Edit: Since this article was originally written, I have been informed that this is not associated with the Confederate Air Force . These planes are the private collection of Hans Lauridsen.
http://lauridsenaviationmuseum.com/
The Confederate Air Force restoration hangar ride..........
Ok , I know they changed their name to Commemorative Air Force , But it just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
We are experiencing something of a cool break right now. It’s already been 110 degrees a couple of times this year, I frankly thought my riding days were just about done until the fall. But here came a front and it brought a nice bit of relief. It was 86 degrees this morning as I headed out. About 15 miles from home, I stop and top off my tank for what will be a 75 mile ride.
I’m going to ride to The Buckeye Az municipal airport, blink as you drive by and you’ll miss it. It sits way out on the outskirts of town, surrounded by open desert and farm fields. There couldn’t be more than 20 or 30 small planes there. Ahhh....but the best kept secret of this tiny airport is that The Confederate Air Force keeps a restoration hanger there. Shown in the red square, the two rectangular structures are open air sheds that are about 100 yards long each.
They don’t advertise being in this location, they don’t conduct tours , this is a place for working on planes, away from the public. I discovered it quite by accident while exploring lonely roads ( well that, and being nosey). There are no signs directing you in , I just rode around until I found a long gravel road leading back there. I probably shouldn’t be back there, but until they tell me to get out, well.......
C’mon , let’s go have a look. I’ve been here a few times and the inventory changes. I have no idea what kind of planes these are so
IF YOU KNOW WHAT ANY OF THESE PLANES ARE , PLEASE TELL ME.
This first one, I just love. ITS HUGE, like a bus with wings, and the twin tails are just crazy big and long. Pictures don't do justice to the scale of this thing. I had to keep backing up to try and get it all in the frame.
Next up, some kind of amphibious plane ( says Captain Obvious
)
And this one, a B-25? Maybe?
This old Coast Guard plane was here the last time I was here. I took a ton of photos of it then.
Now let’s go have a look and see what’s under the sheds. Let me also mention how difficult these next ones were to photograph, with half the body outside in the blazing sunlight and half in the shade.
I am quite sure, I have no business being here, but I am doing this for you guys!
The last time I was here, I didn’t walk around under the roof for fear of someone discovering me and yelling at me. But this time I’m fully prepared to play the old man card. “ I’m lost, I was just looking for the bathroom.” I can hear someone at the other end of the building banging on something, but I walk in like I own the place.
I’m not even gonna guess what the rest of these planes are.
I like the bubble windows on this plane. It looks pretty old.
At this point I pulled a bottle of water outa my tail pack and sat in the shade of the hanger and just kinda soaked in the history that was all around me. After a while I figured I better not stretch my luck , so I threw my gear back on , fired up old Blackie and got the hell outa Dodge, and headed for home.
On the way home I stopped in the desert mountain foothill town of Verado and let my bike ( and rider ) cool off a little.
I pulled back into my garage and thought , it’s always nice to come back home. What a great old bike, it never missed a beat!
Until next time,
Bob
Don’t worry about a thing,
Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
