April 18, 2010
With a little time left in our last day in the So. Cal desert, my parents and I took the recommendation of my brother to find Apollo Park in Lancaster and check out the Apollo 11 space capsule. But as you can see, there are no pictures of the capsule because they moved it! So after a nice little walk in the park, we headed out for the campground, but stopped when we saw the sign for this little museum. We weren't sure if it was open, but the sign said it was open until sunset and the gate was sorta open. After convincing my parents that the worst that could happen is they would ask us to leave, we decided to take the chance. We had no clue what we were in for...
As we walked into the little museum, we were greeted by a guy wearing a pair of cutoff shorts and a mechanic's shirt. He told us he usually takes people on a half hour tour starting in the museum, but since the large hangar was only natural lighting we would start there. Um...ok then... So we went through the large hangar, then outside to see the larger planes and helicopters, then through the museum, and finally through the smaller hangar. An hour and 15 minutes later I had heard more about airplane engines than I could ever have imagined...Our tour guide had been working as an engine mechanic since the 60's and had pretty much worked on every military plane built since then. He had an incredible recollection of dates and models and all sorts of things I couldn't remember 10 seconds after he told me about it. I have nearly zero knowledge about planes and mechanics, so it was a bit much for me, but would have been fun with someone who could have actually engaged him a conversation. But some of the planes were pretty cool, especially the big ones outside. And it gave me an excuse to play with my new fisheye lens!
As we walked into the little museum, we were greeted by a guy wearing a pair of cutoff shorts and a mechanic's shirt. He told us he usually takes people on a half hour tour starting in the museum, but since the large hangar was only natural lighting we would start there. Um...ok then... So we went through the large hangar, then outside to see the larger planes and helicopters, then through the museum, and finally through the smaller hangar. An hour and 15 minutes later I had heard more about airplane engines than I could ever have imagined...Our tour guide had been working as an engine mechanic since the 60's and had pretty much worked on every military plane built since then. He had an incredible recollection of dates and models and all sorts of things I couldn't remember 10 seconds after he told me about it. I have nearly zero knowledge about planes and mechanics, so it was a bit much for me, but would have been fun with someone who could have actually engaged him a conversation. But some of the planes were pretty cool, especially the big ones outside. And it gave me an excuse to play with my new fisheye lens!
Inside the helicoper
Howard Hughes' modified B-52 Bomber...something missing??
I think this was an Australian plane
