Author Topic: If you're ever in the Florida panhandle (Read 321 times)

hblair · « **on:** April 30, 2002, 09:38:37 AM »

you MUST check out the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola. They've got more planes than you can see in one afternoon.
Just the WWII stuff that I can remember:

2 F4u's
3 F4F's
2 SBD Dauntlesses (I think there were 2)
1 F6F
1 N1K George
1 P-40b
1 PBY Catalina
1 Zero

In addition to the planes, there's countless other stuff to enjoy. My wife actually liked it.

Eagler · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2002, 09:43:30 AM »

pictures! pictures!

Zigrat · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2002, 09:49:55 AM »

best museum ive been to

hblair · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2002, 10:25:22 AM »

I didn't have the digital cam with me eagler. Maybe I can scan some of the photos later.

midnight Target · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2002, 10:35:26 AM »

They have a good website Go Here

hblair · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2002, 10:43:00 AM »

The Flying Tiger display was pretty cool. They had a documentary going about the flying tigers on a TV next to the display case that had the real flight logs and pilots personal stuff, and next to it was a P40-b. We spent 30 minutes taking it all in.

myelo · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2002, 12:43:29 PM »

I used to live in Pensacola -- it's a great museum. Also the blue angels have a show over the beach every summer and their homecoming show at the NAS every November.

Also stop by Trader John's, the pub where all the naval aviators hang out (lots of pictures). Trader John died a few years back, but I think the place was bought by an aviator and re-opened. (Anybody been there recently?) McGuire's Irish Pub is also good, as is Seville quarter. These are all FDB approved.

Reschke · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2002, 01:54:42 PM »

P'Cola used to be the favorite beach of choice for me and several of my college buddies. We would go hang out at McGuire's and Trader Johns quite a bit and there was one other one that I don't remember that well. It was downtown and were I met one of my girlfriends in college (she was there on spring break from the same school as me).

The one place I have not been to is the museum but I plan on going soon and taking my son during our long weekend over Memorial Day weekend.

Nifty · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2002, 03:09:46 PM »

hblair, you came to Pensacola and didn't bother to tell me? Guess you Assassins don't like to have a beer with hated enemies?

hell, I woulda come out to the Museum again.

You know, being as the Museum is FREE and all.

Durr · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2002, 09:00:25 PM »

The museum never gets old to me. I stop by there at least 3 times a week after work, since its only like a 1/4 mile from where I work (Im stationed at Sherman Field). If any of you ever want a good tour of the museum, just let me know when you will are going to be here, and I can give you a good one. I know all the little secrets and hidden things that are there, and I can take you out on the line at Sherman Field as well. It is definitely one of the best aviation museums around, second only to perhaps the Smithsonean Air and Space Museum and the AF museum at WP AFB.

BTW I believe there are actually 4 each of the SBD Dauntless and 5 Wildcats on display in the museum (of over a dozen each that they own). However, they move the exhibits around a lot, so its hard to be sure exactly what all they have at any given time. They own hundreds of airplanes, and only maybe 1/3 to 1/4 of them are on display at the museum. It takes all day to take this museum in, and no matter how many times I go, I always see something new.

Eagler · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2002, 07:59:10 AM »

Heard this morning a jet jock is missing from the AFB there