This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:00 pm
With the sun setting I headed further south to Bakersfield going directly to the airport. I got a few shots before I lost the light completely...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Bakersfield, California, United States - DC-3, T-38, T-38, UH-1 (fuselage - mounted on trailer?)

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Northrop T-38A Talon, s/n 60-0566
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-47A-30-DK, s/n 43-48221 USAAF, c/n 25482, c/r N64784There may have been another T-38 stored on the airfield, but it was much too dark at this point to even look for it. So I justed moved on. I grabbed some dinner and headed west for Santa Maria, driving through the mountains and getting into my hotel late. Despite missing one plane it was a productive day.
I have already started to upload the pics from Day 4. Stay tuned!
Last edited by
mrhenniger on Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Sun Dec 19, 2010 1:46 pm
Wow Mike!
Thanks for the photo updates. You went on one heck of a trip.
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:29 pm
Day 4 had me traveling from Santa Maria to Santa Rosa. If you would like to see my route go to...
Aerial Visuals - My Central California Pilgrimage, Day 4In the next series of posts will be be displaying my photos from September 13th. However, I have added some new features to the Gallery page which allows me to specify both photographer and a date range. So if you would like to view the pictures in the gallery from Day 4 go to...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Gallery Featuring Photos by Mike Henniger on 13 September 2010...or if you want to see something cool (or at least I like it) check out the slide show for my photos from September 13...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Gallery Featuring Photos by Mike Henniger on 13 September 2010...just grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and enjoy the show.
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:32 pm
This was a particularly bad day for visiting museums which were not open. I tried to make the best of it. Unfortunately the Santa Maria Museum of Flight was not open on Mondays. I knew this ahead of time, so it didn't matter if I visited there first thing in the morning, so I left the hotel shortly after sunrise and headed to the museum.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Consolidated-Fleet 2, c/n 157, c/r N7629B

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, s/n 147825 USN, c/n 12589

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American F-86F-40-NA Sabre, s/n 55-5035 USAF, c/n 227-268
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-4S Phantom II, s/n 153868, c/n 2403

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Stinson L-5 Sentinel, s/n 42-98218 USAAF???If anyone can confirm I have the ID correct for this one please let me know! The ID I am using here is not confirmed correct. What I am using is based on the markings and assuming they represent the construction number.
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:34 pm
Continuing north I headed for San Luis Obispo. The place was easy to find. There is a guard at the gate, but feel free to drive up and ask to visit the "museum". The guard will direct you to the parking on the right and point out the compound where the aircraft are displayed on the left.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Camp San Luis Obispo Museum and Historical Site

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada U-6A Beaver, s/n 53-2817 USAF, c/n 614

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, s/n 51-7312 USAF, c/n 22046
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky CH-34C Choctaw, s/n 53-4544 USAF, c/n 58-106
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Bell OH-13E Sioux, s/n 51-13793 USAF, c/n 0379
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Hiller OH-23C Raven, s/n 56-2259 USAF, c/n 861
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky UH-19D Chickasaw, s/n 59-4973 USAF, c/n 55-1277
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:38 pm
I grabbed a breakfast in San Luis Obispo before getting back on 101 North for Paso Robles. The next stop was the Estrella Warbird Museum. This was unfortunately another one of those places I had no hope of visiting while it was open (only open later in the week and this was a Monday). I took what pictures I could from the road.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Estrella Warbird Museum
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech Expeditor 3T, s/n 1392 RCAF, c/r N506PA
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Cessna T-37B Tweet, s/n 57-2322, c/n 40255
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-4A Skyhawk, s/n 137826, c/n 10723
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-47B-5-DK, s/n 016 IDF, c/n 25869, c/r N47SJ
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Fouga CM-170 Magister, c/n 430
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman A-6E Intruder, s/n 154171 USN, c/n I-306
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter, s/n 61-3064 USAF, c/n 583D-5735, c/r N824NA
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-4J Phantom II, s/n 155890, c/n 3520
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Morane Saulnier Paris MS-760, s/n 77
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:40 pm
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:42 pm
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:43 pm
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:44 pm
I tried to get into visit the Moffett Field Museum, but the guard at the gate had no idea what I was talking about and directed me to the nearby white tent of the NASA Visitors Center. I thought it was best not to argue the point and moved on.
The drive north was fantastic. It was my first time driving across the Golden Gate Bridge. I was on my way to Santa Rosa.
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:45 pm
The main goal of visiting Santa Rosa was to visit the Pacific Coast Air Museum, but when I got there I discovered Aerocrafters and they had a number of interesting airframes parked outside.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aerocrafters - 10 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman F9F Panther, s/n 144388 USN

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman HU-16A Albatross, s/n 6531 FAB, c/n G-33, c/r N98HU

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman UF-1 Albatross, s/n 131911 USN, c/n G-296, c/r N416C
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American B-25J Mitchell, s/n 44-86698 USAAF, c/n 108-47425, c/r N325N
Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:50 pm
So it was another dusk to dawn day. I found a Subway on my way to the hotel. It was time for diner and some sleep. Another big day was coming up. A trip back to Sonoma and eventually onto to Reno.
Working on Day 4 photos now.
Mike
Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:47 am
According to WD#5 This MiG-17(Shenyang F-4) used to belong to the CAF. In fact the CAF name is still under the tail, anyone know how it ended up as part of the collection at Castle? Was it a trade? What did the CAF get in return?
TIA