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Monthly Archives: November 2014
Was it self-defense?
A gentleman—a long-time native of Middle Tennessee—related this story about his great grandmother, that took place around 1930 in the mountains of Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau. Background In all likelihood, this story was set in an area without electricity. Electricity would … Continue reading
National Museum of Naval Aviation – More than 100 years of Unique Aviation History
Introduction The beginnings of US naval aviation are somewhat blurred. For example, the first aircraft to take off from, or land on a naval ship were demonstrations in 1910 by civil pilot, Eugene Ely, an employee of Glen Curtiss. On … Continue reading
Posted in Renaissance Bucket List
Tagged A-4, aircraft, airship, AJ Savage, Avenger, Black sheep, Blue Angels, CH-47, Corsair, DC-3, F-14, F/A-18, F4U, L-8, ME-262, museum, national, naval, Navy, NC-4, President Bush, que sera sera, R$D, Skyhawk, TBM
3 Comments
Fort Pickens, Florida Camping Experience
Prologue Everything that happens on a camping trip—whether in a resort campground in a fully equipped motor home, a small camper, or tenting—begins in and is often colored by the campground experience. Have you ever heard camping summary comments that … Continue reading
Posted in Renaissance Bucket List
Tagged beach, bird, campground, camping, coast, Culf, dune, eagle, fishing, For Pickens, fort, Gulf Breezes, Gulf Shores, gun, hiking, history, National Park, Pensacola, Riverside RV, turnstone, watching
8 Comments
The Blue Angels – Thunder over Pensacola Bay
Introduction Note: Blue Angels – Thunder over the Bay is a continuation of events during our recent trip to Fort Pickens and Pensacola, Florida. The Fort Pickens campground offered a distinct advantage for me. The departure route for training flights … Continue reading
Posted in Renaissance Bucket List
Tagged acrobatics, airshow, Blue Angels, camping, echelon, formation, Fort Pickens, Pensacola, pilots, solo, speed, travel, writing
1 Comment
The Batteries of Fort Pickens
Introduction Exploring places like Fort Pickens, i.e., post-Civil War coastal defense installations that are distributed around the coast line of the United States made me realize how fortunate we have been, especially since World War II. Most of our coast … Continue reading
Posted in Renaissance Bucket List
Tagged canon, Civil War, Florida, Fort Pickens, Fort Story, Gulf, shore defense, state park, WWI, WWII
3 Comments
Gremlins and Aliens – A Young Pilot’s Nemesis
There is a distinct difference between flying with an instructor and flying solo. Well Duh. No, I mean, really. For 8, 10, 12 flights there has been another person in the airplane—someone who knew what to do if something went … Continue reading
Posted in There I was...
Tagged aliens, gremlins, Lubbock, night flight, search lights, solo, T-38, There I was..., UFO
1 Comment
Pensacola Lighthouse – Marine Lighthouse Saves Airliner
Several years ago, while working in New Jersey, I developed a photographic interest in lighthouses—since New Jersey has a dozen or more interesting and accessible lighthouses. Consequently, I could not pass up an opportunity to see the Pensacola Light House, … Continue reading
Posted in Renaissance Bucket List
Tagged airliner, Civil War, Fort Pickens, lighthouse, Naval Air Station, Pensacola
1 Comment
Fort Pickens, Florida – 118 Years and Two Battles
To suggest that Fort Pickens Campground on Santa Rosa Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, offshore from Pensacola, Florida, is a well-kept secret may not be accurate—there were many visitors and campers there—but it was certainly new to … Continue reading
Posted in Renaissance Bucket List
Tagged camping, cannon, casemates, Civil War, fort, Fort Pickens, Geronimo, Gulf National Seashore, history, Pensacola
9 Comments
My First (and Maybe Last) T-38 Progress Check Flight
Air Force flight training was arranged around three phases, primary flight in the Cessna T-41 (Cessna 172), the Cessna T-37, and the Northrop T-38 Talon. I survived—actually passed—the first two phases. With six months to graduation, we transitioned to theT-38. … Continue reading
Posted in There I was...
Tagged air force, check ride, g-forces, g-meter, loop, Mach, T-38, There I was...
9 Comments
The Henry Ford Museum – America’s Memory Lane
The Henry Ford Museum, with its collections of airplanes, trains, and cars to furniture, farming and manufacturing equipment, and the history of justice in the United States, is too big to summarize adequately in the space of this blog. The … Continue reading
Posted in Renaissance Bucket List
Tagged Allegheny, cars, Chrysler, Ford, Kennedy, Lamy, limosine, locomotive, museum, presidential, roosevelt, turbine
1 Comment
Renaissance Musings 