11/5 Pensacola Naval Air Station

Today, we toured the National Naval Aviation Museum on the base at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.  It paid tribute to all sorts of Naval aviation history.  There were jets, seaplanes, and helicopters on display.

There was a display honoring those aviators in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and in Space, etc.  They also honored the Coast Guard and Marines.  In addition to planes, there were collections of other naval memorabilia.

 Here is the Marine One helicopter from the Nixon administration.

One movie that was very interesting explained how the planes landed on the aircraft carriers.  It had the wind and engine noises just like being on deck.  It messed up my hair.   It is amazing how they catch the big bungee to land. 

There was an exhibit on the Blue Angels.

We took the 4-D movie exhibit that made it feel like you were flying in formation with the Blue Angels over Pensacola.  I held onto my seat during one maneuver.  What fun!!

We learned about a Homeward Bound Pennant.  A ship flies this as they head into the US after being abroad and until sunset of the first day in the US.  There is one star for the first 9 months at sea and a star for every six months thereafter.  I think John and I should make and fly one when we cross our wake.  Maybe we would only need one star for each month we were away.

Pensacola seems like a nice small city.  At the waterfront this morning, a suicide awareness walk was going on.  The music started at 8 a.m.  We went to church and walked back to the marina and had dinner a restaurant overlooking the marina.  It was homecoming weekend for the high schools.  At every fountain, in the square, and at the waterfront, everyone was taking pictures.  John and I joined in when asked to join a picture on the dock.  Years from now they will be wondering who those people are.

Tomorrow, we head to Fort Walton Beach, FL.  We will still be in the Central Time Zone.  Tonight we will fall back as Daylight Savings Times ends.  In a couple of days, we will enter the Eastern Time Zone and lose that extra hour.