RTIC: Visit on John Wayne Airport

[Romantic Technofreak]

Not far from Greg's residence is John Wayne Airport, a regional airport south of Los Angeles. The Lyon Air Museum is to be created there. President of this Museum is Mark Foster, a good friend of Greg's. He had the friendliness to guide us arround. The museum itself is under construction yet.

Greg and Mark Foster on John Wayne Airport:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMAG0009.jpg

Star of the scene is "Fuddy Duddy", a B-17 in property of MajGen. William Lyon, former Chief of U.S. Air Force Reserve. You can see "Fuddy Duddy" flying in Kutscha's corresponding thread:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMG_0487.jpg

Greg and Mark Foster (he also owns this Cessna L-19 in the Chino museum) have a little talk inside "Fuddy Duddy":
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMAG0010.jpg

This is the bomb aiming device:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMAG0011.jpg

[Romantic Technofreak]

The bow machine gun is made of...wood! Anyway, it makes the aicraft lighter... The device below also has something to do with the bombs, rack selector or whatever.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMAG0012.jpg

I prefer to sit in a bomber than in a fighter. It is more spacy and there are more interesting things, also the outside sight is better. And you sit more comfortable, als fighter seats are uncomfortable having no upholstery (it is expected that you wear a parachute on your back and an inflatable lifeboat under your bum, what I didn't do...)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMG_0480.jpg

Don't know why Greg likes to photograph me in the bomb-bay-bridge...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMG_0481.jpg

C-47 "Fifi Kate" is also there, Mark Foster got a bit length-cut:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMAG0014.jpg

[Romantic Technofreak]

But let's return to impressive "Fuddy Duddy":
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMAG0013.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMG_0482.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMG_0483.jpg

Where is Greg in this picture? This is the question!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMG_0485.jpg

[Romantic Technofreak]

First time here? Scroll up please!

It was a quite cool and windy day, autumn is also coming in Southern California:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/IMG_0486.jpg

Hope you enjoyed, and best regards, RT

[GregP]

Hi RT!

That was a very nice day, cool wind and all. Mark Foster is the former General Manager of the Planes of Fame Museum. He gives rides in the Museum's T-6 and the P-51D, and does display flying in the F4U-1 Corsair.

He also is now in charge of the collection of General Lyon. It includes "Fuddy Duddy" the B-17, two C-47 / DC-3 aircraft, and an A-26 Invader.

Unfortunately for RT and me, the A-26 and one C-47 were away from the collection having maintenance and paint done, and so were not available.

We consoled ourselves by cooking a steak and eating ourselves into lethargy, deciding that we could BOTH pilot the planes better than anyone else (a bit of humor, there?). Beer helped.

As I recall, RT got here on Saturday evening, we went to Chino and Palm Springs on Sunday for a liesurely tour, relaxed on Monday, went to San diego on Tuesday and Wednesday, relaxed on Thursday, saw the Lyon collection on Friday, did the Chino Work thing on Saturday, and RT flew home on Sunday.

Our relaxation included walking along the ocean and having some drinks on the beach. It's terrible and you should NEVER do it. Trust me.

At Chino on Saturday, we did some fun things (maybe some more pics in the future?), and RT got to sit in, walk in, and photograph some very nice warbirds and see an unusual engine running. His pics are testament to his being there. The volunteer work on Saturday was not particularly productive, but the people are all very nice and we had a great time doing what we did. Sometimes having fun is better than working! We got productive next weekend, and many people say "hello!" to RT, even after his visit is over. (the owner of the red Yak-52, Robin, says "Hi!," among others ...)

RT has a knack for setting up neat photographs and did so with regularity. Thanks, RT!

I enjoyed it and we may just have to do it again sometime! Hope you are having a good time back home, and please make MontanaMotor join the group again! Threaten him with raw vegetables and dirty underwear if he doesn't particpate. Beer may help.

[Ricky]

This is the bomb aiming device:

Call Security! We have a German taking photographs of the Norden!:D

RT & GregP, some great photos in all the topics, many thanks for sharing. And I'm happy to see you guys had a great time.

[Lightning]

Hi Rt and Greg,

I'm so glad you made it to the US to meet up with Greg, RT. And Greg, you obviously were the perfect host for our friend RT. It looks like a good time was had by all.

This is just another example of why this forum is in a class by itself. Not only are its members a select little group of cyber-buddies, but there have been international friendships formed on a face-to-face basis. Way to go!

Best regards,
Lightning

[Paolo Tagliaferri]

Nice photos, and glad to see your faces :D

[Corsarius]

I agree with Lightning (my God, did I just say that?). This isn't just a forum. It's a community. Glad to see what RT and Greg looked like, and it certainly looks like you've had a really fantastic holiday in the US, RT!

[Romantic Technofreak]

And I'm happy to see you guys had a great time.
Yes, that's what it was!

And Greg, you obviously were the perfect host for our friend RT.
Indeed!

This is just another example of why this forum is in a class by itself.
This isn't just a forum. It's a community.
Yes, that's how it is. And that's how it should be. Somewhere else you won't get that.

glad to see your faces
Glad to see what RT and Greg looked like
Well, thanks for your politeness...;-)

it certainly looks like you've had a really fantastic holiday in the US, RT!
I had!

Fine if you enjoyed (still a bit more to follow) and best regards, RT