Re: Warbird
There is a fabulous museum at the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, Ca. (now open to general aviation) Great burgers for lunch, and a most impressive display of warbirds. The have all sorts of bombers including the B17, B24, B25, A26, B36, B47, B52, FB111, Vulcan (british jet) and much, much more. There are a number of trainers, tankers, fighters and utility types also. Even an SR-71. There are even a couple open cockpit days during the year. The two P51's on the field are not actually part of the museum, but you can watch and listen to them most weekends! That Merlin V12 sounds so completely and wonderfully musical to me when they whiz by! The pilots love to show off, and when you stand at the fence on the approach end they can't resist an opportunity to show what 300+ mph looks and sounds like. Awsome! There is a flying MiG onfield as well. That sucker is LOUD. I grew up near a fire fighting air tanker base which mostly ran b-17's and s-2's when I was a kid. I miss those B-17s! Those four P&W's all rumbling in harmony- wow! Some weekend when you're not boating take the kids/grandkids to an air museum for a truly memorable time. Take your camera! I have many great memories taking Dad and my kids out to Castle. Lots of great war stories were told- we all got some great history lessons from Dad and the volunteers. Dad is gone but we still have the pictures and memories.