Warbird Information Exchange

I plan on going there in a few weeks. Is it a cool trip. I am going to Myrtle beach for two weeks, and thought this would be a cool trip. Anyone know how far it is? MapQuest says like 2 hours.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Don't forget the Locator! Here are the aviation sites within about 50 miles of Myrtle Beach...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php ... ngeCoor=30

And here are the sites surrounding the Yorktown...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php ... ngeCoor=30

Mike

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Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Yes, I have been there. I have to say though asking if an Essex class aircraft carrier is cool is like asking if Mr. T likes jewelry. I pity the fool who doesn't go see one! I have been on USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Lexington (CV-16) and the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) (you don't want to know about that story . Anyway, they are all awesome, I don't remember the Yorktown being quite that far from Myrtle Beach, but who knows I had just drove 1200 miles that trip so after a while the miles just blend together. I think the Lady Lex was my favorite but then again we were playing with a Corsair at the time, and I got to play in all the aircraft including the SBD from lake Michigan so that just makes everything better.

Would be cool to see some pix from Yorktown as the museum is now. I visited Yorktown 26 years ago...those were some of the first airplanes I ever photographed with a proper camera (Minolta SR-T 200 SLR, which I'd received as a birthday present about two weeks earlier). In those days they had TBM, F6F, FJ-3 etc. below decks and F9F, F11F, E-1 and an exec variant B-25 on deck. (I assume the B-25 was meant as a Doolittle Raider reference, but a stock B-25B it certainly was not...very slick-looking exec conversion sporting long slim tiptanks).

S.

http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index. ... .msg107344

August

Mustang Driver,

Its probably about an hour and a half drive depending on where at Myrtle you are. The traffic in and around Myrtle can get really bad. The trip is well worth it. Lots of good eatin' around there too! Be sure to eat in Murrell's Inlet (south) and Calabash(North).


Steve G

It's a shade over 90 miles from central Myrtle Beach to the Yorktown at Patriot's Point, but drive time can vary from about an hour and a half or so, to over two hours, depending on Myrtle Beach traffic and where in Myrtle Beach you leave from.

I have made several trips to the Yorktown, and find it pretty well done. Some of the restorations are better than others, and most of the aircraft on deck need some attention.

Last time I was there the deck was undergoing repair, and it was a mix of finishes. Some original wood/metal, some sheet metal and some epoxy.

There are a lot of exhibits below decks, and the Medal of Honor Museum is good, too. It's a worth-while trip.

E-mail me when you're coming, and I take you to the Air Force base to see the transports (C-47, C-121, C-124, C-141).

Walt

Do my eyes deceive me?

Sounds great, and Rarebear, I will take you up on that.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I was there about a month ago... it's well worth the visit. Some very nice, and rare WWII naval aircraft, including an FG-1D, F4F, SBD, TBM, B-25, and a whole host of more modern types on the deck. The carrier itself is a really cool thing to visit, and you will need quite a bit of time if you want to investigate all of the displays properly. The aircraft carrier deck has just been through a major restoration, and much of the surface is now restored to excellent condition. There are one or two interesting things to look at off the ship as well, including a WWII submarine, destroyer, and coast guard cutter. A small Viet Nam display is on shore with a Huey and a cobra and some other items. Make a day of it, you won't be disappointed!

Richard

I second that. The Yorktown was my first warship experience when I was a kid. Most of her is open to the public. I suggest taking some Osteo-Biflex or Aleve if your knees give you trouble; there are alot of different levels to explore with numerous ladder wells.

The destroyer Laffey was nicknamed "The Ship That Would Not Die" after surviving horrendous damage off Okinawa. It is interesting to see the pics of her when she made it into drydock.

I believe that they just recently added the sail and rudder of the former boomer Lewis and Clark on a berm built up to resemble a submarine underway.

Also, don't forget to visit the Hunley!

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"So there I was, knee deep in a river I couldn't pronounce..."

Sounds great. THanks alot.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

While you are in Myrtle Beach there is a Hunley exhibit where a bunch of the restaurants are. Course nothing could compare to the real thing. There's a fun bar called Crocodile Rock, its around the lagoon from Margaritaville. Believe it or not there is a really good seafood restaurant at the Bass Pro Shop.

Avcraft is on the Myrtle Beach airport, they have a bunch of Dorniers and on the southeast corner of the field there is an A-7 and an A-10 on static.

When you go to the Yorktown be sure and catch the ferry that goes out to Ft Sumter.

Re: the aircraft at Myrtle Beach Airport - there is also an F-100 there.

I just got back from a two week long trip to South Carolina. I had a blast meeting my greeting my friend who just got home from the war. We went out to the beach house were the four of us hung out and enjoyed the sun. I had the chance to go out and see the U.S.S. Yorktown on Tuesday, and it was just a great event. They are carrying out a great deal of work on the restoration of the ship itself, and a few of the planes. The people were all very nice as well. I then had the chance to meet up with Rarebear who showed me the C-124, C-141, C-121, and C-47 on base. That was really great. I am glad that we did not get struck by lightning! I will post pics in the morning.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director