National Museum of Naval Aviation

[Yava]

Great pics. Would like to go there and see this myself with my own eyes not only on pics.

[Feinder]

Free - It's a good use of our Federal Tax Dollars, don't you think? USAF museum is free as well.

-F-

[MkXIV]

Whoops yep your right TBM[&o]

ORIGINAL: PBYPilot

ORIGINAL: MkXIV

Wildcat

Gonna hafta second guess on this one - looks like a TBM/TBF to me. To confirm look two pictures above the original position of this one where you can see the long greenhouse canopy and the round ball turret. Also, no wheelwell in the nose cowl on this one.

Very cool pictures! Gotta go there.

I really like the cutaway PBY!

Thanks!

[MkXIV]

ORIGINAL: patrickl

Hi,

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

These are great pictures!  How much was it to get into the musuem?

Did they have models of the aircraft available for sale?

Fantastic pictures!![&o][:D][&o][:D] and of course taken with an excellent camera. Which part of Alabama is it? I really need to go there soon.[:D]

Pat

It is along the gulf coast only about an hour from the USS Alabama (see the other thread for pics of it)

here are the links

http://www.naval-air.org/

and

http://www.ussalabama.com/


Don't forget the the USS Drum, a gato class sub is also open for tours with the Alabama!

[Feinder]

Had they re-opened the superstructure of the "USS Cabot"? 
 
When Knavey and I were there in May, it was closed off.  Did you notice that a portion of the hanger was set up as the deck of a CVL, complete with island?  When I went there a few years ago, you could tour the superstructure (not -that- much there, but still a nice touch).  But it was closed when we were there 3 months ago.
 
-F-

[MkXIV]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Had they re-opened the superstructure of the "USS Cabot"? 

When Knavey and I were there in May, it was closed off.  Did you notice that a portion of the hanger was set up as the deck of a CVL, complete with island?  When I went there a few years ago, you could tour the superstructure (not -that- much there, but still a nice touch).  But it was closed when we were there 3 months ago.

-F-

Actally funny you should mention that, while I was on the tour I noticed it looked like you could go in it. But after the tour was over, the XO's reception was going on so you really could not get to that area, I forgot to go back once they reopened that section. But that display is a good example of just how some those little CV's were. You can see in some of the pictures a flight deck painted on the floor (and the Island of the cabot) that is a 1:1 scale of what the actual carrier was like!

For those who haven't been there before there are guided tours every two hours or so that last about 1.5-2 hours given by fromer vets, first time I was there a few years back, my guide was a ex SBD and Helldiver pilot. the tour is free and completly optional but I would recommend it! other that that the entire place is free to roam on your own. There is also a bus tour which takes you outside to see some of the bigger planes they can't fit inside (like a Connie. PBJ, PB4Y etc.)

[Knavey]

Here are some of our trip pics when Feinder and I went.

[Knavey]

And another shot

[Knavey]

They had a presentation on the sinking of the Oriskany for that artificial reef when we were up there, but we missed it by a couple of hours.

[Knavey]

Another...

[Knavey]

Everyone knows what this one is...

[Knavey]

AVG

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: Knavey

Everyone knows what this one is...

WOW.

Didn't think there were any Stukas left.

[Knavey]

Pretty rare to see one of these intact.

[Knavey]

Another angle.

[Knavey]

They wouldn't let us shoot them! [:D]

[Knavey]

Bigger than the ones I had hanging from my bedroom ceiling growing up.

[Knavey]

Shiney!

[Knavey]

Don't think they have these in WitP.

[Knavey]

But they have these!!!