FRG and the museum on the weekends

[nikon50bigma]

Hey everyone,
How is it at FRG and at the museum at FRG on regular weekends without the show?
If I go there this Friday is there any chance I might see the P-40's or anything else fly in terms of warbirds?
Thanks

[Informant]

Its a bunch of old guys who sit around, pull out planes, start up the engines, shut em down,put them back in the hangar, and then tell stories. It doesn't get very busy on regular weekends.

[nikon50bigma]

No chance to see them fly?

[Derf]

Its a bunch of old guys who sit around, pull out planes, start up the engines, shut em down,put them back in the hangar, and then tell stories. It doesn't get very busy on regular weekends.

Ummm NO... Not true

They usually fly at least 1 aircraft during the weekend, the busy weekends I have seen 5-6 aircraft fly but that is rare...more like 1-4 flights a day on weekends and usually 1-2 on week days. They will start aircraft up and shut them down if attendance is low or there are not pilots around that day. There are not many pilots that are trained to fly those aircraft so you do get days were there is not much going on, but I am always there and always see stuff flying. Informant should visit more, or see my hard drive!!! ;)


And then we can talk about being on the ramp 30 feet from the threshold. This is the best place for spotting at this airport if they are using the runway by the AAM. You get some very nice shots with very little zoom.....ya know, becuase your bigma zoom sucks and all! ;)

[T-Bird76]

Its a bunch of old guys who sit around, pull out planes, start up the engines, shut em down,put them back in the hangar, and then tell stories. It doesn't get very busy on regular weekends.

I'm blown away by your statement... What goes on at the AAM is unlike anything else you've seen which apparently you have blinders on or you would have seen it. There are not to many museums that can say most of their old war bird’s fly. I find you comments to be highly insulting to the volunteers many who are veterans to this nation who put in their time at the AAM.

[nikon50bigma]

Its a bunch of old guys who sit around, pull out planes, start up the engines, shut em down,put them back in the hangar, and then tell stories. It doesn't get very busy on regular weekends.

Ummm NO... Not true

They usually fly at least 1 aircraft during the weekend, the busy weekends I have seen 5-6 aircraft fly but that is rare...more like 1-4 flights a day on weekends and usually 1-2 on week days. They will start aircraft up and shut them down if attendance is low or there are not pilots around that day. There are not many pilots that are trained to fly those aircraft so you do get days were there is not much going on, but I am always there and always see stuff flying. Informant should visit more, or see my hard drive!!! ;)


And then we can talk about being on the ramp 30 feet from the threshold. This is the best place for spotting at this airport if they are using the runway by the AAM. You get some very nice shots with very little zoom.....ya know, becuase your bigma zoom sucks and all! ;)

30 ft from the threshold, you mean from the ramp/tarmac or from the fence?
Btw what do ya think about that ISO problem my D50 has w/ the Bigma?

[Derf]

Woops, sorry.... Threshold is like 30-50 feet from the old control tower which is AAM Property, from the side of the hangar, aircraft pass like 30 feet from you on final. I will post some pictures soon for you to see location.

[moose135]

Btw what do ya think about that ISO problem my D50 has w/ the Bigma?

Shoulda got a Canon

I have to echo what Fred & Tommy said - the Airpower Museum is a unique opportunity to see a number of classic aircraft in operation. They actually fly these birds, they don't just park them in a corner and let kids drop ice cream on them. Obviously, some days will be busier than others, but most weekends you will see something fly.

And when they aren't flying, it is worth the price of admission to talk to the volunteers. They are not a "bunch of old guys who sit around...and tell stories" as Informant said. These guys lived the history most of us only read about in books (for those of us who still read books). They were there in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific, Korea and Vietnam. They flew these aircraft, maintained them, and in at least one case, were rescued by them. The stories they tell are priceless. On more than one occasion, I've found I've completely lost track of time while listening to these fine gentlemen.

Spend a day at the museum - look at the airplanes, listen to the engines, smell the avgas and oil, and sit and talk with a couple of the volunteers. I assure you that you will be hooked. We have a gem right here in our own backyard, please don't miss it, and do not disrespect the fine work these folks do.

[mirrodie]

Its a bunch of old guys who sit around, pull out planes, start up the engines, shut em down,put them back in the hangar, and then tell stories. It doesn't get very busy on regular weekends.

Informant....where exactly are you getting this information from?!

While old props are not my thing, it's far from a quiet museum.

[nikon50bigma]

Woops, sorry.... Threshold is like 30-50 feet from the old control tower which is AAM Property, from the side of the hangar, aircraft pass like 30 feet from you on final. I will post some pictures soon for you to see location.

Can regular people who go to the AAM go there, or is that just for the privledged few :) ?

[Tom_Turner]

Informant, I'd have to concur with the others - lets give the Museum and their associates some credit.

On the off-chance you had something else behind those comments, let me just say diplomatically, that (from casual observation lately on my part) the museum appears to have come a long way in recent times and deserves a lot of credit.

There were some "issues" -- and talking with the old timers there on a few occasions, as well as witnessing them first hand, I know about them, but I'd like to believe - and it appears to be, those have been cleared up for the most part.

Bottom line, we're lucky to have AAM in our neck of the woods.

Tom

[T-Bird76]

Informant, I'd have to concur with the others - lets give the Museum and their associates some credit.

On the off-chance you had something else behind those comments, let me just say diplomatically, that (from casual observation lately on my part) the museum appears to have come a long way in recent times and deserves a lot of credit.

There were some "issues" -- and talking with the old timers there on a few occasions, as well as witnessing them first hand, I know about them, but I'd like to believe - and it appears to be, those have been cleared up for the most part.

Bottom line, we're lucky to have AAM in our neck of the woods.

Tom

Tom you should run for President! You have a great way with words, me I'll just call someone a tool and be done with it, lolol Tom Turner in 08!

[Derf]

Tom's got my vote....as for the tower tour, they run it during the
weekends, I think they usually stay up top for about 10-20 minutes.
That depends on the person taking you up. If you want to go to the AAM,
drop me a line and I will try to meet you that day. I am usually there
before work for an hour.. I usually am in around 2-3.....and I always
hear..... FRED, YOU JUST MISSED IT! The (INSERT ANY WARBIRD) just
left / arrived!

I am not sure why you had different shutter speeds than me... Hey
guys, Same Zoom/F-Stop/ISO and exposure comp but I was getting
1/1000-1/1600 sec and Bigma man was getting 1/640th of a sec! He had
a hoya UV but that should barley cut out any light, not kill half the light!

I sit here with a deer in headlight look because what I said should not
be possible. anyone?

[Tom_Turner]

LOL.. thanks tommy... We can form the Tool Party. . :)

btw... Did you happen to notice where the Catalina is? Is it in the main hangar or someplace else? I was going to take a look around over the weekend, but it was very crowded of course, so I figured I'd get back to it later in the summer, and just stuck to the perimeter.

Tom you should run for President! You have a great way with words, me I'll just call someone a tool and be done with it, lolol Tom Turner in 08!

[moose135]

Woops, sorry.... Threshold is like 30-50 feet from the old control tower which is AAM Property, from the side of the hangar, aircraft pass like 30 feet from you on final. I will post some pictures soon for you to see location.

Can regular people who go to the AAM go there, or is that just for the privledged few :) ?

The museum gives tours of the old control tower during the weekend - it's included as part your admission. The ramp outside the museum hangar is open to visitors, and you can get some good shots from there. These two were shot from outside the museum hangar. First one is at 180mm zoom, the second was at 28mm.