Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Trip to the Planes of Fame Air Museum (pics)

Awesome pics and story, Charles.

Bren R.

I swear I had nothing to do with it.

I don't think the airplane would have ever made it off the ground using the diesel version of the Wright Cyclone R-1820 engine Sean. Although there was a diesel variant of this engine that was used in some Sherman tanks (450hp), the 1820 used in aircraft was rated at 1200hp and used 90 octane aviation gasoline.

I have the utmost respect for the guys who flew this this stuff back then, they were brave.

Awesome pictures Sean, I'll have to see the rest whenever I get back home from work later today ... thanks for sharing!

Sounds like a interesting place to visit. I had an opportunity to take a short flight in a restored B-17 several years ago, the expierience was incredible.

OH MAN! An ongoing dream of mine, if I can ever afford the fare.

Just fantastic, Sean! Thank you so much! That is a stunning collection. I will look forward to seeing it some day.

In the interest of adding value, I'll offer the following to those of you who enjoyed Sean's story.

Seattle's Museum of Flight at Boeing field is a truly amazing, world-class museum. I think it is one of the premier attractions of a great city. It includes "The Personal Courage Wing" which documents stories from WWI and WWII aviators. Better than the Smithsonian air and space museum, IMO.

Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection will be open in 2008 in Everett. "Rare World War II aircraft... restored to flying condition". The collection had previously resided in Arlington, WA. The move to Everett looks like it will facilitate greater public access. They are currently restoring a B-17 and a P-38, among others. Whatever you might think about Microsoft, Allen has earned the gratitude and respect of a large, diverse population by creatively using some of his resources for preservation and community.

The Spruce Goose now resides in McMinnville, OR at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Decent collection of other vintage aircraft, too.

The Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon has a really nice collection of warbirds in a wooden blimp hangar. Cool.

I know there are dozens of other, possibly better aviation museums throughout the world. These are just a few that came to mind in my region; we remain tremendously proud of the history (if not the present) of the Boeing Company here in Washington.

That's really cool stuff.

Obviously, I don't understand aerodynamics as well as I thought I did. How on earth do you get lift out of a wing that's the same on both sides?!

Ken the horizontal stabilizer, or the *wing* on the tail as you and Sean may be referring does not provide any lift for the aircraft at all, it only helps stabilize the aircraft in flight as well as having the elevators attached that provide pitch control.

Ah, missed that. Now that I look at the pictures, it's obvious. Thanks!

Also a wing cross section can be symmetrical, that doesn't inpede the creation of lift in any way, since you need to remember that the AOA (angle of attack) is an important part of the equation for the creation of lift.