Searching for local museums to visit, I found the Lone Star Flight Museum on line. I expected a quick visit. Three hours and 78 pictures later…
There was a substantial section on space travel. Houston is Space City after all. Thinking of the pilot in the family, we saw lots of information on military pilot training starting with WW1.
-
- Heritage Hangar with the Space Gallery to the right.
-
- Waltrip Hangar.
-
- Space Shuttle simulator.
-
- Space Shuttle simulator interior.
-
- Curtiss A-1 Triad. 14 were purchased by the US Navy in 1911. “Triad” for its retractable landing gear. This is a replica.
-
- DC-3 was widely used in both commercial and military versions. One military version towed the gliders my Dad rode to Normandy.
-
- I was enamored of the images on the fuselage. This is on a Douglas Skyraider, a US Navy aircraft carrier bases attack plane first flown in 1945.
-
- The renowned Exxon Flyin’ Tiger was built and flown by aviation legend Bruce, Bohannon. 30 records between 1999 and 2006.
-
- The Museum’s B-25 remained stateside during World War II and was converted into a trainer after the war. Acquired by the CIA, it reportedly flew covert missions during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion.
The DC-3 reminded me of my first commercial flight on a DC-6, Cleveland to Chicago with a stop in Toledo for refueling. We were already on the runway for takeoff when they realized they needed to return to actually refuel. Not a great start for a first-time flyer. Then from Chicago to Phoenix on a 707. Since then I’ve been on all the 7×7’s.