This morning, I went out to Chino to see the Planes of Fame museum (thanks Funked for giving me the idea to go out there
).
Basically, my biggest observation was the size of the planes. No matter how many times I see them, how many pictures I see, or how many models of them I have built, I am almost always impressed with the size of WW2 planes. Reading the specs on a plane, at least to me, gives no real appreciation of how big these planes are. When the F4U was rolled out for flying today, I was awestruck at just how big it is. Seeing a live human being climb onto the wing and get into the cockpit just illustrates how big that monster really is. I felt so small standing next to it in the hangar.
There were 2 Hellcats there. (
) One of them was supposed to fly (and it may have after I left) but it couldn't due to a fuel leak and some type of hydraulic problem. The other was all opened up in the hangar next to the P-47 razorback. As big as the F6F is, it is dwarfed by comparison to the bulk of the Jug. Also, the Wildcat seems to be a much smaller plane than it actually is when looking at photos. Same with the Bearcat (had two of them there, one undergoing restoration). The SBD-5 was also there and flown along with the D-Hog. Though, the most massive single engine plane that I saw was the TBM. DAMN!!! That Turkey sure is huge!
Another observation concerned the F7F. Talk about an un-Grumman like plane. So smooth and streamlined (as much as a twin radial engined carrier plane can be) when compared to the other Ironworks products on display there.
Another thing I noticed was just how small the linkage is that locks the folding wings on some of these planes. Hard to imagine that they actually would not rip off in a pull out.
All in all, this trip was well worth the hour drive. I am probably gonna go out there again to see the Bf-109 fly next month. I know that some others out there are probably going to go. If you are going to go, let me know, I'll meet you there!
-math
