGC

[India Four Two]

Sir George,

I'll see what I can do. I may have an opportunity to fulfill one of your requests quite soon, since I might have to make a detour to Vietnam before I start my trip back to Canada.My "local" in Saigon advertises itself as having "cold beer and hot women". :ok:

On my trip up the coast, I'll also keep an eye out for coachmen in low-performance gliders!

In the meantime, here's an automobile picture for you. It's the Tesla I pulled up behind on Santa Monica Boulevard (another song reference) when I arrived in SMO last week. They are almost two-a-penny here and are usually driven by blonde chicks! ;)
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1078/p_1_57162f0c7d86b7ae6745ecf6f8ccdc4c6fd5564b.jpeg

PS I'm still annoyed that I forgot about the Eagles song, when I was standing on a corner in Winslow!

[Lordflasheart]

While you agin' rockers are Takin' it Easy ....

from - Folland's little revolutionary: the Gnat - Aircraft InFormation.info (http://www.aircraftinformation.info/art_gnat.htm)

"Primary armament on the Gnat consisted of two 30-mm Aden Mk 4 revolver-type cannon mounted in the outer portions of the air intakes with 115 ** rounds per gun.

On most other aircraft this would have caused the engines to flameout from gas ingestion, but this never happened to the Gnat as the muzzles were carefully designed to deflect gases out to the sides of the intakes. A row of four circular holes on the outside of each barrel and triangular extensions of the intake in front of each muzzle kept gas from being sucked into the engine."

** I thought I remembered it as 60 rpg, I have seen 90 rpg quoted for the Ajeet. I was surprised to see the above article saying 115 rpg. Take your pick.

The two links below refer to the two wars in which IAF Gnats took a prominent part. The Ajeet never saw combat – first flight mid-70s – out of service by early 90s.

Neither the Gnat or Ajeet were equipped with air to air missiles, whereas even the Pakistan F-86s had AIM-9B Sidewinders. Mind you, early Sidewinders would growl at anything hot.

IAF-commissioned book takes a candid look at the 1965 war - The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-commissioned-book-takes-a-candid-look-at-the-1965-war/articleshow/48638468.cms)

The Flying Hero of the 1971 War - Rediff.com India News (http://www.rediff.com/news/report/the-flying-hero-of-the-1971-war/20111213.htm)

[India Four Two]

LFH,

Thanks for the update. You can just see the holes in one of my pictures:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/668x451/p_2_2a17a21c483a874f980651a78ddab622ef3adf8e.jpeg

I was very puzzled by them.

[54Phan]

I'm just jumping in again to thank you for this most interesting thread, I24.
Great photos, great narrative and rock music! The power of Pprune.:D:ok::cool:

[Planemike]

Seconded.............!!!!:ok:

[twochai]

I'm glad you enjoyed them. The return journey will be up the coast and so I plan on seeing the Spruce Goose, Mt. St. Helens, Seattle area museums and the Victoria airport museum, including the Mosquito if I am lucky.

Don't miss the two JRM-1 Martin 'Mars' at Sproat Lake - the largest operational flying boats in the world still operational (but not for long)!

"Hawaii II" is still operational (just) while "Philippine Mars" has been repainted in USN colours for eventual display at NAS Pensacola, FL.

[India Four Two]

twochai,

A very timely reminder. I'll be going "up island" to visit a friend, so a detour to Sproat Lake would be easy.

However, it won't be until mid-October, since I have to make a business trip to Vietnam first!

I've only seen a Mars once, many years ago. It was working a fire near the coast just west of Victoria and I was on a boat. I initially thought it was a Sunderland and then I saw the "V" float struts and realized it must be a Mars, based on a picture in a WWII recognition book that I pored over during my teenage years!

[India Four Two]

I pulled up beside this immaculate RHD DB5 this afternoon (don't worry - my daughter took the photo).
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1520x961/p_3_4911be37dedd3518eff29acb4a387044a1f3e063.jpeg

I spoke to the driver (it wasn't Sean Connery), elbow to elbow as we were:

"Nice car. 1964?"
"Yes"
"I thought so from the B registration."
"Really? Not many people know that!"

[India Four Two]

Six and a half years later!

I've just been fixing my photos by removing* all the logos that Photobucket so rudely put on top of my images. :E

It's given me the opportunity to update some of the posts and add this one, with some details about the Windsor chair that I delivered to my granddaughter. I didn't have access to any of the photos, when I was on the road.

Here's the chair:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/416x620/windsor_chair_70_pct_4582d06d54b7c3b68e50cd9dbca71e0a75394fe b.jpeg

My 2 ½ year old granddaughter in "her chair". She's now nearly nine!
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x768/ada_and_the_chair_img_2676_fcf4f43fb5199136ae218ce11a551f9a7 a07a0bf.jpg

Following on from aa62's "Unintended Consequences" post, here's an engraving of Jack Goodchild, with a very appropriate title: "He heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them" :
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x640/the_chairmaker_engraving_stanley_anderson_2484557dd3142f7124 d687ffe7046f9c97aaa10f.jpeg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x1118/chair_maker_spokeshaving_a_windsor_bow_in_the_jack_goodchild _workshop_naphill_fcc9e7de1d65a50ba793648b90708b409bf92965.p ng

More picture can be seen here:
https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/DCSC/search/searchterm/jack%20goodchild

and here:
https://astonrowant.wordpress.com/chiltern-hills/chiltern-chairmakers/

The true Chair-maker was a superior Craftsman & Naphill bred. Perhaps the greatest of all of them was Jack Goodchild who could take a log of wood and, doing all the work himself, create a Windsor Chair of exquisite beauty.



My return trip can be found here:
https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/568983-road-trip-part-2-santa-monica-calgary.html?highlight=santa+monica+calgary



* Thanks to Jhieminga: https://www.pprune.org/pprune-problems-queries/644999-photo-download.html