July 7, 2011 - Golden Age Air Museum Fly-In |
| The Golden Age Air
Museum at Grimes Airfield in Bethel, Pennsylvania has two fly-ins and two
airshows a year. I saw the airshow last year, so I figured I would
go to their fly-in this year. Plus I knew they had finished building
their Fokker DR-1 replica and I wanted to see it fly. Here it is in
all its glory! |
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Bruce and I flew up in the RV.
Here is Bruce doing some serious photography on the Curtiss Jenny. |
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| Proof we were here
-- the RV parked near the Jenny. |
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Quite a few planes flew in -- the
weather was very good -- but not too many RVs. Although here is one
with an attractive paint job. |
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Paul Dougherty Jr. on the right is the President of the GAAM and
is dressed up here as Lothar von Richtofen -- Manfred, the Red Baron's
younger brother, who was also an ace. The GAAM Triplane is painted
in Lothar's paint scheme. Mike Damiani on the left is one of the
GAAM volunteers and helped build the Triplane and is also working on a
Sopwith Pup.
Notice the rotary engine on the Triplane. It is an original
LeRhone. The entire engine moves around along with the
propeller! |
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| Paul D. had flown
the Jenny earlier and it had really gotten bounced around in the
wind. The Triplane had only been flown a couple of times previously
so the decision was made not to fly it. It was the prudent
move. But they did want to start it up for everyone. And
everyone at the fly-in was there to watch. Not too many people
have seen a rotary engine run; I sure havn't. |
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| And there she
goes! The rotary was LOUD. |
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The happy and proud pilot and ground
crew. |
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| The Triplane was a
warbird, after all, and these replica Spandau machine guns were the reason
for its existence. |
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The GAAM's magnificent Curtiss
Jenny. |
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| Taxiing out. |
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| In flight.
This was one of the truly "great planes". |
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| WWI German Rumpler
CV, a two seater used for reconnaisance and light bombing. |
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The GAAM is working on this Sopwith
Pup. |
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| Bruce was
attracted to this sports car like a moth to a flame. |
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Most of the GAAM collection was
outside on display in the nice weather. |
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| Lots of vintage
cars too. |
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| The "Breezy" is good for giving
rides. You can't be the view from the cockpit! |
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Got to have a Stearman at a fly-in
like this. |
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| Or maybe
two. |
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Grass-roots aviation. |
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| Trunk Monkeys were
in attendance. |
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| The RV shining in
the sunlight. |
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| A Wittman Tailwind
taking off, heading for home. |
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