Friday, October 23, 2009

WAAAM 10/17/09

Matti, Dad, and I, took a trip over to Hood River to visit WAAAM (the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum). I had hoped to fly into Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2), which is adjacent to the museum, but the October Oregon weather was uncooperative. The Columbia Gorge is always a nice drive anyway.



Matti and I had seen several of their aircraft and autos at an antique fly-in held at the McMinnville airport a year or so ago, and their collection includes more than 60 aircraft, 80 autos, 12 motorcycles, 6 tractors, and 8 military vehicles.

A long time favorite airplane of mine has been the the Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny".  WAAAM has in its collection a restored original 1917 Jenny that was located in a barn in need of restoration, but 100% complete. It is now occasionally flown, which would be great to see.

Also of interest (to me anyway) was a very rare 1938 Piper J-3P-50 (J3 Cub) powered by a Lenape three cylinder radial engine, rather than the common Continental flat four. This would make a unique subject for my 1/5 scale RC kit hiding under the bed.

The Boeing Model 40, of which I believe WAAAM has the only airworthy example, was a United States mail plane that became the first aircraft built by the Boeing company to carry passengers.  This is also the oldest flying Boeing.

There were many cars as well, a few with the windows down so you could stick you head in and breathe in that wonderful "old car smell", and imagine what it was like when that particular car was the latest in style. Probably not the reason the windows were down, but worked for me.

Before leaving Hood River, we made a stop at the Full Sail Brewing Co's pub for lunch and a beer. Good.

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