Suggestions for a Pensacola trip?? some damaged aircraft....

[armyjunk2]

Hi everyone , Next week end I will be headed to Pensacola and the Naval Air Museum, I will be going down I-65 from Louisville.... anyone have any good ideas on things to see along the way?? I'm thinking airplanes and armor...thanks everyone

Last edited by armyjunk2 on Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[TimAPNY]

Leave wife and kids at beach (if you have them) when you go to the Navy Aviation Museum. You will be happier for it and so will they.

There is a Rocket (I think a Saturn, but not a V. I think it is something else) on I-65 just as you cross into Alabama at the rest stop / info center.

The USS Alabama is not to far away also. I think there is a F9F on a stick at the first rest stop coming into Florida also. There is some web site that has all that information on it but I can't remember where it is. Maybe MikeH can help me out

Wave as you pass the Saturn Parkway as I live just a mile or 2 away.

Tim

[P51Mstg]

Catch a Blue Angels practice session. Check their website for info. Its like Aug 19th through the 22nd. Get to the Museum at 7Am or so and you'll get a nice spot. Usually a few THOUSAND show up for practice. Really cool.........

Bring a BIG camera and they can put you off to the side in the photgraphers section too...........


As Tim said there are planes on sticks on the interstate. As you head to the USS Alabama there is a Skyhawk at the rest area near the border (westbound). When you are east bound as you come into FL there is a Cougar at the welcome center/rest stop........

Mark H

[Jack Cook]

Make sure to go see Fort Pickens that guards the bay and the Spanish Forts on the base if you have access.

Last edited by Jack Cook on Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mrhenniger]

You know... it would be really nice if someone other than myself would include a link to the Locator!

Anyway....... here are the relevant states:
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php ... =KY#TheMap
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php ... =TN#TheMap
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php ... =AL#TheMap
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php ... =FL#TheMap

If you are interested in testing out the new trip planner feature before I make it go public, let me know.

MIke

[TimAPNY]

Make sure to go see Fort Pickets that guards the bay and the Spanish Forts on the base if you have access.

If I recall correctly, when you get the pass to go to the Navy Museum it also covers the Light house and the fort(s).

Tim

[Robbie Roberts]

Can you get me some good pics of the USN WWII K-type blimp gondola they restored? Another string had details about my involvement with where it came from in NJ, and I would love to see whatever details you can get pics of

Thanks! Have fun!
Robbie

[Chief]

Stop by and say hello to Marine PFC Joseph Flynn. He will be graduating on August 23rd from the Avionics Maintenance School there.

A proud Grandpa

[michaelharadon]

Does anyone know if Trader John's is still open?

[skymstr02]

Trader Jons has been closed for years. A Navy Chief re-opened it after Jon passed away, but it didn't last...too bad.

When you go in the museum, at least go look at the plaques in the Cubi Bar and restaurant.

[snj5]

After Trader died, I heard it closed down, sold and is something else now. Toobad, used to be an amazing place.

While you are at the NavAir Museum, though, they have reconstructed the Cubi Pt. bar from Subic. Lord that brings back some memories that are truly unpublishable....

Definitely catch the USS Alabama - they used to have one of the few Kingfishers around. If you can drive an hour further than Pcola, the Armament museum at Eglin AFB in Ft. Walton is small, but pretty good. Used to have a B-17, B-25, P-47, P-51, F-105 plus many others. And on the way to Eglin, Hurlburt field has some nice statics from Air Commando ops in Vietnam and elsewhere like O-1s, A-26, C-130, T-28s, helos, C-123, AC-47, etc.

[Chris]

As you approach Athens Alabama, catch hwy 72 East and see the space center at Huntsville. If you've never seen an Apollo- Saturn V launch vehicle, It's impressive

[armyjunk2]

hi everyone and thanks, don't stop posting I'm taking notes and will be happy to get some pics for rRobbie and anyone else....

[armyjunk2]

Jack, Pickens is closed due to Katrina,well sorta closed. You can hike in 14 miles round trip or there is a boat trip over but I think we will pass and go to Forts Morgan and Gaines. We will be staying on Base so we will see both forts there...

[RickH]

You'll drive right by Fort Barancas, it's on base. Check out Officers Row, some of those homes are considered to be antebellum homes, the old base infirmary is pretty cool it also dates to pre Civil War. The wall surrounding it has a neat history, it was built to 12 ft tall because it was believed that mosquitos couldn't fly higher than that. Be sure that you eat at McGuires, interesting decor and pretty good food.