Mustangdriver's trip to Pensacola

[mustangdriver]

A friend of mine and I went to the National museum of Naval Aviation last week. Despite all of the negative comments I hear on here all of the time, I went in with an open mind. The museum is great!!! The people there were all very friendly, and the museum aircraft and displays were really amazing. THe planes are restored to a very high standard, the same as the NASM and NMUSAF. I was pleased to find out that many of the aircraft on outside display are due to come in with the addition of the new building which is going to break ground in the fall.









While we were there one day, we went to Hubert Field and saw the field museum there. THese aircraft are among the nicest looking aircraft I have seen on outdoor display!!





Then we went on to Eglin AFB.



We did alot of of sight seeing and even made it over to meet up with Owen at the U.S.S. Alabama Great people, and displays. THe aircraft hangar is great!! Once the aircraft are restored, it looks like you can eat off of them.

[Second Air Force]

Thanks for the update, mustangdriver. It's good to see the Coronado inside getting attention. Is "The Turtle" P2V-1 inside now, or still displayed outside?

Scott

[daveymac82c]

Wow, you're right. Those airplanes are in amazing condition. I'm glad to see they've been preserved so well!

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Cheers,

David M

[mustangdriver]

It is still outside, but is slated to be one of the aircraft in the new building along with a bunch of others including both of the big flying boats, the PBY outside, the PBJ, PB4Y, and the PV2. The A-26, PBM, Lockheed 10, A3D were all in the shop.

[mustangdriver]

I have over 1,000 pics from the trip so let me know if there is something you want to see.

[mustangdriver]

We also caught the Blue Angels practicing. A really cool treat.

[Chris]

Great stuff. Were you able to get out on the back lot and restoration facility?

[APG85]

Any pic's of the Skylab Command Module and the NC-4 Flying Boat?

[mustangdriver]

I did get to the shop and out on the lot. I have pics of the really cool flying boat and apollo module. I will post pics,

[Chris]

I didn't get to go on the back lot or restoration areas so anything from there would be great!!!!!!!!!!

[mustangdriver]

Here is what is in the shop.



And in the museum were these two artifacts.

[APG85]

Thanks for posting the pictures. The NC-4 Flying Boat is somewhat overlooked, but has a facinating story that is well worth reading about. A very historic aircraft...

[mustangdriver]

Some more stuff.

[Tigercat]

Hey mustangdriver......

Thank you for the shots you have posted. I sure hope to get to that museum sometime in the "near" future.

My problem is that when I was in Dayton last fall on my first trip to the NMUSAF, I only had one day there after the Gathering and I probably only saw one-fifth of that museum.

I think I will try to do this somewhat logically, first finish the NMUSAF, AND THEN get to the Naval stuff!

Isn't that Bearcat with the folded wings the one that Howard Pardue used to own and fly?


Ted

[wls3]

Chris,

Good pics, thanks for posting.