I got a chance to head over to the Chandler Municipal Airport on Saturday.  Took some photos of the Sentimental Journey, a World War II era B-17 Flying Fortress.  The Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force flew it over from Mesa's Falcon Field. The kids enjoyed looking at her guns and bomb bays.  It takes $2000 an hour to operate the Boeing B-17.  I think they built 12,000 of them.  Only about 50 left.  Beautiful aircraft.  I wish I could have seen it in the sky.

Also had some lunch at the Hangar Cafe.  Great food there.   Very friendly staff in the cafe.  They are famous for their biscuits and gravy.  Great atmosphere.  Now that Sideburns has been closed for a few years, this is one of the last places to get real breakfast in Chandler.  You know, not from a chain restaurant.  I will post a copy of the menu.

My youngest daughter went for a helicopter ride for $30 from Quantum Helicopters.  They had a Robinson R22 there for display, but I think she went up in a R44.  She is 8 and plans on being a helicopter pilot.  Events like this give kids like her a chance to dream.  She has been on 5 rides so far in her young life and the pilots are always hrilled to take her up.  She felt like a superstar.  You should have seen her eyes when she went in the Chandler Air Service hangar.  She got to see all the engines, propellers, and aircraft mechanic tools all over the place.  She was in Heaven.  She likes to take things apart and invent things.  Now, she has it in her mind to be an aircraft mechanic.  I told her some of the mechanics get to take the planes out after they fix them.  She was hooked.  Chandler Air Services is one of the few places left that still gives tailwheel training.

We saw some nice planes on Saturday.  We didn't see Jon Melby, but we saw his Pitts S-1-11B.  Wow.  Pilots were giving rides in Super Cubs, and we saw a few Great Lakes bi-planes flying too.  There were Pipers, Cessnas, and a few Beechcraft.  Boeing made a beautiful bi-plane, and we saw a beautiful red Stearman.  Lelaina liked learning words like wheel pants, Lycoming engines, and arc welder.  We also met a man who has been a flight nurse for 26 years.  He was an Arizona native but had a southern accent.  Definitely a fun family event.  

Here are a few airport links:

http://www.aerobatics.com
http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=318

Chandler Air Service, Inc.
1675 E Ryan Rd
Chandler, AZ 85249
Toll Free: 1-888-503-8884
(480) 963-6420
fax: (480) 963-7639
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