[Captain Eddie]

VERY nice, Louie. As always, loved the WW I birds especially.

[jim]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

I had no idea this was such a great museum. Had I known, I would have gone there when I was in Orlando last November for a few days. Next time for sure!

This forum certainly contains very valuable info (and not just about diecast, as in this case), and I'm very glad to be a member.

FVD

Hey good sir, I note you reside in Germany, look up some of those very cheap flights and trip over to Hendon or Duxford for a long weekend. Amazing places.

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by jim

Hey good sir, I note you reside in Germany, look up some of those very cheap flights and trip over to Hendon or Duxford for a long weekend. Amazing places.

I have been to both previously, although that was a while back (about 6 years ago for Duxford the last time, more like 20 for Hendon). Absolutely fantastic places, particularly Duxford. It really is time to go back with ol' Ryan Air.

But you know how it goes, the Mrs prefers to go towards Italy and such, where there is more sun. Go figure. However, I may sign up for a triathlon in the UK this year and that could be combined with a couple of museum visits.

Last time I was at Duxfod, they flew the F6F, F4U, and F7F. What a sight! Although I must say the pilot of the F6F was taking too many risks; I thought he was not coming out of a barrel roll in time but he did... just (maybe 15 or 20 feet to spare at the most).

FVD

[jim]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

I have been to both previously, although that was a while back (about 6 years ago for Duxford the last time, more like 20 for Hendon). Absolutely fantastic places, particularly Duxford. It really is time to go back with ol' Ryan Air.

But you know how it goes, the Mrs prefers to go towards Italy and such, where there is more sun. Go figure. However, I may sign up for a triathlon in the UK this year and that could be combined with a couple of museum visits.

Last time I was at Duxfod, they flew the F6F, F4U, and F7F. What a sight! Although I must say the pilot of the F6F was taking too many risks; I thought he was not coming out of a barrel roll in time but he did... just (maybe 15 or 20 feet to spare at the most).

FVD

Thats sounds like Mark Hanah you saw. He must have been having a bad day, he used to pull out at about 5 to 10 feet.

Hendon has changed quite a bit since you were last there thats for sure. I was there last summer and spent a full day enjoying myself and getting told off many times for touching! (well she was a very nice tour guide). I jest of course, actually it was the ME262 that I was climbing all over. Still has its genuine paint scheme all original. Wonderfull stuff.

How about you drop your good lady in the center of London with a wedge of cash and then you shoot over to Hendon. You could buy a few models from the shop there and not have any hassle because its certain she will have spent all her money on loads of goodies....

[Louie]

There was also an almost entirely original Spitfire there. It is said it is the most original flying Spit in existence. There was also a Connie there in Lufthansa markings. There was also a B-24 but it had a terrible paint scheme so saved the disc space. I saw in the same hangar as the Mustangs a very rare P-40 trainer that is the only one of it's kind. There was also a Fokker DR1 but dare say it was original. Took a picture of the worlds only grumman Duck flying but was not a good print so passed posting it. It had quite a distinguished career.

[mikeb1958]

Originally Posted by Louie

great gift shop.Reasonable enough. Not like 8th AF Museum.

Yes, very reasonable prices as they used to sell various Corgi's too. I will be going there myself this coming Saturday. Been there a total of 5 times and love it! The end of this month we will also be in Savannah, Georgia and drop in at the 8th AF museum to see what's going on.

[Louie]

I thoroughly enjoyed the 8th AF museum. I also recommend the CAF museum in Texas and the Battleship USS Alabama in Mobile,AL as well as the D-Day museum in lovely New Orleans Louisianna. Oh and also the naval aiviation museum in Pensacola Florida. Some beautiful birds there for sure.

[Kaptin_Kirk]

Great pictures Louie. Thanks for posting.

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by Louie

I thoroughly enjoyed the 8th AF museum. I also recommend the CAF museum in Texas and the Battleship USS Alabama in Mobile,AL as well as the D-Day museum in lovely New Orleans Louisianna. Oh and also the naval aiviation museum in Pensacola Florida. Some beautiful birds there for sure.

Yeah, Pensacola is just awesome. I was there 5 years ago last. I only wish I had more than one day to spend there (it was the whole day, but still, too much to see).

But actually the museum I want to see most these days is the USAF museum at Wright Patterson AFB. I haven't been there in 25 years, and to me, as a retired AF guy, that's the ultimate. Some day soon...

FVD

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by jim

Thats sounds like Mark Hanah you saw. He must have been having a bad day, he used to pull out at about 5 to 10 feet.

Hendon has changed quite a bit since you were last there thats for sure. I was there last summer and spent a full day enjoying myself and getting told off many times for touching! (well she was a very nice tour guide). I jest of course, actually it was the ME262 that I was climbing all over. Still has its genuine paint scheme all original. Wonderfull stuff.

How about you drop your good lady in the center of London with a wedge of cash and then you shoot over to Hendon. You could buy a few models from the shop there and not have any hassle because its certain she will have spent all her money on loads of goodies....

Jim,

The London thing sounds like an idea. One thing though: the model prices in the UK are just way too high these days, particularly with the weak Dollar (that what I still get paid with). For a while a few years ago, I used to order models on the net from CAM (Collectors Aircraft Models) in the UK, and was even a member to getthe discounts, but I stopped doing that. The US prices are way better, and even though I live in Germany, I only have to pay US postage rates. It's pretty bad when the UK prices for Corgis are the same in Pounds are they are in Dollars back in the US (at a 2-to-1 exchange rate).

Oh, and thanks for clarifying the fact that the F6F pilot (if it was Hanah) was doing this on purpose. The thought did cross my mind at the time, but I still don't like it when they cut it that close. These airplanes are so rare and valuable (not to mention the pilot's life, of course), and there have been too many airshow accidents in the past few years. Just my opinion.

I've been mulling the UK museum trip over, and I'm just going to have to do it soon. My wife will be OK with it, she's actually pretty supportive (she married a pilot, after all).

FVD