Castle Open Cockpit Day

Mon May 29, 2006 1:31 pm

Had a great time there on Sunday. It was just a coincidence that we were stopping there on the way back from our vacation to Sacramento. Didn't get into as many cockpits as I would have liked, but the family was tapping their feet at the exit. Some of the planes are in fantastic condition internally, too bad they will never fly again.

Stopped at McClellan on Saturday and received a disappointment. Although Collings was there with 3 aircraft (another coincidence) the museum display area had just been closed indefinitely the day before without notice.

I have lots of photos from Castle in case anyone is interested in anything specific. Maybe I'll post some later once I get unpacked.

BK

Mon May 29, 2006 1:33 pm

I'd like to see some shots of the B-29 if you took any

Mon May 29, 2006 2:40 pm

APG85 wrote:I'd like to see some shots of the B-29 if you took any

Got some inside and out! Please stand by.

Mon May 29, 2006 10:22 pm

Mon May 29, 2006 11:50 pm

At the moment I cannot remember his last name. But the various bombers that are at Castle Museum that were collected in the 1980s and early 90s are a tribute to Russ, the former director of the museum. I am not even sure if he is still alive.

John

Tue May 30, 2006 12:05 am

They have a fantastic bomber collection. Not much funding though.

Tue May 30, 2006 12:46 am

This B-29 looks beter than NEAM's B-29 did 15 years ago.
Someone sould get her inside.

Tue May 30, 2006 1:19 am

Was the B-36 open this year?

Tue May 30, 2006 1:51 am

More please!

Tue May 30, 2006 6:14 am

Awesome pictures! Thanks! The B-29 doesn't look to bad on the inside. I expected it to be somewhat gutted but it appears to be realatively intact.

Tue May 30, 2006 9:55 am

The B-36 forward compartment was open, but we could not go up to the top level (pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer)...only peek into that area. The bomb bay was open, as were the camera ports.

Also went inside the B23 Dragon and the tail gun position was open (without a docent). Not much left inside the a/c.

Spent some quality time in the Avro Vulcan (could look into the cockpit), the B45 cockpit and the KC97 (complete with a high time KC97 pilot in that cockpit).

Literally thousands of people - a huge effort by the CAM volunteers. Thanks to all the CAM'ers for the rare opportunity.
:lol:

Tue May 30, 2006 10:45 am

those cockpit pics remind me of Hill AFB's B-29. That is almost exactly how it looks as well (well as of about 4 years ago) It would be noce to see some serious funding arrive to help restore it!

Tom P.

Tue May 30, 2006 4:11 pm

When I was in the Navy at lemoore we went to one of the last airshows they had there when the Castle was active. Things just don't rot in the Valley. Things looked the same but fadded 20 years latter. Last time I was there We took a 727-100 there for a D Check and it didn't come out it had so much corrosion. They chopped it up! That was my favorite plane. RIP N11ONE

Tue May 30, 2006 11:39 pm

Raven wrote:More please!

Tue May 30, 2006 11:43 pm