AHM’s presentation to Larry Brown and Dick MaMahon

And Connie’s 4 engine startup

Salute to Aviation and the TWA get together at the Airline History Museum this Saturday was just about what everyone wanted.
We saw literally 100s of greetings along the lines of ‘hey!! great to see you!’ and ‘did you see that (name) was here!’
For those of mainly concerned with the museum, the big event was Dick and Larry being presented with portraits Jeff shot in the Connie’s command seats, along with a proclamation from the Missouri legislature recognizing Dick McMahon and Larry Brown as visionary pioneers, founders of Sav-A-Connie (now the Airline History Museum). MCs Bill Skaggs (our president) and Jim Dickerson did a great job getting the crowds attention to make the presentation.

And the next big thing –
Jim Stella and his determined crew got ALL FOUR engines running on the Connie!

… and the crowd, as they say, went wild! I’m not sure when the last time Connie had all 4 turning, but it was too long ago.
The sounds, sights, smells of a big four-engine airliner… the whole experience was just grand. We had a ball, and so did the 100s who saw the whole thing.

Two of the 100s of small reunions going on during the TWA 'Last Flight' celebration.

There was a great fashion show, dozens of costumes the ‘girls’ wore over the years, and a smart commentary on the progress aft of the forward bulkhead. I’ll put up a post of that, too, but the pictures of the whole shootin’ match are here.

Saturday was the CAF Fly In at New Century Air Center in Olathe, KS. Jeff and I have been there for the last 4 years, and it’s such a laid back event we didn’t want to miss this years.

The heat was bad, but we got there early and shot the static displays, the vintage cars, and some of the folks attending.
The CAF trainer fleet flew revenue flights all day, and we got some pretty good shots of the great photo passes the PT-19 and PT-17 make.
The lovely Beech Staggerwing attended and we got to talk to the pilot and owner. We hope to see them again soon.
The galleries are here. Enjoy!

Connie got to show her stuff Saturday night – Engines 2 and 3 starting and running up to an appreciative crowd of revelers at the Museum for the ‘Rock Around the Props’ dance held to celebrate the 4th.
There were vintage cars, including a Packard Constellation!!, The Benders from Wichita (hope THEY get invited back again!! they were GREAT!), a lovely sunset, and to cap off the evening, the Riverfest fireworks by the river, viewable from the museum.

On Friday night, we had gotten to see the first startup, and Jeff’s MkIV did a great job capturing the moment in video.

Jack and I had a good time helping to set up, taking pictures of the engine starts and the party-goers.
The gallery is HERE if you want to see the rest, but in the meantime, here’s one to hold you:

… a WHOLE bunch of vintage type airplanes get together in Gardner KS every year about this time, and Jack, Jeff and I went down to help out and take tickets, and of course take pictures.
Jeff got to go for a ride and shoot the aerial view, which I hope he has up soon, and Jack and I contented ourselves with shooting from the ground.
There were a great many unique and interesting aircraft there, including my first ever close up look at a Pietenpol! The designer is from Davenport IA, and his design has been built many hundreds of times, but the owners say there are really no two of them alike.
This one had a Model-A engine!

It was a typically WINDY Kansas day, but we had a great time, and look forward to going back again next year.
I cant wait to see Jeff’s aerial stuff when he gets it posted.