Ralphie and His Trip Across America

[RALPHIE]

and 5 more -

Boeing B-47 Stratojet -
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Boeing B-52 Stratofortress -
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Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady -
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Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
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Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit -
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[RALPHIE]

Nuclear Capability

This is "BOCKSCAR," the plane that dropped the last bomb in World War II, the atomic bomb that exploded over Nagasaki, Japan. "BOCKSCAR" was so named for its commander, Captain Frederick C. Bock -

Boeing B-29 Superfortress, "BOCSCAR" -
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"Fat Man," a mockup of the nuclear bomb carried by "BOCKSCAR"
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"Little Boy," a mockup of the nuclear bomb carried by "ENOLA GAY," the B-29 that droped the 1st nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan -
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"Mark IV" thermonuclear bomb (hydrogen bomb), carried by Boeing B-50 Superfortresses and Convair B-36 Peacemakers -
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"Mark 53" thermonuclear bomb, carried by Boeing B-47 Stratojets and B-52 Stratofortresses, and Convair B-58 Hustlers -
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[Howard]

Great museum. I was there many years ago and still remember the amazing B-36 and X-15. Another not-to-be-missed aero museum is the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy on the perimeter of Dullas airport outside of D.C. Fantasy of Flight in between Tampa and Orlando is another.

Howard

 

[SteveA]

WOW! What a fantastic trip!

 

[shesgotlegs]

Ralphie, did you get a chance to see the Wright Brothers original bicycle shop and their home located fairly close to the air museum?

 

[shesgotlegs]

That said, their home was scooped up by Henry Ford back in the thirties and trailered to the Henry Ford Museum. The home that stands a block or so from the bike shop is a replica located across the street from the original home's location where all that remains is the original foundation footprint.

 

[RALPHIE]

Ralphie, did you get a chance to see the Wright Brothers original bicycle shop and their home located fairly close to the air museum?

Unfortunately, no. I drove down from Detroit for the day, and didn't have enough time for it. Didn't get to stop in Wapokaneta at the Neil Armstrong Museum either. I was lucky to see what I did at the Air Force Museum in the 6 hours I spent there. Due to the sequestration issues, funding was cut at the AF Museum, so the XB-70, X-15, and presidential planes were unavailable to see, as they are in a hanger on the other side of the runway, and funding was cut for the transportation over there.

 

[Sinovac]

Thanks for sharing your GT road trip with us.

 

[MNJason]

Ralphie, surely you must have forgotten my all time favorite the XB-70? I mean you can't post pics from Wright Patt without it!!!

 

[Mike Mosing]

Ralphie...are you going to end up anywhere near Louisiana?

 

[RALPHIE]

Ralphie...are you going to end up anywhere near Louisiana?

Doesn't look like it. I'll be leaving the Detroit area on 08/12 and heading for Charlottesville, VA, stopping in rural Ohio's Ashtabula County to clean up some family gravesites. I'll be visiting a cousin in Charlottesville for a week or so, and I'll probably go to Richmond to have lunch with a colleague from Mammoth Mountain. Then, I hope to get on I-64 & I-70 and hurry back to California, change the oil, and prep for Rally VIII.

 

[AtomicGT]

You forgot to mention hooking up with your wingman, PL510*Jeff in a couple of days! More pics are requested.

 

[RALPHIE]

...The next day, I drove up throught Casper to Gillette, WY, then over to Wall, South Dakota (ever hear of Wall Drug!!) for dinner....

Wall Drugs... just had supper there last month.

For those not familiar with Wall Drug, here's a little history

http://www.walldrug.com/t-history.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Drug

 

[Fast Freddy]

That Boeing B-47 Stratojet looks cool

 

[PL510*Jeff]

You forgot to mention hooking up with your wingman, PL510*Jeff in a couple of days! More pics are requested.

Flying low and solo to Dearborn.

etd noon 7/30...eta 6.m. 8/1.

A few pictures for sure.

 

[pe2unia]

Hey Ralphie if you get some free time maybe we can meet in Fredericksburg for lunch/dinner. It would be about 1 1/2 hours for both of us.

 

[fjpikul]

Damn it, I moved out of Illinois with no forwarding address so these freeloaders couldn't find me again. Indy, quit telling them where I'm at.

 

[standj]

Hey Ralphie, if your in or around Casper or Gillette Wy then I am just around the corner in Sheridan, WY!!!!

John

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Damn it, I moved out of Illinois with no forwarding address so these freeloaders couldn't find me again. Indy, quit telling them where I'm at.

Ha Ha..remember we can find you.

 

[RALPHIE]

Birthday!

Well, today I went to Greenfield Village for the (long) afternoon, and guess what????

Turns out it was the 150th birthday of Henry Ford!! July 30, 1863 - born during the Civil War!

Anyway, they had a short birthday celebration and we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Henry - :thumbsup :frown

I'll post some pics of the Village later - just thought I'd put this one up - "Henry, Arriving at his Birthday Party" in a Tin Lizzy.

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