Tag Archives: travel

Joe Davies Heritage Airpark

Today we hit the high desert to visit the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale.  Although the open-air museum is free, it’s jam-packed with a priceless collection of beautiful and important airplanes. The park is owned by the City of Palmdale. It’s named after Joe Davies, a local who commanded Building 42 in the mid-60’s,Continue reading “Joe Davies Heritage Airpark”

Blackbird Airpark

Here’s a fun opportunity: brave the winds and heat of the Antelope Valley to spend a few minutes at the Blackbird Airpark. It only takes a few minutes because the museum is tiny – just four airplanes, a fire truck and a gift store. Oh, but the airplanes there are so impressive. You start withContinue reading “Blackbird Airpark”

Santa Maria Museum of Flight

The next time you find yourself on the Central Coast, make a little time to visit the Santa Maria Museum of Flight. Sitting at the west end of the Santa Maria City Airport tarmac, the museum occupies a pair of hangers left over from the airport’s days in the US Army Air Force. Back then,Continue reading “Santa Maria Museum of Flight”

Estrella Warbirds Museum

We journeyed out through the vineyards of Paso Robles wine country to visit The Estrella Warbirds Museum, an impressive collection of vintage aircraft adjacent to the Paso Robles Municipal Airport. Estrella packs a huge number of surprises in a relatively small footprint. Their massive collection of mostly Vietnam-era fighter jets and helicopters is augmented byContinue reading “Estrella Warbirds Museum”

One Motor, Many Planes

The Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force features a number of spectacular pieces of World War II flying history.  Their first acquisition was the massive Curtiss C-46 Commando, the largest twin-engine plane built by the allies during the war.  The pride of their fleet is the North American PBJ maritime patrol bomber, theContinue reading “One Motor, Many Planes”

Curtiss C-46-Commando

The history of the C-46F “China Doll” is typical of post-WWII surplus transport aircraft. “China Doll” was one of 234 C-46Fs built at the Curtiss plant in Buffalo NY. She rolled off the assembly line and was accepted in July 1945, with Curtiss Construction No 22486 and AAF serial No 44-78663. Records indicate that earlyContinue reading “Curtiss C-46-Commando”