California Air Museums - Chino. In Chino Southern California. IMO the crown jewel of them all in southern Cal. (1 Viewer)

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

Kyushuj7w

Airman 1st Class

I had been able to visit Chino perhaps for the first time 20 years earlier vs this 2013 trip. I had my wife with me on a business leadership training trip back then. This was the first time she had ever traveled with me. She had never gone with me to the little towns in the middle of no where, landing on chopped off mountain top in WVA or NY where some of our plants were. Nothing open, one hotel that made the Bates motel look inviting, mush less the only food option being the counter inside the local Conoco station. The rental car desks literally left the key in an envelope in a drawer if your flight was late so they could go home. Small towns small airports. Figure that happening today.

Planes of Fame at Chino Chino had a symposium on the Italian Airforce in WWII going while we were there.
IMG_2277_zps3fc6878a.jpg
IMG_2278_zps8af2c606.jpg
IMG_2279_zps7ddcbb18 (1).jpg
IMG_2280_zpse3d2c241.jpg
IMG_2281_zps1093c247.jpg
IMG_2282_zps573ae70c.jpg
IMG_2283_zpscbca5aef.jpg
IMG_2284_zps630e504a.jpg
IMG_2285_zps4504e2c5.jpg
IMG_2286_zpse0078162.jpg





This is one of those FW-190s that are being reproduced today . The J8M however is the sole remaining original same for a rebuilt skeleton of one found buried in a revetment in Japan and rebuilt by Mitsubishi. .

IMG_2304_zpsa13cd3ad.jpg
IMG_2311_zps8b97ad06.jpg
IMG_2303_zps5760342a.jpg
IMG_2309_zpsf7a90ccb.jpg
IMG_2310_zpsfd396b10.jpg
IMG_2312_zpsf9c69e6d.jpg
IMG_2313_zps147558a1.jpg



The Natter, V1, and HE-100 are replicas. Not absolutely sure about the ME-163 and Heinkel 162. There must be someone making these first 3 along wih the Luftwaffe 46 aircraft to be seen in Virginia Beach. VA
IMG_2314_zps5bd138e6.jpg
IMG_2315_zpsaf347b10.jpg
IMG_2316_zps8141ee86.jpg




 
Last edited:

IMG_2317_zpsb2b499e7.jpg
IMG_2321_zpsa6756d75.jpg

IMG_2325_zpsb5ec8daa.jpg
IMG_2326_zpsa704ddee.jpg




I was hoping to see the restored Judy dive bomber. In the later stages of the war it was fairly successful at hitting US carriers in conventional attacks. Though this model had come with an inline engine they have rebuilt it as a DY4. It will never fly but can taxi.
IMG_2340_zps95b77250.jpg
IMG_2341_zps73bd9f36.jpg
IMG_2342_zpsadbc5d73.jpg
IMG_2344_zps278537a3.jpg
IMG_2346_zpsc7561b16.jpg
IMG_2350_zps721fdfe7.jpg
IMG_2351_zps6469073b.jpg

Of course they have the texan conversion of a VAl.

IMG_2299_zps73260076.jpg
IMG_2291_zps3f6232e0.jpg
IMG_2288_zpsdb1b5a7b.jpg
IMG_2295_zps67a2edfd.jpg
IMG_2298_zpsed656c37.jpg
IMG_2301_zpsb8365829.jpg


The have expanded the hangers and have a simulated carrier hanger with the WWII naval collection but you can't get as close to them as you can the others.​
 
they have expanded the hangers and have a simulated carrier hanger with the WWII naval collection but you can't get as close to them as you can the others. But again this was 2013 . As I said in earlier posts 5 museums in reasonable proximity to each other. Chino with a great airshow. Then drive down the coast and you have San Diego. If we have a member there perhaps they can post the pics.


IMG_2347_zps1f9df1fc.jpg
IMG_2348_zpsaf2ff493.jpg
IMG_2349_zps6e25e51e.jpg
 
I visited The Planes of Fame Museum around September, 1986. I don't remember it being that extensive. Then again I was mesmerized by the Zero and spent most of my too short visit staring at it. At the time I thought it was the last remaining actual Zero.
 
Great stuff as usual, your documenting of these US museums is valuable research, but damn, man, you need to get yourself a decent camera! Keep it up in posting these though. Really enjoying seeing them.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back