There's a group out in the Midwest that runs an aviation museum. The latest acquisition is an old TWA L-1011 TriStar. I've talked on here before about how much I love the TriStar, and what that big old beast of an airplane meant to me back in the day, and how much I loved every flight I took on it.
That's why the movies on this page, showing the efforts as they get the big airplane ready for one last flight, really take me back, especially the sound and sight of those RB-211s lighting up. I remember looking out the cabin window and seeing the puff of smoke out the exhaust on engine start, and hearing that low whine start to spool up. (Of course, they didn't smoke nearly as much as what you see in the movie, but there was some smoke on startup.)
The only thing missing, as far as I'm concerned, is a tiny bit of vibration and that very slight whiff of kerosene.
So this was a last ferry flight, I presume? I'll look more @home tonight.
I _almost_ visited KC last week. Had a trip to Little Rock AR planned but ice storm cancelled it. KC was going to be the fuel stop.
Maybe I should go anyway. I need a 300mi x/c.
Posted by: Sarah | February 03, 2010 at 03:54 PM
Sarah: Yes, this was a ferry flight to Kansas City, where the TriStar will become part of the same museum that has the Super Constellation, a DC-3 and a Martin 404:
http://www.ahmhangar.com/
Definitely looks like its worth a visit, and there are definitely worse places you could take a cross-country to, no?
Posted by: ea757grrl | February 03, 2010 at 04:30 PM