The Final Leg

2018-09-29
National Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, OH, WV, PA

The last day of the trip started in Dayton with a visit to the National Museum of the USAF. The museum is on the Wright Patterson Air Force Base. On street signs this is generally abbreviated as WPAFB. It was amusing to listen to Siri try to pronounce that as a word (wa-paf-ba).

The museum itself is a lot of fun. They have a huge collection of aircraft, and the biggest hanger is for WW II vintage planes including the Memphis Bell which recently finished restoration. There are also hangers full of newer stuff from the Korean, Vietnam, and Cold wars as well as some experimental aircraft and space vehicles. They also have most of the retired Air Force One planes that you can walk through. It's the best aviation museum I've visited.

The Memphis Belle
The Memphis Belle
WW II planes are form following function but they look so tough
WW II planes are form following function but they look so tough
The classic P-51 Mustang. Teeth make the plane.
The classic P-51 Mustang. Teeth make the plane.
They sensibly stopped putting the bombs inside the plane. Visually cool (when not on the receiving end)
They sensibly stopped putting the bombs inside the plane. Visually cool (when not on the receiving end)
The same stuff that makes these stealthy to radar also makes autofocus a challenge
The same stuff that makes these stealthy to radar also makes autofocus a challenge

After a couple hours checking out the planes, I continued across Ohio, West Virginia, and through Pennsylvania. The PA turnpike was the only section of the trip was was repeated.

When I got home, my held mail had been delivered. After weeding out the newspapers, ads, and charity requests there wasn't much left. After an entire month on the road, my useful mail boiled down to two prospectuses from my HSA (which they have to send out but I've already read online) and a bill for my homeowners insurance (which I paid a few days back). My older friends will remember when mail contained stuff that you have to deal with, while my younger friends will be on me for not getting those few things delivered electronically.

After unloading my car into a big pile in the living room, I ordered a pizza, cracked a beer for the first time in weeks, and turned on the TV for the first time this month. I used college football while doing laundry and blogging to ease myself back into normal life. No sense in vegetating too abruptly.

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