Our driver Doug provided commentary on most of the aircraft we passed. His notes included personal history and experiences and airframe-specific history. There are more than 150 aircraft on display on grounds, including an A4 (center) and P3 Orion (right). Barry flew both of these during his time in the Navy back in the 1980s.
We hopped off the trolley and joined a tour led by Lt. Col. Terry Bryan. He flew over 300 missions in Vietnam, in over 65 different aircraft during his career with the Marines, and was a wealth of information. He led us through the first floor exhibit hall's displays chronicling the evolution of aircraft. All aircraft on display are restored originals and not reproductions.
We then entered Hangar Bay One, the newest exhibit hall. On display just inside the door was Marine One that transported Presidents Nixon and Ford (and was the backdrop for Nixon's farewell Victory salute). There were areas devoted to Coast Guard aviation, Women in Aviation, a Vietnam POW exhibit, and the Apollo moon landing. The real attractions here, however, are anything having to do with the resident Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron.
Lt. Col. Bryan's tour ended here and we passed beside a H53 helicopter on the way back to the main exhibit hall. We grabbed a quick lunch in the Cubi Bar Cafe which was decorated in memorabilia salvaged from the NAS Cubi Point Officer's Club in the Phillippines which was closed following a volcanic eruption. The restaurant was itself an exhibit with unique and colorful plaques, helmets, and carvings covering the walls and ceilings ... and forming the tops of the tables.
Following lunch we went to the Giant Screen Theater and had a private viewing of Magic of Flight. This classic IMAX film is now of legal drinking age, but still showcases great cinematography and information. The dated clothing and electronics give away the movie's true age. A quick lap around the second floor included stops for Naval artwork, lighter than air vessels, cockpit trainers, and Skylab. There were several motion-based flight simulators, but I couldn't convince either of the boys to jump in. We entered a 4D experience on the daily routine on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. All day the Blue Angels Atrium had been the scene of ceremonies -- a Master Chief's retirement and graduations of both Air Force and Navy training programs. It was a delicate balance to be both curious and respectful at the same time. Observing the ceremonies from the balcony seemed to be the best compromise ... and provided a great view.
The special feature of this museum was that it was free (except for the movie.) We could have easily spent another day here as we sped through many of the exhibits and did not see close to everything. If/when we come back, I will wear multiple layers of Cold Gear and sweatshirts. This was undoubtedly the coldest museum I've ever been in. So there's the tie-in to the title of this post -- a great museum with high-functioning air conditioning units.
We returned the rental car and were driven back to the marina in the dark. It was late and we enjoyed the leftovers from last night for supper. Severe storms are supposed to pass through tonight and be followed by high winds and thunderstorms tomorrow. Odds are we'll stay here another day and hope for a better weather window to develop. We need to be in Carrabelle, over 200 miles to the east, by next Wednesday at the latest to stage for our overnight Gulf crossing. We are experiencing a bit of "Gotta Get" anxiety. We know we're on a tight timeline and Mother Nature is not cooperating. Fingers crossed.
No comments:
Post a Comment