Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:03 pm
Whew,
What a day,
Took a nap at 3:00. went to the bar around 5:00 for some free snacks.
Went to the Pagoda on Skyline drive at around 6:30. (drove through some clouds)
Had dinner at the Antique Aeroplane Rest. (that was excellent)
Made it to the comedy show at our hotel at 9:00 (local boy, he was from Chelsea, MA originally. He had us dodging ping pong balls and one girl in the crowd was covered in silly string by the time the show was over)
Oh yeah, airplanes......
Maybe tomorrow!
What a day,
Took a nap at 3:00. went to the bar around 5:00 for some free snacks.
Went to the Pagoda on Skyline drive at around 6:30. (drove through some clouds)
Had dinner at the Antique Aeroplane Rest. (that was excellent)
Made it to the comedy show at our hotel at 9:00 (local boy, he was from Chelsea, MA originally. He had us dodging ping pong balls and one girl in the crowd was covered in silly string by the time the show was over)
Oh yeah, airplanes......
Maybe tomorrow!
Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:38 pm
Ok we are home,
Saturday at Reading was looking bleak in the AM, but by Noon it was clear for a little while. The airshow was sparse and alot of gaps but that is to be expected for a Friday washout. There were several arrivals during the day Saturday including a Catalina, TBM, Hurricane, Yak-9, Bob B. in his Mustang and Chris and Kevin in the T-6s. (I heard Kevins name on the radio, I still dont know who he is) and a C-60. There were also several warbug arrivals during the day. We spent most of the day watching from the grassy area in the parking lot at the end of the runway. Shade, nice grass and good company, what else could you ask for? (I asked for the C-54 to fly) NOPE!
The final Pass was a loose three ship missing man (P-47, P-51, Yak-9)
and we packed up and got on our way to PHL for the trip to Bridgeport.
Saturday at Reading was looking bleak in the AM, but by Noon it was clear for a little while. The airshow was sparse and alot of gaps but that is to be expected for a Friday washout. There were several arrivals during the day Saturday including a Catalina, TBM, Hurricane, Yak-9, Bob B. in his Mustang and Chris and Kevin in the T-6s. (I heard Kevins name on the radio, I still dont know who he is) and a C-60. There were also several warbug arrivals during the day. We spent most of the day watching from the grassy area in the parking lot at the end of the runway. Shade, nice grass and good company, what else could you ask for? (I asked for the C-54 to fly) NOPE!
The final Pass was a loose three ship missing man (P-47, P-51, Yak-9)
and we packed up and got on our way to PHL for the trip to Bridgeport.
Mon Jun 06, 2005 7:22 am
Sunday at Reading as a bit of an Oven, it was hot. 
Most of the Aircraft flew (no the C-54 did not, I don’t think they fly are any airshows).
I left my house at 4am and got back home at 10:30pm, so it was a long day, but well worth the trip. Tim Savage was the only WIX person I saw at the show. I have some nice shots of Their B-25 leaving the show.
I have to start going through the pictures from the weekend, about 1000 of them. I’ll post some highlights tonight. I haven’t even viewed them all yet.
Most of the Aircraft flew (no the C-54 did not, I don’t think they fly are any airshows).
I left my house at 4am and got back home at 10:30pm, so it was a long day, but well worth the trip. Tim Savage was the only WIX person I saw at the show. I have some nice shots of Their B-25 leaving the show.
I have to start going through the pictures from the weekend, about 1000 of them. I’ll post some highlights tonight. I haven’t even viewed them all yet.
Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:01 am
Looking for info on one of the L-Birds at the show. the FAA # appears to be N1156Z.
I found something that says its a M20J, I have no idea what that is yet (I'm hitting google for that next)
EDIT:
Google seems to tell / show me that the FAA# is not correct.
I guess I'll post a picture tonight.
Edit 2:
its a L-5G N1156Y
I found something that says its a M20J, I have no idea what that is yet (I'm hitting google for that next)
EDIT:
Google seems to tell / show me that the FAA# is not correct.
I guess I'll post a picture tonight.
Edit 2:
its a L-5G N1156Y
Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:32 am
Hi Tim,
L-5 actually. N1156V, painted as "Gayle Ann", "Guinea Short Lines". CAF bird, assigned to National Capitol Squadron, of which I am Asst Mx Officer.
What would you like to know about her?
BTW, M20J is probably a Mooney.
L-5 actually. N1156V, painted as "Gayle Ann", "Guinea Short Lines". CAF bird, assigned to National Capitol Squadron, of which I am Asst Mx Officer.
What would you like to know about her?
BTW, M20J is probably a Mooney.
Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:19 pm
We're too poor to fly at shows.. Our interior is set up as a Museum and Tribute to the Great Berlin Airlift. At over 200GPH fuel consumption + parts, maintenance and general wear and tear, It has to be an unusually sweet proposition for us to break down our setup, stop tours, (which stops our potential income for quite a long time), crank up wait around for our window wasting precious fuel, do the flypast or two, park, shut down, and re-set up for public touring.
Most of our operating capital is raised through the walk throughs, so for us to interrupt that for such a long long time has to be for a very special occasion.
We exhibit the C-54 primarily for Educational purposes. The Berlin Airlift was so very important to World history, and it gets very little attention in the history books. Keeping that memory alive is our mission. The flying is just a small part of what we do.
If you've toured the interior of the aircraft, you can easily see what we're all about. A 4 engined transport is a very expensive bird to maintain, and we dont get the same draw that a bomber gets, so that limits what we are able to do.
I hope you enjoy seeing the plane around the country, our very small team of volunteers work very very hard to keep it going. And its getting harder and harder to do with the costs of gas, parts and insurance.
If you want to help ease the burden, get involved! We're easy. Visit our website at www.spiritoffreedom.org and help keep the C-54 going! You can also get involved with our Boeing C-97! A long term project, but nearing completion!
Great website, by the way!
Kevin Kearney
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation
C-54 "Spirit of Freedom"
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance"
www.spiritoffreedom.org
Most of our operating capital is raised through the walk throughs, so for us to interrupt that for such a long long time has to be for a very special occasion.
We exhibit the C-54 primarily for Educational purposes. The Berlin Airlift was so very important to World history, and it gets very little attention in the history books. Keeping that memory alive is our mission. The flying is just a small part of what we do.
If you've toured the interior of the aircraft, you can easily see what we're all about. A 4 engined transport is a very expensive bird to maintain, and we dont get the same draw that a bomber gets, so that limits what we are able to do.
I hope you enjoy seeing the plane around the country, our very small team of volunteers work very very hard to keep it going. And its getting harder and harder to do with the costs of gas, parts and insurance.
If you want to help ease the burden, get involved! We're easy. Visit our website at www.spiritoffreedom.org and help keep the C-54 going! You can also get involved with our Boeing C-97! A long term project, but nearing completion!
Great website, by the way!
Kevin Kearney
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation
C-54 "Spirit of Freedom"
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance"
www.spiritoffreedom.org
Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:32 pm
I've seen and toured your aircraft at several show around the Northeast. Very nice and a great way to "show" history.
I can't wait to see the C-97.
I can't wait to see the C-97.