Darkhorse
pointed and shot
Yanks Air Museum showcases the history of American aviation from its very beginnings. One can see rickety wooden contraptions evolve into WWI biplanes and post war crop dusters. Autogiros and commercial aircraft of peacetime giving way to the fighters and long range bombers of the Second World War. Classic airliners along side an explosion of cold war jets an helicopters. The planes on display are flight-ready.
However, in a different hanger one can see these American planes in a different light. Pieces of recent history that are in a slow and laborious process of being saved from the affects of time.
A remnant pulled from the earth, still showing the scars it received at Guadalcanal.
When you go into the restoration section of the museum it almost seems as though you're not supposed to be there. One of the museum's employees told me that this perception happens to almost everybody, and to not to be apprehensive and head on in.
A crowded work station in the restoration hanger.
A volunteer who works as a tour guide at the museum told me that the restoration process is painstakingly slow, even almost imperceptible. In one case years of work had to be stopped, and the plane dismantled, repainted, and then reassembled because the frame of the aircraft had originally been the wrong shade of green.
Dust and cobwebs gather on the ceiling.
The remains of war are littered about the place such as this ball turret from a WWII bomber. These turrets were alleged to be the most dangerous place to be during a mission, however some studies seem to contradict this notion.
Silent Turret
The museum also has a mascot; A cat who seems every bit as beaten up and scared as the relics in the hanger. Dusty, old, tangled whiskers and mangled ears. Through all that damage, the cat is very lovable and friendly, loves to be petted and will sit beside you as you change a roll of film in your camera.
A fitting mascot.
Bombs, missiles, and fuel pods litter the area. Luckily none of them had to be used for their destructive purpose.
Defused ordinance.
The people who work on these planes are becoming few and far between. Some of these dedicated people have died or are in poor health. My tour guide opined that many of the planes in the hanger may never be fully restored.
One of many skeletons.
Outside the hanger is the boneyard. Going out there requires some supervision. Here these planes are exposed to the elements, grounded and chained. It's unclear whether they're waiting for restoration, or just on hand for spare parts.
Chained waterbomber.
Rusty helicopters, the innards of jets sprawling out, the fading paint of a DC10, and, strangely, very old passenger trailers used for tourists at amusement parks. Such a strange hodgepodge of artifacts litter the landscape in the boneyard.
Avionic entrails.
I looked into the tail end of an old fighterjet, where pure force and flame was once spewed out. One can still admire the technology that went into these aircraft, like an empty shell you find on the beach. It's a deceptively simple structure that's beyond your own personal capacity to make.
Inside the shell.
Some people look at the headlights and grilles of automobiles and see faces. It's harder to anthropomorphize aircraft since they need to be absolutely beholden to aerodynamics and pure utility, making visage of military planes somewhat cold and alien.
Wingless bird of war.
Southern California's June Gloom seems to have been especially prevalent this year. The morning moisture will give way to the piercing afternoon sun. Luckily for these planes, this is the usual extent of extremes in weather they face. Still, their decay continues outside.
Skyhook.
One plane showing remarkable progress is the first plane, the Wright Brothers Plane. A replica is being built by a lone figure in the Restoration Hanger, and my tour guide told me that every time he visits the hanger its shape becomes more and more apparent. The dedication is admirable, as well as the tribute to ingenuity and America's simple beginnings into aviation. Although many planes in the restoration hanger will never fly again, it's comforting to know that this one most assuredly will.
Chasing Kitty Hawk
However, in a different hanger one can see these American planes in a different light. Pieces of recent history that are in a slow and laborious process of being saved from the affects of time.
A remnant pulled from the earth, still showing the scars it received at Guadalcanal.
When you go into the restoration section of the museum it almost seems as though you're not supposed to be there. One of the museum's employees told me that this perception happens to almost everybody, and to not to be apprehensive and head on in.
A crowded work station in the restoration hanger.
A volunteer who works as a tour guide at the museum told me that the restoration process is painstakingly slow, even almost imperceptible. In one case years of work had to be stopped, and the plane dismantled, repainted, and then reassembled because the frame of the aircraft had originally been the wrong shade of green.
Dust and cobwebs gather on the ceiling.
The remains of war are littered about the place such as this ball turret from a WWII bomber. These turrets were alleged to be the most dangerous place to be during a mission, however some studies seem to contradict this notion.
Silent Turret
The museum also has a mascot; A cat who seems every bit as beaten up and scared as the relics in the hanger. Dusty, old, tangled whiskers and mangled ears. Through all that damage, the cat is very lovable and friendly, loves to be petted and will sit beside you as you change a roll of film in your camera.
A fitting mascot.
Bombs, missiles, and fuel pods litter the area. Luckily none of them had to be used for their destructive purpose.
Defused ordinance.
The people who work on these planes are becoming few and far between. Some of these dedicated people have died or are in poor health. My tour guide opined that many of the planes in the hanger may never be fully restored.
One of many skeletons.
Outside the hanger is the boneyard. Going out there requires some supervision. Here these planes are exposed to the elements, grounded and chained. It's unclear whether they're waiting for restoration, or just on hand for spare parts.
Chained waterbomber.
Rusty helicopters, the innards of jets sprawling out, the fading paint of a DC10, and, strangely, very old passenger trailers used for tourists at amusement parks. Such a strange hodgepodge of artifacts litter the landscape in the boneyard.
Avionic entrails.
I looked into the tail end of an old fighterjet, where pure force and flame was once spewed out. One can still admire the technology that went into these aircraft, like an empty shell you find on the beach. It's a deceptively simple structure that's beyond your own personal capacity to make.
Inside the shell.
Some people look at the headlights and grilles of automobiles and see faces. It's harder to anthropomorphize aircraft since they need to be absolutely beholden to aerodynamics and pure utility, making visage of military planes somewhat cold and alien.
Wingless bird of war.
Southern California's June Gloom seems to have been especially prevalent this year. The morning moisture will give way to the piercing afternoon sun. Luckily for these planes, this is the usual extent of extremes in weather they face. Still, their decay continues outside.
Skyhook.
One plane showing remarkable progress is the first plane, the Wright Brothers Plane. A replica is being built by a lone figure in the Restoration Hanger, and my tour guide told me that every time he visits the hanger its shape becomes more and more apparent. The dedication is admirable, as well as the tribute to ingenuity and America's simple beginnings into aviation. Although many planes in the restoration hanger will never fly again, it's comforting to know that this one most assuredly will.
Chasing Kitty Hawk
Darkhorse
pointed and shot
2 rolls of Arista Premium pushed 1600 w/ Rodinal 1:50 for 20 mins. Based on a technique I picked up on this forum.
1 roll of FP4 Plus in Clayton F67+. I don't much care for the Clayton as it seems I over processed. I should've diluted it more, but I couldn't get proper information on times.
What I really want to find is a good liquid D76, not a powder. I used to have a source but it's dried up unfortunately.
1 roll of FP4 Plus in Clayton F67+. I don't much care for the Clayton as it seems I over processed. I should've diluted it more, but I couldn't get proper information on times.
What I really want to find is a good liquid D76, not a powder. I used to have a source but it's dried up unfortunately.
TXForester
Well-known
Great essay. I really like the first shot and the shot through the fuselage of the old jet fighter. I took a similar shot years ago, but I can't find the slide. :bang:
I love old aircraft. I started school aiming at an aerospace engineering degree and would have loved to get into restoration. Alas, my younger self was smart, but lacked study discipline.
But, it hasn't dimmed my enthusiasm for old planes.
I love old aircraft. I started school aiming at an aerospace engineering degree and would have loved to get into restoration. Alas, my younger self was smart, but lacked study discipline.
But, it hasn't dimmed my enthusiasm for old planes.
Greyscale
Veteran
Fascinating stuff, Darkhorse.
My uncle Bill was a test pilot for the WWII vintage American warcraft. He was the first man to fly the Lockheed P-38, and later wrote the flight manual for the B-29. He is still alive, and lives in the Chino area, and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he were involved in some way this museum.
My uncle Bill was a test pilot for the WWII vintage American warcraft. He was the first man to fly the Lockheed P-38, and later wrote the flight manual for the B-29. He is still alive, and lives in the Chino area, and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he were involved in some way this museum.
mooge
Well-known
very nice, Phil. I like how you did a write-up as well- the photos make alot more sense in context.
cheers.
cheers.