Last weekend we decided to try something
different. We have been members of FMCA
since 2006, but have only attended one regional rally several years ago. So after getting some information from FMCA
headquarters about local chapters, we made arrangements to attend a rally being
held by the Bay Area Travelers (BATS) chapter of FMCA in Ozark, Alabama.
There were 22 motorhomes attending the events
centered on the Ozark KOA. When we
arrived we did not know a single person there, but everyone was very friendly
and welcoming. We soon were having a
great time getting to know a lot of nice people. Over the next three days there was lots of
food and fun.
One of the highlights was an arranged tour of the Army
Aviation Museum located on the grounds of Fort Rucker Army base. They have
exhibits starting with the earliest aviation activities of the Army thru to
modern operations. We had a super tour
guide who was a pilot that flew in the Vietnam conflict.
As you enter the museum you confront a series of sculptures
which depict the dress of air crews from WWI thru combat operations taking
place currently. Each of the sculptures
is based on a specific pilot who flew during the period depicted and our guide
was able to tell us a little history from each of these individuals.
A tour of the museum provides a pretty good summary
of the total history of Army air operations.
One of the exhibits is the first helicopter that was used to transport
the President of the United States, President Eisenhower. The president personally asked for this
transport mode to be developed and has been used by every president since
then. You can read about all the
modifications including special design for wheel floats in case the helicopter
was forced to land on water.
One of the more impressive displays was how
helicopters were used during the Vietnam conflict.
A great free museum for anyone interested in aviation.
12 comments:
Love the name of the chapter. Are they all Batty?? :-) Looks like they put on a nice gathering. Always good to get out and do something different. Bet you made a lot of new friends.
Very cool header photo!
Paul and I would really enjoy visiting that museum. It looks like they have done an excellent job of displaying the equipment. I really like that first photo of all those men.
I love your header too! I'd also love to visit that museum. Glad you had a great time!!
Thanks for the tour Chuck, looks like a place I'd like to visit.
I love to look at older aircraft, and the museum looks like a very interesting place. Great pitures.
Nice looking campground and a great looking aviation museum.
Loved all the aircraft photos! Nice job.
Looks like a fun outing. I could wander around in a place like that for hours.
Now that is the type of Museum that interests me. Have always had a fascination with flight and anything military. You have some nice photos there.
Did that museum give you a nice "buzz"? :c)
I have no idea why you'd be interested in an aviation museum...
Neat museum. I'll certainly check it out if I'm ever in the area. Love the header photo.
Nice to see you out in your RV ... great header photo.
Interesting museum. But my first thought was "lucky you to be out camping in Jan"! We are still 3+ dismal months away... ENJOY.
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