photos.ALBj.net

photos.ALBj.net → 2000 → Florida Panhandle Sightseeing, December 22-23, 2000

My parents came up with the bright idea (no pun intended) for the three of us to drive up to the Florida panhandle to see several lighthouses—one of our favorite pastimes. The trip also included a visit to the National Museum of Naval Aviation.

Pensacola Light
It was a rather impromptu decision to spend a few days prior to Christmas 2000 on a lighthouse sightseeing trip. We started with PensacolaLight.

Pensacola Light
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Pensacola Light
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Pensacola Light
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Pensacola Light
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National Museum of Naval Aviation
I'd have liked to spend longer, but we did manage to take a little time for the National Museum of Naval Aviation.

Wright Brothers flyer
The Wright Bros. flyer—or at least a reproduction, since my understanding is that the original is at the Smithsonian.

A plethora of aircraft
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Dad in a plane
The cockpit sections were probably intended for kids, but my dad couldn't resist.

Complicated cockpit
I just don't understand how people learn to fly aircraft. Talk about information overload.

Blue Angel
When did my dad join the Blue Angels?

Old plane
This just looks like the type of plane that has a long history, doesn't it?

Odd plane
Check out the odd-looking bubble window area behind the wing.

Airship cockpit
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Ship model
My photo doesn't do justice to this model's detail.

Blue Angels
Kudos to whoever planned out how to suspend these jets and the viewing opportunities for visitors.

Blue Angel
If I had more time on my hands, I'd experiment with masking out the jets and replacing the background with an aerial shot.

Fat Man
"This nuclear device is representative of the type of atomic bomb, nicknamed 'Fat Man,' that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, to end the second World War. This same type was also utilized by the Navy in Operation Crossroads, a test to determine the effects of atomic bombs on naval targets, at Bikini Atoll in July of 1946."

Soldiers of war
It was December 22—the museum workers were certainly not lacking of holiday spirit. This sculpture, titled "The Spirit of Naval Aviation," has a plaque reading, "In the universal language of all aviators, a World War II pilot relives his flight with naval aviators from his past and future." Depicted, left to right: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm.

USS Wasp (CV-7) model
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Former St. Joseph Point Range Rear Light "Beacon Hill"
Obviously serving as a private residence now, this is what's left of the St. Joseph Point Range Rear Light "Beacon Hill." Originally in Port St. Joe, it was moved to Simmons Bayou. I found another site with a pretty lengthy history write-up, but I've linked to it more so for the better photos, including some from when it was still active.