The Tin Goose and I

I've had a love affair with airplanes since I was a young lad emigrating to Canada at the age of 6 aboard a KLM Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation - that's another whole story. This week I had the rare opportunity to experience the thrill of flying in an even older vintage aircraft - a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor, affectionately known as the Tin Goose. I am indebted to my wife (who spotted an ad for flights aboard the Tin Goose) and 2 of my daughters (who presented me with the flight as a birthday gift).

Should you be so inclined, there's lots of information on this remarkable aircraft online. However, you can follow my experience below:

passengers (9) on each flight attend a brief safety overview (FAA requirement)

 

before the flight there's an opportunity to make some photos

the 'luxurious' interior - unlikely able to accommodate today's 'carry on' luggage

one of the 3 engines that hurtle you to your destination at 90mph (145kmph)

all aboard and ready for takeoff

captain and co-pilot are eager to go (Note: no locked cockpit door)

doesn't look quite as sleek as today's airliners

ok - check out the view

pulling back into the 'terminal' (ps - no security checks beforehand either)

If you ever get the chance to fly in this piece of history, don't let it go by. Check out this site for more information.

Not for the faint of heart

Our third group of visitors returned home earlier this week - we thoroughly enjoyed their company. I and my shutter are taking a brief rest and then we'll prepare to meet our last set of visitors during this stay down south.

My son-in-law was as enthusiastic as I was to spend a day under a hot sun swiveling our heads to watch the action at an airshow last week. I had no idea that an airplane could be made to do the maneuvers that these daredevil pilots subjected them to. I tried to put together a sample of the different aircraft that we saw, but this doesn't begin to do it justice. For the first time (in a long time) I filled a memory card (well, 2 actually) at a photoshoot. The car in one of the photos consists of a jet engine with a frame and metal shell around it resembling a car - from a standing start it raced the green/purple airplane which had a head start flying above the runway - and beat it (the engine generates 12,000 HP) !

I hope to visit many of you over the next few days before I enjoy the company of our last set of visitors.
 

(all action photos made with a 70-200mm lens plus a 2x extender giving a 140-400mm focal length, at 1/1000 sec, ISO200)

B-29, Lockheed L-12

Team RV - kit planes built in owners' garages

Matt Younkin in a Twin Beech 18

Gary Ward in an MX-2 unlimited aerobatic aircraft

In the lower right is the jet engine car that from a standing start beat Gary's plane !

(top) Vought F4U Corsair; (bottom) Grumman F8F Bearcat

F/A-18 Super Hornet, Mig-17

F/A-18 Blue Angels