Road Trip – Return from Thunder Over Michigan

I had some more time to think about your question today. I did another road trip, leaving the house at 6:30 AM. I just got back (9:30 PM). I will have some interesting pictures to share, but that is for another post.

As I indicated, I had some time to think about it. A good museum must have well laid out displays with support text on panels, etc. The placed doesn’t have to be fancy. However… the difference between a good museum and a great museum are the docents. Outgoing, friendly, informative, enthusiasm are all qualities that a docent should posess. I once visited the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, CA, before it closed. A docent there made my day. He saw my interest as I was photographing everything with wings. He took me on a brief guided tour to tell me about the specific airframes, and when we were don’t he said… “Do you want to see P-47? We have one in the hanger over there…” Do you think I said yes? 😉 After taking me across the tarmac to another hangar which he opened up, he gave me a walk around tour of the P-47. He then said… “We have a P-38 in the next hangar.” He didn’t need to ask if I wanted to see it. Another walk around tour including allowing me to climb the ladder at the back and get a good look in the cockpit. That was one memorable day, and it was the docent that made the difference. I had a similar experience at the Palm Springs Air Museum, and heard many stories from WWII pilots that were docents. Another memorable day. I don’t know if it a California influence or what, but when ever I give a tour at Vintage Wings I try to match their high standards.

Mike

Your story reminds me of a Museum called “Fantasy of Flight” not far from were I live. The owners name is Kermit Weeks and he has a great collection including the sweetest P-51C Mustang on the planet. Which, he fly’s all over the county by the way. As a matter of fact I met Mr. Weeks for the first time at the Dayton International Air Show some years back. Regardless, if you love WWII aircraft and want to get up close an personal with the restortion process. His Musuem is Highly Recommend! It also has Corsair Flight Simulators (which you climb in like the real thing and you can fly against several other people) and even a B-17 that you can walk throught with the sights and sounds of a Bomber Mission during WWII. Its hard to explain but a experience you wouldn’t want to miss!:D

www.fantasyofflight.com

I had some more time to think about your question today. I did another road trip, leaving the house at 6:30 AM. I just got back (9:30 PM). I will have some interesting pictures to share, but that is for another post.

As I indicated, I had some time to think about it. A good museum must have well laid out displays with support text on panels, etc. The placed doesn’t have to be fancy. However… the difference between a good museum and a great museum are the docents. Outgoing, friendly, informative, enthusiasm are all qualities that a docent should posess. I once visited the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, CA, before it closed. A docent there made my day. He saw my interest as I was photographing everything with wings. He took me on a brief guided tour to tell me about the specific airframes, and when we were don’t he said… “Do you want to see P-47? We have one in the hanger over there…” Do you think I said yes? 😉 After taking me across the tarmac to another hangar which he opened up, he gave me a walk around tour of the P-47. He then said… “We have a P-38 in the next hangar.” He didn’t need to ask if I wanted to see it. Another walk around tour including allowing me to climb the ladder at the back and get a good look in the cockpit. That was one memorable day, and it was the docent that made the difference. I had a similar experience at the Palm Springs Air Museum, and heard many stories from WWII pilots that were docents. Another memorable day. I don’t know if it a California influence or what, but when ever I give a tour at Vintage Wings I try to match their high standards.

Mike

That is a tough one. My first visit to the USAFM in Dayton resulted in a number of jaw dropping experiences in one day. Along with their behind the scenes tours, that one ranks very high. If I had visited Duxford first, I am sure it would have been the same experience, but then Duxford is really more than one museum. I am fond of the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, but then I am biased as I live in Ottawa. For similar reasons Vintage Wings gets a nod.

To be honest, I am not really qualified to answer that question. There are so many museums I have not had a chance to visit (especially in the UK and Europe), that picking one I have been to would not be fair. I hope you don’t think I am dodging your question here. 😉

Mike

How true………….my favorite has to be the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida! Yet, I would have to admit my bias.:diablo:

Well, what’s your favorite Military Aviation Museum and why?

That is a tough one. My first visit to the USAFM in Dayton resulted in a number of jaw dropping experiences in one day. Along with their behind the scenes tours, that one ranks very high. If I had visited Duxford first, I am sure it would have been the same experience, but then Duxford is really more than one museum. I am fond of the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, but then I am biased as I live in Ottawa. For similar reasons Vintage Wings gets a nod.

To be honest, I am not really qualified to answer that question. There are so many museums I have not had a chance to visit (especially in the UK and Europe), that picking one I have been to would not be fair. I hope you don’t think I am dodging your question here. 😉

Mike

I have been to both museums. There are both listed in my aviation museum / site locator which I simply call the “Locator”. It can be found at…

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php

It has decent coverage for about 2/3 of the U.S.A. and all of Canada, New Zealand and Australia. I have not done much Google Earth hunting for sites in Europe yet, so for that reason I hadn’t mentioned this tool on this forum yet. However, if you are planning a trip to Canada or the US to visit aviation sites, this might be a useful trip planning tool.

Mike

Well, what’s your favorite Military Aviation Museum and why?

I have been to both museums. There are both listed in my aviation museum / site locator which I simply call the “Locator”. It can be found at…

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php

It has decent coverage for about 2/3 of the U.S.A. and all of Canada, New Zealand and Australia. I have not done much Google Earth hunting for sites in Europe yet, so for that reason I hadn’t mentioned this tool on this forum yet. However, if you are planning a trip to Canada or the US to visit aviation sites, this might be a useful trip planning tool.

Mike

Of course just two hours south of Detroit is the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio (i.e. Springfield, Ohio). Which, is a must for any Military Aviation Buff!:D

www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

I have posted a number of pics taken during my return trip home from Thunder Over Michigan. I will give links to the albums directly below, but in the future if you ever need to find them I suggest you take a look through my Travelogue at…

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Travelogue.php

So here are the albums…

I left Thunder early before the Blue Angels display (saw them on the Friday and Saturday) so I could go a bit further west before starting the long trek east. I drove to Jackson where I found a T-33 displayed at the EAA at Jackson County Airport / Reynolds Field. This example appears to be very well maintained.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560237190DZNDCc

After leaving Jackson, Michigan, I drove east to Detroit and crossed the border back into Ontario at Windsor. In Windsor I found Jackson Park and the replica Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire. These two attractions were mounted in place of the pylon mounted Avro Lancaster which was removed for static restoration a few years ago.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560258369udtTWK

After overnighting in Tillsonburg with family, I continued by trek home with a stop in Toronto at the Toronto Aerospace Museum. I wanted to get some pictures of the progress made on the Lancaster. The museum was not open, but they graciously allowed me to get my pictures. Thanks T.A.M.!

http://rides.webshots.com/album/551529959ooWnTM

Not far from the Toronto Aerospace Museum is Defence Research and Development Canada. The name says it all. They are preparing to mount a CF-116 on a pedestal out front of their facility. I found the CF-116 in a parking lot waiting for a paint job before the mounting.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560257810rqvcVD

I continued by trip east out of Toronto, but did not go far when I stopped at the Markham airport to view the aircraft on display there. Public access is not allowed to the airfield, so I could only take pictures of the latest acquisitions from a distance including a number of CF-116 fuselages.

http://community.webshots.com/album/416680669fQHtTd

After leaving the Markham airport I turned south to get to highway 401, then east again with my next destination being CFB Trenton. I heard there was a new gate guard and I found it was the brilliantly painted CT-133. I managed to get a few pictures from inside the car even though it was raining heavily.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560257905XpcDnu

Just a short distance away from the CT-133 is the RCAF Memorial Museum. I heard the CF-100 from the grounds of CFB Trenton had been moved to the museum, so I stopped by for a few pictures. It was raining lightly and there was much lightning in the area. I figured it was not a good idea to be standing in the open beside aluminum aircraft in those conditions, so I snapped a few quick pictures and left quickly.

http://community.webshots.com/album/547437635yYOqpS

After the RCAF Memorial Museum it was back to the 401 and another easterly leg on my trip home, this time with a stop in Kingston. I had not stopped by for a few years and I wanted to confirm the locations of the CF-116 and CH-136 for the Locator. I snapped a few pictures as well. Next stop… home!

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560259259sinQQW

Enjoy!

Mike

P.S. If you would like to be added to my email distribution to be provided with updates of additions to my site like these above, go to…
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/UserLogin.php
…and sign in. You will be taken to a page where you can select an option to be added to the “General” email distribution.

Nice Pics! Have you heard of the Air Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan. It has a small yet very nice collection. Its about one hour do west of Jackson Michigan. (i.e. Kalamazoo)

www.airzoo.org