A good day on the motorcycle, up early this morning on what was a warmer day, and rode out to Concord Regional Airport. Of late, it seems that it has been warbird and classic aircraft central with visits this year by another B-17 and also a Ford Tri-Motor. I am a huge fan of aircraft of virtually all types, and enjoy seeing them up close when I can. The Collings Foundation flew in three WWII classics, and I got to see them today. At Left is a TP-51C Mustang. Interesting and rare version of this fighter, as it is a duel control version (can be flown from the front or rear seat) and also is a C version (most flown today are D's). 
The second plane seen here is a Consolidated B-24J Liberator. It has four engines, and the type was flown during WWII over many of the cities of Europe, and also saw action against Japan. The plane was actually in many cases a better aircraft than the more famous B-17 but is the lesser known of the two. It was said to be a difficult plane to fly. Like the B-17 it has a lot of machine guns for protection and also depended on escort aircraft like the P-51 to protect it from German and Japanese fighters. However, many were shot down by enemy aircraft, as well as from ground gunners who shot at the aircraft.
The plane at left is the famous Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. It is one of the most famous aircraft of WWII. The B-17 was famous for the bombing of Germany, but also was used against Japan. In fact the raid on Pearl Harbor was picked up on radar but was thought to be a flight of B-17's which were expected that morning. The B-17 was known as a rugged aircraft and could take a lot of punishment. However, like the B-24 and other planes, it was relatively light weight with little or no armor, and could be easily shot down if hit in the right places. Like the B-24 it was unpressurized and unheated; crews had to breathe bottled oxygen in the cold of the upper air, being careful not to touch metal with bare hands (if they did they would stick to the metal). Thousands gave their lives in these aircraft, in actions that can only really be imagined today. I did enjoy seeing these aircraft today, and gave a bit of thanks for what those who served in planes like these gave in our defense. After the aircraft tours, I wandered for a bit around Concord and Kannapolis. It had been cool this week (below freezing in the AM, warmer in the afternoon to around 60) but today it got up to 70. I was riding in the cool (feeling only slightly like a bomber pilot in a leather jacket and gloves, but well above freezing and sub freezing of that periods flying) but it rose fairly quickly. Starting to see the full colors of fall locally, including some vivid reds. As always enjoyed the ride on the bike, traffic in the early mornings (North Carolina I have noted tends to sleep in on Saturday, a habit I have taken advantage of on a few rides) was light, and it was a very good ride. I did not cover a lot of distance today, but it was a very enjoyable cruise nonetheless.
Not a great deal of motorcycle news of late. I did enjoy some viewing(s) of Wild Hogs on the tv (Starz has been showing it again), and also got in a new issue of Motorcyclist. I am not renewing that magazine though, but will be keeping my AMA membership and that magazine which comes with the membership.
I will be getting in some riding this week after work (and perhaps to work tomorow as I am working Sunday) this week. Next week will be driving to Richmond, VA with my wife Patty to explore that area. Going to be an interesting weekend coming up.
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