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Saturday, April 23, 2016

Pungo

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When you visit the Military Aviation Museum, just south of Pungo, part of Virginia Beach I'm given to understand, the dinosaurs all come running to the fence to see who's coming to visit. They're like big (very big, prehistoric) dogs. I'm concerned that someday that Tyrannosaur will figure out that he could just step over that split rail fence. Should be no problem, right? I mean he looks friendly, right?

 Seriously, the first time we visited this place, I think I got more excited about the big metal dinosaurs than I did about the aircraft in those hangars (just to the right rear of, ahem, Rex). Of course, once I got inside, I kinda forgot all about the dinosaurs.

 I mean airplanes. You gotta love it, right?

 Here's their website, it's also over there on the sidebar as well, see the picture below...


I may have mentioned it before, but most of their collection is flyable. As in, can taxi out onto that grass strip near the hangars and take to the air. (What's that? Did I see any pterodactyls when I was there? No, just those three guys out front and the airplanes. Pshaw, pterodactyls. Seriously?)

Oh my, do they have aircraft, lots of aircraft. I love that place!

Welcome to the museum!















Hey old man! Get out of the way!






Seriously dude, you're blocking my view. (Hhmm, I think I know that guy...)







I told you they had airplanes.

 (Drip pans. Did ya notice the drip pans? Non-functional engines don't drip oil. Know what I mean?)



Editor's note: The B-17 and the Fw-190 were both sold to a guy out in Oregon a while back. Since then they've acquired more Focke Wulfs. But no B-17s. Chuckie will be featured in a future post. I actually have a few pictures from inside the aircraft.
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30 comments:

  1. MrGarabaldiApril 23, 2016 at 5:49 AM

    Hey Guys;

    Awesome Pics :) Man you know that you are an airplane guy when you recognize the funny Soviet planes tht are from the 1930's and were the opponents of the condor legion in the late 1930's. And I noticed that there are no rope barriers to the airplanes:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. virgil xenophonApril 23, 2016 at 6:51 AM

    For maximum damage to enemy shipping I'll take the B-25H, thank you very much. Awsome forward centerline firepower..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well Seasoned FoolApril 23, 2016 at 8:27 AM

      Imagine the noise when you were in the nose with those four .50s firing.

      Delete
    2. OldAFSargeApril 23, 2016 at 8:27 AM

      She does pack a punch!

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeApril 23, 2016 at 8:28 AM

      WSF- Yeah, hearing protection recommended!

      Delete
    4. SCOTTtheBADGERApril 23, 2016 at 5:44 PM

      PBJ-1H with the nose gun, 8 HVARs under the wings, and a Tiny Tim in the bomb bay?

      Delete
    5. OldAFSargeApril 23, 2016 at 8:17 PM

      B-25J, again, according to Wikipedia:

      44-30129 Wild Cargo - Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

      Delete
    6. SCOTTtheBADGERApril 24, 2016 at 2:58 AM

      My PBJ comment was to top Virgil's plane.

      Delete
    7. OldAFSargeApril 24, 2016 at 10:43 AM

      Ah yes, makes perfect sense now. (Yeah, the PBJ-1H was a flying buzz saw!)

      Delete
    8. virgil xenophonApril 24, 2016 at 12:47 PM

      Remember, the B-25H came in two versions (actually several w. field mods) along with two 50cal machine guns in nose to go with a 75mm cannon plus the two wpns in individual pods on both sides of fuselage. The other (b) was with cannon omitted and four 50s in the nose to go along with the four 50 cal side pods. They then added eight in the nose in later series of the H model to go with the side pods PLUS eight 5in HVAR rockets-four under each wing for the strafe pkg.

      Delete
    9. OldAFSargeApril 24, 2016 at 1:21 PM

      Now that would get your attention. I remember the variant with the 75mm cannon.

      Delete
  3. AaronApril 23, 2016 at 6:52 AM

    Wow, that is an impressive collection of some true classic and rare warbirds. That most of them are in flying condition makes it even better. Very nice pics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeApril 23, 2016 at 8:28 AM

      Thanks Aaron. That's one of my favorite places.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousApril 23, 2016 at 4:32 PM

    Don't think that 190 was one but the big blade "Langnasen-Dora" just looks right. regards, Alemaster

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    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeApril 23, 2016 at 5:43 PM

      Yup, they do have a Dora now, didn't have one when I was there last.

      Delete
    2. SCOTTtheBADGERApril 23, 2016 at 5:45 PM

      That one is an Anton Acht, isn't it?

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeApril 23, 2016 at 8:15 PM

      According to Wikipedia:
      Wk. Nr. 732183, a Fw 190 A-8 from 12./JG 5 as flown by Ltn Rudi Linz, a German ace with 70 victories, this aircraft was shot down over Norway by a British Mustang during the 'Black Friday' raid on 9 February 1945. The aircraft is displayed in the Cottbus Hangar of the Military Aviation Museum in Pungo, Virginia, USA.

      Actually that particular FW-190 was sold to a guy in Oregon.

      Delete
    4. virgil xenophonApril 24, 2016 at 12:50 PM

      I always wondered why it took until the F-16 to utilize the canted seat as a way of coping with G-forces. Tradition? Or worry about the ejection sequence? Any F-16 drivers around?

      Delete
    5. OldAFSargeApril 24, 2016 at 1:25 PM

      I had the opportunity to sit on one of the first Vipers we got in Korea. It was a little weird sitting in the seat, almost felt like you were lying down. That and the side stick controller as opposed to the traditional stick.

      But the visibility was unreal for a guy used to sitting in the back seat of a Phantom.

      (Had to make sure your pants pockets were empty before climbing in, you can imagine the FOD hazard!)

      Delete
  5. a bearApril 23, 2016 at 7:33 PM

    Is that a replica Nieuport? Certainly not the original Le Rhône rotary engine :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeApril 23, 2016 at 8:11 PM

      All of their WWI aircraft are replicas. In fact the Nieuport, the Spad and I believe the Albatross are all 3/4 scale.

      Delete
    2. a bearApril 24, 2016 at 3:45 AM

      Makes sense. Flying around in the genuine article does seem a little riskier. :)

      I got a good look at this one when I volunteered at the MAPS museum in Akron - I think "fly in a WWI airplane" is not on my bucket list.

      http://mapsairmuseum.org/old/sopwith_triplane.asp

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeApril 24, 2016 at 1:27 PM

      They do look pretty flimsy don't they?

      (Nice link! Thanks!)

      Delete
  6. PrairieAdventureApril 24, 2016 at 7:05 AM

    Pungo has always been a magical place in my book. It does seem to soak up a large portion of the world's finite supply of cool though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Murphy's LawApril 25, 2016 at 11:51 AM

    First thing I noticed was the drip pans. happiness is a warbird with drip pans.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Steve RoninApril 25, 2016 at 12:40 PM

    took the family down to see the museum last October...
    http://s113.photobucket.com/user/steve_ronin/slideshow/Military%20Aviation%20Museum

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeApril 26, 2016 at 1:40 PM

      Nice! I see some new additions to the collection since I was there last.

      Thanks for sharing those Steve!

      Delete

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