August 18, 2012 - Cub Flight, Martin 100th

Today was the 100th Anniversary of the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company so I headed over to Martin State Airport to check out the things they had planned.   Over the years the Martin Company would build many types of airplanes here at the Baltimore suburb of Middle River -- now Martin State Airport.  One of them was the P5M Marlin seaplane which my Dad flew for the Navy in Bermuda in the late 50s. 

The museum was small but contained a lot of interesting information and pictures about Glenn Martin and his company. 

 
As part of the anniversary, you could buy a ride on this B-17.   Earlier in the day, I was at Essex Skypark and the B-17 flew right over the Skypark.  Then I did a quick maintenance test flight in the RV.  As soon as I cleared the trees on takeoff, I was the B-17 crossing ahead at about 1000 feet.  I could so easily have joined right on his wing!  But I had to be satisifed with just watching from a good distance.  It was neat to see one flying from the air. 
 
The Glenn L. Martin museum also has some static display aircraft a short drive away. 
 
A North American F-100 Super Saber. 
 
LTV A-7 Corsair II.
 
Republic F-105 Thunderchief, nicknamed "Thud".
 
Martin B57 Canberra light tactical bomber and reconnaisance aircraft.  It was a British design but Martin received a license to build them for the USAF.  They were produced from 1953 to 1957 and 403 were built.
 
A Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk.   The U.S. Navy used this particular aircraft in an aggressor squadron down in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. 
 
This old F-4 Phantom looks like it was rode hard and put away wet. 
 
This airplane was actually built by Martin.  It's a Martin 404 Skyliner.   Martin built 104 of them.  It carried 40 passengers at 280 mph.   Check out the art work on that car.
 
Here is a close-up. 
 
The 1911 Curtiss Pusher, the replica of the first plane to takeoff and land on a ship, flew up from Virginia for the event. 
 
The original used bamboo, but Bob Cooledge, the replica builder, put steel tubing inside the bamboo and then welded the fittings to the steel tube inserts.  Very clever.   
 
I left Martin State and headed back to Essex, where I hopped into the Cub and flew for two hours. 
 
I crossed the bay and flew around the eastern shore.  This is Rock Hall, a waterfront town. 
 
A boat enjoying the solitude of remote part of the bay. 
 
 
 
Not a bad house overlooking the water. 
 
I know the dude who lives in this house. 
 
 
 
Wow.  I think this was house of the day.
 
Two cigarette boats anchored together.  They don't cost so much to run this way. 
 
One of the more unusual houses overlooking the Chester River.
 
Party city! 
 
Solitary waterfront. 
 
Looking up the Chester River. 
 
There are a million private grass strips on the eastern shore. 
 
But this one, Massey Aerodrome, is a public airfield. 
 
A close look at Massey Aerodrome.
 
The obligatory shadow shot. 
 
 
Just beautiful scenary. 
 
Waterworld party on the Sassafras River!
 
 
From this house, you can see both the river and the bay. 
 
This delta area is always very scenic from the air. 
 
At peak foliage, it is awesome.  The problemis that it's hard to know when it is at peak.  It peaks at a different time than the rest of the eastern shore.
 
The delta area ends at the bay. 
 
Another floating party. 
 
Bruce and I call this "the Road". 
 
The two hour flight in the Cub was over all too soon.   The only problem with the Cub is that I don't fit in it very well.  My right leg almost buckled when I got out. 
 
Bruce painted the Xenos wings and put on the insignia.  They look great! 
 
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