Classic Flyers museum visit '23
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 12:36 pmAs mentioned in the post on the domestic airport visit had some time to kill recently when in the Bay area so popped in to the Classic Flyers museum. This is TOTALLY a must do if you're out this way, great collection of static exhibits, lots of historical info, friendly staff and a super fair entry fee. There's often a chance you'll catch a presentation going on and as there are a bunch of operational warbirds based here a likelihood you'll see something running, or even departing for a flight.
When I was a kid I spent a fair chunk of time reading Commando mags which occasionally featured Catalina's operating around the Pacific during WWII, and CF (Classic Flyers) have the fuselage of one hanging from the roof and it's accessible via stairs to climb around inside
View looking out of the famous side bubble..
Next to that is a B-17 mockup which you can wander through, was a surprisingly decent amount of head-room...
Beneath the B-17 was a mockup of a gunner turret ... this place is COZY !!!
Back down on the ground floor is an original Grumman Avenger. This shot doesn't take it all in coz to be honest these things are massive and hard to get in a ground level shot indoors. I couldn't believe just how huge they are, impressive for a carrier aircraft..
CFers also have one of the ex-RNZAF A4 Skyhawks, don't know any history of this one and I know there's lots of bods here who do who might be able to fill us in, but super cool to see one in this condition, you can climb up a ladder on the starboard side and take a peek in the cockpit
Outside there is an ex NAC Heron, looks in decent condition from a distance but the poor old girl could do with a lick n polish both inside and out, I might have to go over and join a working bee one weekend
And this lovely Harvard which is a flying example, you can pay for a spin in one too, they even do a multi-ship experience thing where you and a buddy can be flown side by side in two Harvards, how cool would that be?
Apologies for the image quality all, the iPhone doesn't do too bad a job but not quite the same as an SLR in the right hands
When I was a kid I spent a fair chunk of time reading Commando mags which occasionally featured Catalina's operating around the Pacific during WWII, and CF (Classic Flyers) have the fuselage of one hanging from the roof and it's accessible via stairs to climb around inside
View looking out of the famous side bubble..
Next to that is a B-17 mockup which you can wander through, was a surprisingly decent amount of head-room...
Beneath the B-17 was a mockup of a gunner turret ... this place is COZY !!!
Back down on the ground floor is an original Grumman Avenger. This shot doesn't take it all in coz to be honest these things are massive and hard to get in a ground level shot indoors. I couldn't believe just how huge they are, impressive for a carrier aircraft..
CFers also have one of the ex-RNZAF A4 Skyhawks, don't know any history of this one and I know there's lots of bods here who do who might be able to fill us in, but super cool to see one in this condition, you can climb up a ladder on the starboard side and take a peek in the cockpit
Outside there is an ex NAC Heron, looks in decent condition from a distance but the poor old girl could do with a lick n polish both inside and out, I might have to go over and join a working bee one weekend
And this lovely Harvard which is a flying example, you can pay for a spin in one too, they even do a multi-ship experience thing where you and a buddy can be flown side by side in two Harvards, how cool would that be?
Apologies for the image quality all, the iPhone doesn't do too bad a job but not quite the same as an SLR in the right hands
