Going to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola is a real highlight for us. Barney did his initial flight training here in the early 1970s and his oldest son, Jason, was born here, so Pensacola holds fond memories for him. We came here about 15 years ago with our Georgia family but knew that new exhibits had been added so were looking forward to seeing what they had.
Highlights for us were some early airplanes and air boats, Barney’s trainers, Marine One and Navy One, and Cubi Bar and Grill since it looks like what Barney had known at the original officers’ club in Subic Bay, Philippines. I’m also including some other pictures that grabbed our attention.
Next is the Sopwith Camel, made famous in my generation by Snoopy.
Here are some of the planes Barney trained in here at Pensacola.
The PBY Catalina is an exhibit Barney remembers from the first time he came to this museum years ago. This air boat from the 1930s was opened up so we could see inside. Barney’s dad said it took off at 90 mph, flew at 90 mph, and landed at 90 mph. But . . . it could detect U-boats and attack them, and it could find downed pilots, land on the water, and pick them up out of their life rafts.
Here are some other planes we loved seeing.
We had a nice lunch at the Cubi Bar Cafe and then went back in the afternoon for some homemade bread pudding and apple pie with ice cream. Delicious!