24th September
After an excellent night’s sleep (assisted in no small way by an apparently bottomless well of cold beer), I’m up at 0830 and, in the company of my guide and mentor, Dan, on the way to a well balanced breakfast at a local health food store, Tim Horton’s…
…where a fine selection from all the main food groups - chocolate, vanilla, jam and cream - is on offer…
After a sensible, balanced meal – the most important of the day – we head off into town.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that a bracket on my right hand pannier was broken. The frames on the panniers are so over-engineered that the fracture (which almost certainly happened during one of the 3 drops onto the right side it has suffered) has caused no problems – but it’s something that Vern (who built them) suggested I get welded as soon as I can. Dan & I return to his house and I remove the pannier, then the broken part of the frame. We take it to a local metal shop…
…where we leave the bracket to be repaired. We then set off on the bikes (Dan has a GS) towards Dayton, down the old highway 40.
Highway 40 used to be the main route east west through Ohio before the freeway was built. It is home to several small towns which have clearly passed their use-by date – their heyday was obviously in the late 40s and early 50s – they are now home to derelict motels, their decaying pop-art signs witness to a bygone era – like the cars for sale outside them…
Soon we arrive at the USAF museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). Dan & I decided to visit here during last night’s ‘putting the world to rights’ session. Dan hasn’t been here in over 12 years and the place has changed considerably. There’s no parking charge or entrance fee, which is a bonus, and the displays, in 3 large hangars, are excellent – the SAC museum in Nebraska could take lessons from the curators here.
WPAFB is home to another of the 4 B36s left…
…you’ll remember I saw one of the others at the SAC museum. Well the USAF’s example is not only in much better condition, it’s also displayed so that you can actually get a picture of (nearly) all of it. The ‘Cold War’ hangar, where the B36 is displayed, is also home to some other great looking aircraft, like the B58 Hustler…
…the only combat aircraft to be named after an adult magazine (apart from the deHavilland Fiesta Readers' Wives Special). The USSR is represented by the Mig 23 Flogger…
…at one time the fastest accelerating aircraft at low level in the world. In a display area to one side of the main hangar is the Titan II…
…Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). This rocket was also used to launch NASA Gemini spacecraft, as well as hundreds of satellites.
In the ‘Early Years’ hangar, I’m intrigued to see the world’s first cruise missile…
…the Kettering Bug. Designed in 1917, this aerial torpedo was pointed in the desired direction and launched. The aircraft had a series of electrical and pneumatic systems to stabilise it in flight. After a pre-set time, an electrical switch would cause the engine to stop and, after a short pause, the wings would be jettisoned and the missile would fall to earth – delivering its 180lb high explosive warhead. It’s range was 75 miles – a little optimistic for an unguided missile perhaps… Development was halted in the 1920s, but the modern day Tomahawk (and the WWII V1) are direct descendents.
In the WWII hangar, ‘Bockscar’, the B29 Superfortress which dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and, effectively, ended the Second World War, takes a prominent place…
The whole museum is well lit, well laid out and has an excellent collection of aircraft.
At 1500, there was a dedication of a B47 exhibit. The museum was full of frail old men, immaculately turned out in their blazers and flannels. These were the crews of America's first jet bomber - it was a sobering experience to realise they were probably the bike-riding, partying hot-shot youngsters of their day - all things pass...
In fact, 3 hours pass - very quickly - and, just before 1700, Dan & I head back west, along Interstate 70...
…arriving home just after 1830, to spend another evening, with Brenda, generally bullshitting and reminiscing, with the aid of Chinese food and beer.
Oh – and being monstered by the family Staffordshire Bull Terrier – who has the rather unlikely name of Petal…
A good day.
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