October-November doings

In late October we were invited to a wedding in Tucson, so we took the opportunity to visit Phoenix and Tucson, as well as the grandchildren in Benicia. First things first. We flew from Sacramento to Phoenix, via SFO, then drove to Tucson. In Tucson, we stayed at the Star Pass Golf Resort. Of course, it was set in the cactus part of Arizona (isn't it all?).

Pima Air and Space Museum

The next morning, I headed out to the Pima Air and Space Museum. It is a fabulous aircraft museum, with more than 250 aircraft on display. For those not interested in airplanes, just page on down past the rest of these paragraphs, while for those interested, I shot a few pictures on site, with only a modest number surviving the cut. Prominent in the outdoor display are several aircraft associated with high government and military. Here is the Columbine 1 used by Eisenhower in Europe. It was also used during the Berlin airlift. This DC-6 (with military designation VC-118A) was Air Force One during the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations. The presidential seal is just to the rear of the door. Several years before it was retired, the 707 (VC-137) jet aircraft was acquired, though. Similar (but never Air Force One) is this VC-137B that has an illustrious history. It was used by Kissinger during his shuttle dipomacy, was used to return the Iranian hostages in 1980, and to "bring home" some other folks I seem to have forgotten the details about.

The T-28C trainer was used by the Air Force and Navy, not only for training, but also in combat. This B-25 bomber is of the type used by Doolittle and his group in the 1942 surprise bombing of Japan. The B-29 Sentimental Journey is the type of bomber that carried the first atomic weapons.

Moving on to fighter row, here is the first of the "century fighters", the F-100 Super Sabre, this particular one was designated Discovery when it was christened by Lady Churchill in 1957 in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. Century designates that the craft was able to sustain supersonic speed. My favorite is embodied in these F-4 Phantoms, multiservice fighters that are definitely wicked looking with their upturned wings and drooping tails. Another Phantom (Navy) is shown in this picture with an F-11A Tiger in the background that was used in 1967-1968 as a Blue Angel aircraft . An almost one-of-a kind (one of three built, two surviving) is this F-107A built by North American. It lost the competition to the F-105 Thunderchief built by Republic. Now, moving over to MIG row, there are five MIGS, two 15s, two 17s, and a 21.

Just behind us as we looked at MIG row is bomber row, with three B-52s. One of these (designated NB-52A) was used to carry the X-15 hypersonic aircraft aloft for launching, and the closeup shows the more-than-100 symbols designating the launches, with upward designating a flight for altitude, and level a flight for speed. There is one symbol headed backward for (??? forgot - but aborted flight, I suppose). It's near the front of the second row. There is a mockup of the X-15, but I didn't see it in my limited time at the museum. Alongside the B-52s is a B-47, a beautiful aircraft and the first of the near-sonic nuclear bombers.

One of the many decomissioned SR-71A Blackbird aircraft is on display. It can fly at over 2000 mph and photograph in high resolution thousands of square miles of area in one mission. It actually grows in length nearly a foot due to high temperatures created by friction with the atmosphere at 80,000 feet (where there almost isn't any atmosphere). Until the aircraft heats up, it oozes fuel from all seams. Special low-volatility fuel and high temperature lubricants had to be developed. And this type of aircraft first flew more than 40 years ago. Incredible!

Another interesting craft of a different sort is this Super Guppy, designed to carry large aircraft and missle components. The size of the cargo bay is hinted at in this picture with people in the foreground. Under the right wing is a Beechcraft Bonanza owned by Marion Rice Hart. She learned to fly at age 54, at age 74 made a solo crossing of the Atlantic, and at age 84 flew the plane to the Pima Museum. She made flights over the Pacific as well, and took a 3 year around the world cruise in a 72 foot ketch.

Finally, the museum also has a replica of the Wright Flyer, the centennial of its first flight coming up real soon now.

The Wedding

Ah, yes, the real reason for the trip. Here is a shot of Tracy and Alan during the ceremony.

Shots going home and in Benicia

Return flights were a reverse of those going. After taking off from SFO we headed more or less directly toward Sacramento. Thus, we passed just to the south of Benicia, the Bencia bridge in the lower left, part of the mothball fleet in the lower right, and Evan's and Laura's house just below and to the left of the small looking water tank just to the left of center and nearly centered in the vertical. A little further along I shot the runways at Travis Air Force Base, with an airplane apparently shooting a touch-and-go. See it? The shadow is most prominent, between the runway and the taxiway near the right end. Yeh, looks like it's landing, but it didn't. Later I took a few grandkid pictures. Fiona loves to swing and do acrobatics. Ian was recently "Unique of the Week" at his school, and this poster gave some highlights. At a park, Fiona practiced her acrobatic skills, and later we did a slide together. At home, Ian and Fiona mixed it up on the trampoline. The next day we stopped by while Ian's class took a trip to a pumpkin farm, and Ian, Fiona, and their friend Kyle showed off their pumpkins.

More shots from airplanes

This shot of Walker Lake in Nevada was taken between SFO and Houston in early November. As we were landing in Houston I noticed this parallel flight also coming in. On the way out, we circled back over Houston Bush International Airport.

Back home

When we returned home we had company. Hailey, her friend James, James' daughter Madison, and their new Chocolate Lab puppy, Tater, were there. Tater hailed in from Klamath Falls. Couldn't resist a few shots of the latter two. Here's Tater hanging out under the kitchen table. He wasn't all that shy, however, and here Madison and Tater are getting to know each other. True friendship is finally achieved when Madison is allowed to share Tater's space.