Sunday, January 15, 2017

Camarillo CAF Museum

Yesterday, Young Daughter, Young Son, and I visited the Commemorative Air Force museum in Camarillo CA.   It is located at a former airbase that was active from WW2 to 1970 and has an active runway and great facilities.   I've driven past the airfield many times over the years but never stopped to visit until this weekend.

Last year on my birthday the family got together to buy me a ride in the museum's P51 Mustang two seat fighter.  Unfortunately the engine failed and has been being rebuilt ever since then.  It is supposed to be back in the plane in March.  I figured I might as well check out the P51 to see what it looked like!



The P51 that is at the museum was used in the film "Battle Hymn" starring Rock Hudson.  At the time the plane was assigned to the Texas Air National Guard.  The museum's P51 is painted to resemble the fighter flown by the person the movie was made about.








Sadly the plane does indeed seem to be missing its engine so no flight for me in the near future!


Young Son and I sitting in the museum's C-46 Commando cargo plane.  It is the largest 2 engine plane ever made and was used extensively for flying over the Himalaya mountains (the Hump) between India and China.




Another of the museum's aircraft, a late model Supermarine Spitfire.

The airfield is very active and a privately owned P-51 was doing touch and go landings while we were there.  The sound of a Packard Merlin engine is something to hear!




The P-51 is the sliver aircraft on the runway.

No comments:

Post a Comment