In many ways what’s not to to like? The sun shines all the time. Dry heat and 75 daytime average. People are courteous. And the sound of freedom everywhere (that’s jet noise to the uninitiated!). Tucson airport is just along the road and as well as being a regional airport has the Arizona Air National Guard which I suspect has more F16s than the RAF has fast jets. Yeehah! (In fact they are currently training Iraqi pilots to fly the F16 day and night).
Then four miles to the east is Davis Monthan AFB (named after two first world war pilots lest you wondered) which has three A10 tankbuster units and the AMARC (the boneyard of retired aircraft which I have wanted to see since as a wee boy I saw a photo of rows and row of B52s and thought, gosh, that looks good). That’s a separate post you’ll be delighted to learn, but there was plenty of flying to keep me happy.
There’s also the Pima Air Museum which I was genuinely excited about given its scale. If you’d seen the smile as I approached you’d understand.
The place is epic and has the widest range of aircraft I’ve ever seen. It’s full of fascinating material about the people who flew them, their context, and is staffed by an astonishing array of charming “Docents” who positively want to engage and chat with you about what’s in view.
My favourite exchange was at the SR71 Blackbird where I was told of a departing crew going from Mildenhall (Suffolk) back to the States.
The pilot was was cleared to flyby and did so, going not over the runway, but the peace camp, at which point he climbed and went into reheat. Tents did not survive the tempest. Diplomatic consequences were swift and by the time he arrived in America his CO was waiting on the ramp. Put out you hand he was told. The pilot expressed puzzlement. Put out your hand he was told again, and on doing so, it was lightly slapped. Matter closed, said his CO.
On reflection, perhaps we we don’t have to prosecute every reported sex crime either….
Anyway, back to sublimity. Again I will put many more photos in the gallery, but below is a visual reflection of the genuine pleasure I enjoyed from seeing so many historic, rare, beautiful, and dramatic aircraft. The one that probably topped it was the B36 Peacemaker which is the ten engined (six pusher props and four jets) giant which also caught my imagination as a child when I saw Strategic Air Command starring James Stewart (he’d actually flown B24 bombers in combat during WWII).
But that’s a difficult choice and there were even artistically repainted aeroplanes which were rather fun (they’re the at the very bottom so enjoy them all!;).
And moving seamlessly onto politics?This is the first place I’ve seen a Trump/Pence bumper sticker. I’ve yet to meet anyone who is actually openly positive about Trump. But I know the majority around here must be at least sympathetic given the voting, although in saying that I’ve heard consistent criticism of Clinton and you do wonder what would have happened had there been a different candidate.
In that regard, I watched a debate on health care between Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz last night. While I wouldn’t buy a used car from Cruz, I was impressed by the broadly civilised nature of the programme which was a welcome change from the “demands” of Scottish politicians (obviously I mean Nicola and her coterie). To lighten the mood, watching Sanders was like listening to Chris (Shead) but with hair and a slightly lighter touch!
But back to here. The military types – and there are many in Tucson – are probably largely Republican. The A10 tank buster was to have been scrapped but Governor McCain kicked off about that and it has been saved – the problem apparently was that it is a single role aircraft which doesn’t fit Government efficiency. Sound familiar? (Although to be fair Nicola’s Air Force might be my 182 – another reason not to be foolish!).
McCain clearly is not enthusiastic about the Donald and I hope that is reflective of many. The press is fascinating. I’ve been watching CNN regularly and every night there is death by a thousand cuts of Trump’s latest tweets/economies of truth. Even British comedians with green cards are beginning to worry it seems. And the latest is that Trump is now claiming he wanted to delay the executive order on precluding entry from the seven Muslim states. Oh, and he’s been condemning a store that has stopped selling Melania’s products. Mind you Nicola’s shoes were on eBay so perhaps Scotland is leading the way as ever…..
Fear not, back to more planes, as well as Catholic missions and nuclear missiles, tomorrow.
Claire says:
Excellent posts here Broon! I’m sure Shedders would take a likeness to Bernie as a compliment! 🙂
February 9, 2017 — 9:18 am
Andrew says:
I particularly liked one part of the debate. Sanders told a woman who ran hairdressing salons, and was complaining that she couldn’t afford to expand her business as that would take her above 50 employees and require her to pay their healthcare. that if she had 49 employees she ought to be paying their healthcare and her failure to do so probably meant she was doing better than her competitors. The woman, who I have to observe maliciously didn’t look capable of expanding any further herself, was horrified. But just sort of thing we all might say, unless of course we were an ordinary politician.
February 9, 2017 — 3:09 pm
John M says:
“On reflection, perhaps we we don’t have to prosecute every reported sex crime either….”
Controversy aside, you’re on holiday – leave the work alone!!
February 9, 2017 — 9:56 am