These are the last of the prints I digitized last week. This 1931 Pitcairn Mailwing was used by Pacific Air Transport - one of the small regional airlines that were combined into United Air Lines in 1933 - to transport the mail from Oakland to Monterey to Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast route. It was restored by James Autry over ten years between 1984-94 and I photographed it in 1998. Interestingly, I have a photo of my father standing in front of this exact airplane when he worked for PAT after graduating from the Boeing School of Aeronautics in 1932.
This post and the previous aviation photo post are great! I'm now afflicted with a terminal case of "aero-nuttiness," a disease my father suffered from as a Navy fighter pilot, but I thought I was immune to until I read The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, a rip-roaring book that stirred early symptoms of the affliction which later developed into a full-blown manifestation of the illness when I was seduced by your stash of airplane porn! Yikes!
A very good friend delivered planes up and down the coast of CA during the war and was a courier for our foreign intelligence work after the war. When they had a veteran from each branch of service - which still had living representatives - attend a memorial celebration on the national mall a number of years back, she was their female representative. She passed away at around 99 years of age.
Gorgeous photos, TC. When we lived in Battle Creek, MI three of our neighbors were pilots. They jointly owned a MiG -15. They also owned a float plane that was tied up to the dock two houses down from ours. We lived in an interesting neighborhood back then.
I love your plane pics TC. We have this great antique aeronautics and automobile museum in Hood River. They have a Fly In every September. The museum is full of really cool planes, cars, motorcycles and other antiques. The fly in weekend is very cool with every kind of plane flying over my house coming in and taking off.
At WAAAM you will enjoy our extensive collection of antique aircraft including the 1917 Curtiss JN-4D Jenny featuring an OX-5 90 HP engine, our Piper Cub and WACO collections, Aeronca collection, Stearman collection and many more fun aircraft.
Don't forget the cars. There are over 130 cars in the collection at last count. Whether you want to see the 1914 Detroit Electric, a Ford Model A or Model T, a Packard, a Studebaker or even a Locomobile, you are sure to find your favorite.
Sounds cool. A flyable Jenny is rare rare rare, especially with an original OX-5.
It really is a cool place. The Fly in is the weekend after Labor Day every year. But the museum is open year round. If you are ever up this way you should check it out.
Glorious shots of glorious airplanes. The 1931 Pitcairn Mailwing wins my heart, probably because it is delivering mail, which isn't as it used to be, less threatening and cute, too!
Love these! Great fan of aviation thanks to my father who was in the Army Air Corps. I grew up and lived in New York State for many years, and go back annually often to visit one of the 13 aviation-related museums in the state, my favorites being the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum (Hammondsport), and not too far away, The National Soaring Museum (Elmira). Now I can see I need a West Coast aviation trip!
Planes of Fame has announced they will be moving sometime in the next 4-5 years. Chino Airport used to be out in the country, 6-7 , miles from the edge of town. 12 years ago it was still surrounded by dairy farms. No more. It's been "developed" and is now surrounded by McMansions. Which makes it dangerous, and also opens them to the morons who seemed somehow not to hear the airplanes overhead when they were signing the deal for their houses. Now it's "why do we have to have an airport here?" And all the political morons we elect to public office are thinking "there go my followers, and I must run after them, for I am their leader" (as was once famously said by a French socialist).
All the planes are very cool. But you forgot the plane that saved Western Civilization, the plane that kept us from speaking German today........The Spitfire!!
Nope, haven't forgotten it. My favorite airplane (I have multiple models of each subtype). However, I haven't been to England where Spitfires are as common as Mustangs here among restored warbirds. I only had one opportunity to ever photograph a Spitfire (alongside a Hurricane). I think there are a couple good shots from that batch and when I find them I will put them up. I think there's a total of three Spitfires here in the States.
This post and the previous aviation photo post are great! I'm now afflicted with a terminal case of "aero-nuttiness," a disease my father suffered from as a Navy fighter pilot, but I thought I was immune to until I read The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, a rip-roaring book that stirred early symptoms of the affliction which later developed into a full-blown manifestation of the illness when I was seduced by your stash of airplane porn! Yikes!
It's a disease and you have been infected.:-)
P51D is my porn for the night Tom. Whoo! Beautiful photos all.
At some point in your aviation history chronicles, would you
please include the women who pioneered women in
aviation when they ferried
aircraft around this country
during WWII? It's a rich history.👍
A very good friend delivered planes up and down the coast of CA during the war and was a courier for our foreign intelligence work after the war. When they had a veteran from each branch of service - which still had living representatives - attend a memorial celebration on the national mall a number of years back, she was their female representative. She passed away at around 99 years of age.
I'd love to know more about the female aviators also!
Gorgeous photos, TC. When we lived in Battle Creek, MI three of our neighbors were pilots. They jointly owned a MiG -15. They also owned a float plane that was tied up to the dock two houses down from ours. We lived in an interesting neighborhood back then.
You certainly did!
I love your plane pics TC. We have this great antique aeronautics and automobile museum in Hood River. They have a Fly In every September. The museum is full of really cool planes, cars, motorcycles and other antiques. The fly in weekend is very cool with every kind of plane flying over my house coming in and taking off.
https://www.waaamuseum.org/
At WAAAM you will enjoy our extensive collection of antique aircraft including the 1917 Curtiss JN-4D Jenny featuring an OX-5 90 HP engine, our Piper Cub and WACO collections, Aeronca collection, Stearman collection and many more fun aircraft.
Don't forget the cars. There are over 130 cars in the collection at last count. Whether you want to see the 1914 Detroit Electric, a Ford Model A or Model T, a Packard, a Studebaker or even a Locomobile, you are sure to find your favorite.
Sounds cool. A flyable Jenny is rare rare rare, especially with an original OX-5.
It really is a cool place. The Fly in is the weekend after Labor Day every year. But the museum is open year round. If you are ever up this way you should check it out.
Yes, it does look cool.
Glorious shots of glorious airplanes. The 1931 Pitcairn Mailwing wins my heart, probably because it is delivering mail, which isn't as it used to be, less threatening and cute, too!
Love these! Great fan of aviation thanks to my father who was in the Army Air Corps. I grew up and lived in New York State for many years, and go back annually often to visit one of the 13 aviation-related museums in the state, my favorites being the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum (Hammondsport), and not too far away, The National Soaring Museum (Elmira). Now I can see I need a West Coast aviation trip!
Planes of Fame has announced they will be moving sometime in the next 4-5 years. Chino Airport used to be out in the country, 6-7 , miles from the edge of town. 12 years ago it was still surrounded by dairy farms. No more. It's been "developed" and is now surrounded by McMansions. Which makes it dangerous, and also opens them to the morons who seemed somehow not to hear the airplanes overhead when they were signing the deal for their houses. Now it's "why do we have to have an airport here?" And all the political morons we elect to public office are thinking "there go my followers, and I must run after them, for I am their leader" (as was once famously said by a French socialist).
Sad. If they are forced to move, I hope you’ll let us know. “Political morons” are actually political cowards, methinks.
All the planes are very cool. But you forgot the plane that saved Western Civilization, the plane that kept us from speaking German today........The Spitfire!!
Nope, haven't forgotten it. My favorite airplane (I have multiple models of each subtype). However, I haven't been to England where Spitfires are as common as Mustangs here among restored warbirds. I only had one opportunity to ever photograph a Spitfire (alongside a Hurricane). I think there are a couple good shots from that batch and when I find them I will put them up. I think there's a total of three Spitfires here in the States.
Wonderful photos!
Wow! I never knew airplanes could look so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Great stuff TC. Thanks.
My husband would have loved your airplane porn. I will love it for him.
That P-51D! Love that photo. The sound of that engine. Man made thunder!
Indeed. Smile on face.
Great pictures, Tom. Hope to see moar. LOL
Love these stories, TC.
Here's SE Michigan's aviation treasure, the Yankee Air Museum, at Willow Run, Ypsilanti, MI.
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