My Central California Pilgrimage, Pictures (Reno Posted)

[mrhenniger]

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 N64784

There 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.

[TAdan]

Wow Mike!

Thanks for the photo updates. You went on one heck of a trip.

[mrhenniger]

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 4

In 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.

[mrhenniger]

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.

[mrhenniger]

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

[mrhenniger]

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

[mrhenniger]

Apparently this place is closed to the public. However when I passed by I could see they had the Avenger parked outside. I stopped by to take a few pictures through the fence.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Antique Aero - 10 airframes



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman-General Motors TBM-3 Avenger, s/n 85983 USN, c/r N28SF


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - H-47 Metalplane, c/r NC879H


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Stearman-Boeing PT-13D Kaydet, s/n 42-17325 USAAF, c/n 75-05488, c/r N4766V


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Vought-Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, s/n 67087, c/r N11Y

[mrhenniger]

The Wings of History Air Museum was yet again another museum that was not open when I was able to stop in. Fortunately for me I was invited to walk around the main hangar by one of the volunteers working on a restoration.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Wings of History Air Museum - 30 airframes


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Culver Cadet


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Pitts Special S-1


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Security Airster S-1-B


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Societe Pour lAviation et ses Derives (SPAD) S-VII


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Vickers Viscount 745D, c/n 213, c/r XA-COT

[mrhenniger]

While looking for the museum, I spotted a B-25 parked on the ramp at the airport. It was nearly impossible to get any angle where I could photograph it. What I could get was not good. My apologies for the poor quality.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Morgan Hill, California, United States - B-25


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American B-25J Mitchell, s/n 44-30324 USAAF, c/r N3161G

[mrhenniger]

Before passing through San Francisco I stopped in at Los Gatos. There is a nice park there with one of those "concrete" encased jets there as a play structure.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Oak Meadow Park - T-33




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star, s/n 53-5421 USAF, c/n 580-8760

[mrhenniger]

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.

[mrhenniger]

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

[mrhenniger]

Yet another museum I was not able to visit when it was open. Fortunately much of the collection is viewable through the fence. My little point and shoot came in handy again.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Pacific Coast Air Museum - 30 airframes


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Bell UH-1D-BF Iroquois, s/n 66-16779 US Army, c/n 8973


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Cessna T-37B Tweet, s/n 57-2341 USAF, c/n 40174


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Convair F-106A Delta Dart, s/n 59-0086 USAF, c/n 263


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-4E Skyhawk, s/n 151194, c/n 13364


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - General Dynamics F-16N Fighting Falcon, s/n 163271 USN, c/n 3M-4


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman A-6E Intruder, s/n 155595, c/n I-321


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman F-14A Tomcat, s/n 160889, c/n 318


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Hawker Siddeley AV-8C Harrier, s/n 158959, c/n 712120


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Ilyushin Il-14P, s/n 0606, c/n 14800606, c/r N606RR


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star, s/n 52-9380 USAF, c/n 580-7465


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Vought A-7A Corsair II, s/n 153241 USN, c/n A150



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Vought F-8C Crusader, s/n 146995

[mrhenniger]

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

[Warbirdnerd]

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Mikoyan Gurevich-Shenyang F-4 Fresco (NATO), s/n 2705, c/r N1VC

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