The Wandering Minstrel

We have a lot of files, photos and videos stored in our on-line servers. I was rummaging through those today and ran across this video from 2007 of the “Aluminum Overcast,” a nicely-restored WWII B-17 bomber.

The Better Half and I drove to the Torrance airport and waited at the approach end of runways 11 for the bomber to land. After the aircraft landed, we drove to the ramp to watch as passengers got off and more got on board. The video frame rate makes the props look like they’re going backwards at certain engine RPMs.

My buddy Frank N. sent me a link to a website featuring archives of penny postcards from all over the country. Out of curiosity (and being a nostalgia person), I pulled up old postcards from my old home town. I was born about a quarter of a mile from where this photo was taken on Signal Hill near Long Beach, California. I remember the entire hill being covered with wooden oil derricks. The inscription on the card says “By W. H. Sargent, Long Beach, Cal. - Looking from Signal Hill. Alamitos and Huntington Beach in distance.”

Check out your old stomping grounds during the times of the penny postcard. Go to this link and click on the state and then on the county to see old penny picture postcards from that area…pretty neat.

I totally don’t know what this is, but I want it . . .

Clickable image courtesy TBH.

I saw this Cessna 150 that had been converted from tricycle to conventional (tail wheel) gear. The Better Half and I were at the Wickenburg Fly-in and Classic Car Show ten days ago when she took this (clickable) image.

I had never seen one of these before. As an old long-time taildragger pilot, this aircraft intrigued me.

I Googled “C-150 tail wheel” and a large number of hits came up. There were a lot of them for sale and there are conversion kits available.

This particular airplane also has a short takeoff and landing (STOL) conversion with drooping wingtips to improve lift at lower airspeeds. I bet it would be fun to fly and do a bunch of landings.

We attended the seventeenth annual Wickenburg Fly-in and Classic Car Show last Saturday. I threw together a slideshow of a few of the many aircraft and classic cars The Better Half and I photographed that day. Roll over the slideshow with your mouse to stop playing and roll back out to resume.

The Better Half and I took our dogs to the dog park today which is adjacent to the airport. I saw this nice Cessna 195 out on the ramp so I asked the FBO if I could walk out to it and get a picture. This airplane might be here a week ahead of the fly-in and classic auto show at this airport next Saturday. Clickable image.

The Better Half and I went off of our normally conservative low-cholesterol and low-fat diet regimen today in order to patronize Screamer’s, the old-time drive in diner in town. We went the whole route and ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a vanilla milk shake.

Even though we split the burger and tossed half of the fries up in the wash for the critters, we felt quite full after enjoying a taste from the past. Mouse over the image below to see The Better Half enjoying the nostalgic atmosphere inside the diner.

The Better Half took this (clickable) image of a classic old 1973 Buick convertible while I went into check the PO box. The interior of this nice ride is very comfy-looking brown leather. It warms my heart to see that someone still drives these big heavy cars with the big engine under the hood.