Look in the upper right hand corner of this post and you’ll see exactly where I’m from. Too my knowledge I don’t know you, but I could be wrong. I have no plans to attend Quonset at this time, however my plans might change at the last minute (there’s an positive maybe). I was at NEAM last summer for a visit and I realize that the back door exits to the display area. It’s still the door in the back, hence my calling it the “backdoor”.

As an aside, I was living in the Broad Brook section of E. Windsor Conn. back in the mid 80’s while attending school. The one activity I was able to afford back then were visits to NEAM and sitting in McDonalds parking lot watching planes take off from Bradley. I absolutely lived for NEAM’s open cockpit weekends. How many museums can you think of that let you crawl around in their aircraft collection.

wow. Nope, I mean Wow. Nope, I mean WOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW 😎 😀

This is going to take some getting used too, but I think we’ll all adapt rather quickly. Top shelf job webbie, thanks.

Back to the twin engined Bell. I knew I had some info here, but it took a few minutes to dig it out. It is a Bell YFM-1 Airacuda. The crew positions in front of the engines hold 37mm guns in pivot mounts, accessable via crawl spaces through the wings from the fuselage. A total of twelve service test aircraft were produced by Bell. Though not accepted, this project is what got Bell A.C. “off the ground” as it were.

Well, I must say that there are some pretty good ones out there right now on this side of the pond. There is one though that has been running for the past couple of years that just never get’s old for me. A rather shallow television reporter and cameraman pull up in front of a quiet suburban household. They go up to the door, ring the bell, and a young man (Dale Earnhardt jr.) answers.

Dale: Yes?

Reporter: Hi Dale. We’re here to do the interview.

Dale: Ok. Where do you want to do it?

Reporter: Oh……. wherever you’re most comfortable. (Reporter cracks the phonyest smile you have ever seen in you’re life.)

scene cuts away to the interior of Dale’s Dale Earnhardt Incorporated #8 Budweiser Monte Carlo. Dale is relaxed and serene, while the reporter and cameraman are screaming bloody murder as the car is making hot laps. The scene cuts away again, this time to Dale walking away from the now parked race car. The reporter and cameraman are on the ground, leaning against the car and hugging each other whimpering as Dale say’s “Thank you guy’s.”

It never fails to make me laugh.:D 😎

If you look at the front bumper you’ll see that the chrome is peeling and needs to be redone. As for the rest, well it better look immaculate. After I hit that tree laying in the road a couple of years ago the body needed a little “tweaking”. Here’s a quick look inside:

I drive my 1955 Willys-Overland M-38A1

or my 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe. I’ll drive my 2003 Toyota Tacoma when I must though.

Originally posted by kev35

Another book I loved was ‘Down to a Sunless Sea.

That title is familiar and I think I read it quite a few years ago. Was it about a nuclear holocaust and an airliner stranded in mid-flight with no place to land? If it’s the one I’m thinking of it was an excellent novel.

As for a favourite of my own, I consider the last book I read as my favourite until the next one comes along.(I love books period.) My latest favourite is “Proof through the Night” The Ernest Pickett story, a B-29 pilot captive in Japan by K.P. Burke. However I must state in all honesty that I am somewhat biased about this book. My mothers uncle D i c k was a member of Picketts crew and was also captured when their B-29 was shot down.

“To fly and fight” is also on my all time fav’s list along with “Low level Hell: A scout pilot with the Big Red One”