 |
| The first is a B-17 ... flying over the house ... very low. It came from a nearby small airport and is part of the Arizona Commemorative Air Force (previously called the Confederate Air Force). They offer rides. I couldn't cough up the $800 they were asking. |
 |
| Next up is a butterfly who was part of an amazing "third Spring" we enjoyed last October. |
 |
| When the saguaros bloom here, they become a feast. I didn't even see the cactus wrens in the picture until I got it off the camera. |
 |
| This one was taken at Avery Island in Louisiana. They have an area dedicated to wild great egrets. |
 |
| Two mockingbirds were posing for me, but I was surprised when it turned out that one took flight for the picture. I thought it looked like the kind of thing a bird book would have. |
 |
| The bird is a white-winged dove. You wouldn't know it given the pink coloration. It took some digging, but I finally found out that they sometimes tag birds with dye that lasts a year or so, does no harm, and allows them to track the bird for awhile. Certainly bizarre to me. |
There. Relatively short, not too controversial, maybe even a little enjoyable. You know, for a change.
5 comments:
A few years ago one of the groups that maintains flyable WW2 era planes set up shop that the KC downtown airport for a couple of weeks and offered rides at about $400 a pop. For months I listened to the commercials advertising this and just couldn't justify spending the money. Then, out of the blue, my Dad called and asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. Even though it was a pretty cold cloudy day, that ride was one of my favorite memories of my Dad. It was very cool and I would highly recommend it if it is at all possible.
We ended up in a B-24, but it really didn't matter. I also got a tiny taste of what my uncle experienced during WW2 as an Air Force gunner.
Great shots!
I have a photography hobby with different subjects:
Military aircraft, old, new, active, museum.
Birds, flowers, critters of all sorts, and clouds and rainbows. All these point to the Creator, and the marvelous imagination He had to come up with all the colors and types, etc. How anyone can look around at all of creation and deny a Creator, is beyond my comprehension (they "suppress the truth").
Just as aside, referring to Craig's comment, I was fortunate enough to work Air Traffic Control for 30 years, with over half of that in the Chicago area. Where I worked, we encountered a lot of warbirds flying to and from air shows, but also those which were based in the Chicago area, including the field at which I worked. I met many of the pilots due to being out taking photos of their planes, and also just communicating with them on a daily basis. Unlike most controllers, I enjoyed being on the field with the planes (I was also a pilot).
Well, this activity led to me being invited to fly in several warbirds. I got an hour in the back seat of a P-51D Mustang (sort of a jump seat which replaced WWII radio and armor plating), the turret position of a TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber (the type Pres Bush flew), T-6G Texan, two PT-17 Stearman trainers, a PT-19 Cornell trainer, a UC-78 Bobcat light utility transport, a UC-61 light utility transport, and a C-47 Skytrain. I was able to tour the insides of a B-25 and B-17 for free also.
As Craig noted, it really gives you a taste of what the "greatest generation" experienced.
My brother-in-law treated himself to a flight on a B-17. He paid for the "cheaper" seat midship. The guy who paid for the premium bombardier seat didn't show, so he got to take the whole ride in that spot. Great videos. Looked like fun.
WOW!! premium seat for the price of a cheap one -- what a deal. And that bombardier position is an ace site. One of these days........
Post a Comment