Tom,

Nice shots of an interesting craft. I'm headed down to your neck of the woods (or
should I say beach) in a couple of weeks. I plan on venturing over to the Naval
Museum and maybe even catching a practice session if we're there on the right days.

The museum website had lots of good info, but is there any absolutely gotta see stuff
at the museum or elsewhere? Better to ask the local guy now rather than wish I had
later.

I've attached an aviation shot from snow bound New Hampshire. I'm ready for spring
to be here now! This was Manchester (MHT) on Saturday 2/23/08 after clearing out
from a small overnight storm. The FAA registry says this is a DC-9-32 built in 1969.

Thanks!
Tom at the beach in NH

Hey Tom,
If you are a neighbor of my Internet buddy Gary Gordon in New Hampshire
bring him on down with ya!
If you are coming to a Blue Angel practice session they are going to be
at these times in March:
19
20
21
25
26 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Museum Visit)


If you bring your badge the security guys at the museum will let you
buy them coffee.
As far as extra special things to do and see it just depends on what
turns you on. If you want to do something that not too many people get to
do then you will want to visit the museum on a Friday morning and be there
when it opens so you can proceed to the reception desk quickly in order to
get one of the few boarding passes for the trolley ride. On Friday mornings
the trolley ride out to the static parking area is followed by a walking
tour through the restoration hangar. That group gets to see how the
aircraft are restored, they talk with the restoration volunteers and they
get to see how it all really transpires. The only other way in to see
what's happening is to walk to the bathroom during a Blue Angel practice
session.
I don't know if you stay in a trailer camp, with friends or in a
hotel/motel. Wherever it is, I suggest you get through the NAS gates in
time to get a good seat at the practice sessions.
We like to help visitors find a good restaurant. Two that are not on
the Internet are the Crazy Horse Café at 13110 Lillian Highway in Pensacola.
Lillian Highway is actually Highway 98 and the Crazy Horse is about one half
mile east of the Lillian Bridge which connects Florida to Alabama. The food
is home style and all of the desserts are home made. They are not open on
Sundays. Another is Lillian's Pizza on Perdido Key. We like the Big Dave's
pizza. It's got plenty of meat and is sinful.
Going in the other direction we recommend Pegleg Pete's restaurant on
Santa Rosa Island. They have killer fried calamari. If seafood isn't your
bag then go to the Surfburger on Santa Rosa Island. Their food is so fresh
that nothing is cooked until it's ordered. So be ready to wait a few
minutes for the main part of your meal (get a table on the veranda and watch
the sailing on the bay).
And, if you are one of those diehards who stays in a condo in
Alabama.....we recommend DeSoto's restaurant. They have the best crab claws
on the coast and their lunch-time only corn fritters are to die for. (I
know, don't end a sentence with a preposition.)
The exhibits at the museum are constantly changing. Right now there is
a new IMAX movie and there are always reenactors and docents who can make
your visit much more entertaining. You just have to not be in a hurry, Tom
in Pensacola

"Tom" > wrote in message
. ..
> Tom,
>
> Nice shots of an interesting craft. I'm headed down to your neck of the
> woods (or
> should I say beach) in a couple of weeks. I plan on venturing over to the
> Naval
> Museum and maybe even catching a practice session if we're there on the
> right days.
>
> The museum website had lots of good info, but is there any absolutely
> gotta see stuff
> at the museum or elsewhere? Better to ask the local guy now rather than
> wish I had
> later.
>
> I've attached an aviation shot from snow bound New Hampshire. I'm ready
> for spring
> to be here now! This was Manchester (MHT) on Saturday 2/23/08 after
> clearing out
> from a small overnight storm. The FAA registry says this is a DC-9-32
> built in 1969.
>
> Thanks!
> Tom at the beach in NH
>

Somehow the Blue Angel practice schedule got out of alignment.
I think it should have been:

March
19 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
20 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
21 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
25 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
26 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Museum Visit)


"Pensacola Beachcomber" > wrote in
message ...
> Hey Tom,
> If you are a neighbor of my Internet buddy Gary Gordon in New Hampshire
> bring him on down with ya!
> If you are coming to a Blue Angel practice session they are going to be
> at these times in March:
> 19
> 20
> 21
> 25
> 26 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Museum Visit)
>
>
>

Tom,

Thanks for all the great info! We'll be coming over from the St Pete area and be in
Pensacola on 20-21. I'll probably do the museum on the 20 and try to catch
practice on the 21 and follow-up on anything I missed the day before.

There weren't a lot of details about getting to the museum on their website. Do you
need a visitors pass? What's the earliest they'll let you get on board to get the
good seats? I'm assuming no issues with camera gear at the museum or practice...

I really appreciate the info on places to eat. It's nice to get the local lay of the
land on dining. Looking forward to this trip, too much snow and cold this winter.
Sorry, I don't know Gary. Where does he live?

Tom at the beach in NH


Pensacola Beachcomber wrote:
> Hey Tom,
> If you are a neighbor of my Internet buddy Gary Gordon in New Hampshire
> bring him on down with ya!
> If you are coming to a Blue Angel practice session they are going to be
> at these times in March:
> 19
> 20
> 21
> 25
> 26 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Museum Visit)
>
>
> If you bring your badge the security guys at the museum will let you
> buy them coffee.
> As far as extra special things to do and see it just depends on what
> turns you on. If you want to do something that not too many people get to
> do then you will want to visit the museum on a Friday morning and be there
> when it opens so you can proceed to the reception desk quickly in order to
> get one of the few boarding passes for the trolley ride. On Friday mornings
> the trolley ride out to the static parking area is followed by a walking
> tour through the restoration hangar. That group gets to see how the
> aircraft are restored, they talk with the restoration volunteers and they
> get to see how it all really transpires. The only other way in to see
> what's happening is to walk to the bathroom during a Blue Angel practice
> session.
> I don't know if you stay in a trailer camp, with friends or in a
> hotel/motel. Wherever it is, I suggest you get through the NAS gates in
> time to get a good seat at the practice sessions.
> We like to help visitors find a good restaurant. Two that are not on
> the Internet are the Crazy Horse Café at 13110 Lillian Highway in Pensacola.
> Lillian Highway is actually Highway 98 and the Crazy Horse is about one half
> mile east of the Lillian Bridge which connects Florida to Alabama. The food
> is home style and all of the desserts are home made. They are not open on
> Sundays. Another is Lillian's Pizza on Perdido Key. We like the Big Dave's
> pizza. It's got plenty of meat and is sinful.
> Going in the other direction we recommend Pegleg Pete's restaurant on
> Santa Rosa Island. They have killer fried calamari. If seafood isn't your
> bag then go to the Surfburger on Santa Rosa Island. Their food is so fresh
> that nothing is cooked until it's ordered. So be ready to wait a few
> minutes for the main part of your meal (get a table on the veranda and watch
> the sailing on the bay).
> And, if you are one of those diehards who stays in a condo in
> Alabama.....we recommend DeSoto's restaurant. They have the best crab claws
> on the coast and their lunch-time only corn fritters are to die for. (I
> know, don't end a sentence with a preposition.)
> The exhibits at the museum are constantly changing. Right now there is
> a new IMAX movie and there are always reenactors and docents who can make
> your visit much more entertaining. You just have to not be in a hurry, Tom
> in Pensacola
>
> "Tom" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> Tom,
>>
>> Nice shots of an interesting craft. I'm headed down to your neck of the
>> woods (or
>> should I say beach) in a couple of weeks. I plan on venturing over to the
>> Naval
>> Museum and maybe even catching a practice session if we're there on the
>> right days.
>>
>> The museum website had lots of good info, but is there any absolutely
>> gotta see stuff
>> at the museum or elsewhere? Better to ask the local guy now rather than
>> wish I had
>> later.
>>
>> I've attached an aviation shot from snow bound New Hampshire. I'm ready
>> for spring
>> to be here now! This was Manchester (MHT) on Saturday 2/23/08 after
>> clearing out
>> from a small overnight storm. The FAA registry says this is a DC-9-32
>> built in 1969.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Tom at the beach in NH
>>
>
>

Tom,
When you come through the gate of the naval air station they stop the car
and look at a picture ID of each adult passenger. I don't know if that
includes teenagers. They give the driver a day pass to put on the
dashboard. Most people get to the museum parking lot by 0800 hours. You
can get on the base as early as you want. The Volunteers who provide ramp
security and explain the airshow maneuvers will let people start going out
to the viewing area at 0730. It's a five minute walk out to the bleachers.
There are only two sets of bleachers so the seats go fairly fast. If you
bring your own lawn chairs you can set them up on the concrete area east of
the bleachers or in the grass west of the bleachers. People stand in both
of those areas and they are pretty good about not standing in front of
people sitting in beach or lawn chairs. The bad thing about the area west
of the bleachers is a line of trees that blocks the line of sight during
some of the maneuvers. However, I prefer standing on the west side because
of the
angle of view of the sneak pass.

My buddy Gary Gordon lives in Bow. He's an Army brat and an old Navy guy,
Tom in Pensacola




"Tom" > wrote in message
. ..
> Tom,
>
> Thanks for all the great info! We'll be coming over from the St Pete area
> and be in Pensacola on 20-21. I'll probably do the museum on the 20 and
> try to catch practice on the 21 and follow-up on anything I missed the day
> before.
>
> There weren't a lot of details about getting to the museum on their
> website. Do you need a visitors pass? What's the earliest they'll let
> you get on board to get the good seats? I'm assuming no issues with
> camera gear at the museum or practice...
>
> I really appreciate the info on places to eat. It's nice to get the local
> lay of the land on dining. Looking forward to this trip, too much snow
> and cold this winter. Sorry, I don't know Gary. Where does he live?
>
> Tom at the beach in NH
>
>
> Pensacola Beachcomber wrote:
>> Hey Tom,
>> If you are a neighbor of my Internet buddy Gary Gordon in New
>> Hampshire bring him on down with ya!
>> If you are coming to a Blue Angel practice session they are going to
>> be at these times in March:
>> 19
>> 20
>> 21
>> 25
>> 26 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Museum Visit)
>>
>>
>> If you bring your badge the security guys at the museum will let you
>> buy them coffee.
>> As far as extra special things to do and see it just depends on what
>> turns you on. If you want to do something that not too many people get
>> to do then you will want to visit the museum on a Friday morning and be
>> there when it opens so you can proceed to the reception desk quickly in
>> order to get one of the few boarding passes for the trolley ride. On
>> Friday mornings the trolley ride out to the static parking area is
>> followed by a walking tour through the restoration hangar. That group
>> gets to see how the aircraft are restored, they talk with the restoration
>> volunteers and they get to see how it all really transpires. The only
>> other way in to see what's happening is to walk to the bathroom during a
>> Blue Angel practice session.
>> I don't know if you stay in a trailer camp, with friends or in a
>> hotel/motel. Wherever it is, I suggest you get through the NAS gates in
>> time to get a good seat at the practice sessions.
>> We like to help visitors find a good restaurant. Two that are not on
>> the Internet are the Crazy Horse Café at 13110 Lillian Highway in
>> Pensacola. Lillian Highway is actually Highway 98 and the Crazy Horse is
>> about one half mile east of the Lillian Bridge which connects Florida to
>> Alabama. The food is home style and all of the desserts are home made.
>> They are not open on Sundays. Another is Lillian's Pizza on Perdido Key.
>> We like the Big Dave's pizza. It's got plenty of meat and is sinful.
>> Going in the other direction we recommend Pegleg Pete's restaurant
>> on Santa Rosa Island. They have killer fried calamari. If seafood isn't
>> your bag then go to the Surfburger on Santa Rosa Island. Their food is
>> so fresh that nothing is cooked until it's ordered. So be ready to wait
>> a few minutes for the main part of your meal (get a table on the veranda
>> and watch the sailing on the bay).
>> And, if you are one of those diehards who stays in a condo in
>> Alabama.....we recommend DeSoto's restaurant. They have the best crab
>> claws on the coast and their lunch-time only corn fritters are to die
>> for. (I know, don't end a sentence with a preposition.)
>> The exhibits at the museum are constantly changing. Right now there
>> is a new IMAX movie and there are always reenactors and docents who can
>> make your visit much more entertaining. You just have to not be in a
>> hurry, Tom in Pensacola
>>
>> "Tom" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>>> Tom,
>>>
>>> Nice shots of an interesting craft. I'm headed down to your neck of the
>>> woods (or
>>> should I say beach) in a couple of weeks. I plan on venturing over to
>>> the Naval
>>> Museum and maybe even catching a practice session if we're there on the
>>> right days.
>>>
>>> The museum website had lots of good info, but is there any absolutely
>>> gotta see stuff
>>> at the museum or elsewhere? Better to ask the local guy now rather than
>>> wish I had
>>> later.
>>>
>>> I've attached an aviation shot from snow bound New Hampshire. I'm ready
>>> for spring
>>> to be here now! This was Manchester (MHT) on Saturday 2/23/08 after
>>> clearing out
>>> from a small overnight storm. The FAA registry says this is a DC-9-32
>>> built in 1969.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> Tom at the beach in NH
>>>
>>

Tom,

Great info! I'll be the big guy with Canon gear, Red Sox hat, and those scary winter
white legs in shorts. If you're around I'd be happy to buy you a tall cool beverage
of your choice.

Thanks again!

Pensacola Beachcomber wrote:
> Tom,
> When you come through the gate of the naval air station they stop the car
> and look at a picture ID of each adult passenger. I don't know if that
> includes teenagers. They give the driver a day pass to put on the
> dashboard. Most people get to the museum parking lot by 0800 hours. You
> can get on the base as early as you want. The Volunteers who provide ramp
> security and explain the airshow maneuvers will let people start going out
> to the viewing area at 0730. It's a five minute walk out to the bleachers.
> There are only two sets of bleachers so the seats go fairly fast. If you
> bring your own lawn chairs you can set them up on the concrete area east of
> the bleachers or in the grass west of the bleachers. People stand in both
> of those areas and they are pretty good about not standing in front of
> people sitting in beach or lawn chairs. The bad thing about the area west
> of the bleachers is a line of trees that blocks the line of sight during
> some of the maneuvers. However, I prefer standing on the west side because
> of the
> angle of view of the sneak pass.
>
> My buddy Gary Gordon lives in Bow. He's an Army brat and an old Navy guy,
> Tom in Pensacola
>
>
>
>
> "Tom" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> Tom,
>>
>> Thanks for all the great info! We'll be coming over from the St Pete area
>> and be in Pensacola on 20-21. I'll probably do the museum on the 20 and
>> try to catch practice on the 21 and follow-up on anything I missed the day
>> before.
>>
>> There weren't a lot of details about getting to the museum on their
>> website. Do you need a visitors pass? What's the earliest they'll let
>> you get on board to get the good seats? I'm assuming no issues with
>> camera gear at the museum or practice...
>>
>> I really appreciate the info on places to eat. It's nice to get the local
>> lay of the land on dining. Looking forward to this trip, too much snow
>> and cold this winter. Sorry, I don't know Gary. Where does he live?
>>
>> Tom at the beach in NH
>>
>>
>> Pensacola Beachcomber wrote:
>>> Hey Tom,
>>> If you are a neighbor of my Internet buddy Gary Gordon in New
>>> Hampshire bring him on down with ya!
>>> If you are coming to a Blue Angel practice session they are going to
>>> be at these times in March:
>>> 19
>>> 20
>>> 21
>>> 25
>>> 26 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
>>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
>>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
>>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
>>> 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Museum Visit)
>>>
>>>
>>> If you bring your badge the security guys at the museum will let you
>>> buy them coffee.
>>> As far as extra special things to do and see it just depends on what
>>> turns you on. If you want to do something that not too many people get
>>> to do then you will want to visit the museum on a Friday morning and be
>>> there when it opens so you can proceed to the reception desk quickly in
>>> order to get one of the few boarding passes for the trolley ride. On
>>> Friday mornings the trolley ride out to the static parking area is
>>> followed by a walking tour through the restoration hangar. That group
>>> gets to see how the aircraft are restored, they talk with the restoration
>>> volunteers and they get to see how it all really transpires. The only
>>> other way in to see what's happening is to walk to the bathroom during a
>>> Blue Angel practice session.
>>> I don't know if you stay in a trailer camp, with friends or in a
>>> hotel/motel. Wherever it is, I suggest you get through the NAS gates in
>>> time to get a good seat at the practice sessions.
>>> We like to help visitors find a good restaurant. Two that are not on
>>> the Internet are the Crazy Horse Café at 13110 Lillian Highway in
>>> Pensacola. Lillian Highway is actually Highway 98 and the Crazy Horse is
>>> about one half mile east of the Lillian Bridge which connects Florida to
>>> Alabama. The food is home style and all of the desserts are home made.
>>> They are not open on Sundays. Another is Lillian's Pizza on Perdido Key.
>>> We like the Big Dave's pizza. It's got plenty of meat and is sinful.
>>> Going in the other direction we recommend Pegleg Pete's restaurant
>>> on Santa Rosa Island. They have killer fried calamari. If seafood isn't
>>> your bag then go to the Surfburger on Santa Rosa Island. Their food is
>>> so fresh that nothing is cooked until it's ordered. So be ready to wait
>>> a few minutes for the main part of your meal (get a table on the veranda
>>> and watch the sailing on the bay).
>>> And, if you are one of those diehards who stays in a condo in
>>> Alabama.....we recommend DeSoto's restaurant. They have the best crab
>>> claws on the coast and their lunch-time only corn fritters are to die
>>> for. (I know, don't end a sentence with a preposition.)
>>> The exhibits at the museum are constantly changing. Right now there
>>> is a new IMAX movie and there are always reenactors and docents who can
>>> make your visit much more entertaining. You just have to not be in a
>>> hurry, Tom in Pensacola
>>>
>>> "Tom" > wrote in message
>>> . ..
>>>> Tom,
>>>>
>>>> Nice shots of an interesting craft. I'm headed down to your neck of the
>>>> woods (or
>>>> should I say beach) in a couple of weeks. I plan on venturing over to
>>>> the Naval
>>>> Museum and maybe even catching a practice session if we're there on the
>>>> right days.
>>>>
>>>> The museum website had lots of good info, but is there any absolutely
>>>> gotta see stuff
>>>> at the museum or elsewhere? Better to ask the local guy now rather than
>>>> wish I had
>>>> later.
>>>>
>>>> I've attached an aviation shot from snow bound New Hampshire. I'm ready
>>>> for spring
>>>> to be here now! This was Manchester (MHT) on Saturday 2/23/08 after
>>>> clearing out
>>>> from a small overnight storm. The FAA registry says this is a DC-9-32
>>>> built in 1969.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>> Tom at the beach in NH
>>>>
>
>