The Week That Was – July 20 – 26

Sunday, July 20 —  In at 10:05, calm, warm, sunny and not one airplane on the ramp. I am still sad, draggin’ my wagon. I used to think that AeroKnow Museum would “drive” my life, but for the past month or so, things have not worked out that way. My life is driving the museum, and it’s a ragged journey. Too many disappointments beyond my airport office, wasting more time at home, sometimes sleepless until 2:30 or 3 am on weekends and having ZERO meaningful conversations with other human beings. And today . . . I’m open without prejudice or malice to everything,  Had a terrific visit with a Mooney Mark 20 owner/pilot and

visiting Mooney

his wife who were in a hurry to visit friends in town but gave me permission to phot their plane. Also met a Phnom 300 pilot for NetJets who loves that airplane. Says it’s the most reliable bird in the NetJet’s fleet. Had some trail mix for lunch and really ate too much but enjoyed it. Worked upstairs all afterhoon. Filing modeling and a MAJOR REARRANGEMENT of models in progress. Took MANY back to Intake Room to relieve clutter in Process Room. MUST concentrate on FINISHING some of these things. Worked on the Stearmans and a CH-47. Logged some new kits Trumpeter 1/48 J-7B (Chinese fighter based on MiG-21 and 1/48 T-38. Both look great, but I’m not starting ANY KIT until I’ve finished at least 10 of those in progress now. That’s a solemn resolution. Didn’t accomplish anything that REALLY needs to be done. God willing I’ll get here early Monday and dig into all that. Departed for home at 7:37.

Monday, July 21 — In at 6, foggy and cool. GREAT to be here so early. MUCH to do upstairs with the windows open! Accomplished a lot, moving things into the extensively expanded shelves in the Intake Room. To work at 9:00 (Tuesday too, dang it) and culled articles from some recently donated  . As George and two other fellows and I were moving a large table, the heavy steel brace that had been place in the middle under the table bottom fell straight onto my right foot almost entirely on my big toe and it hurt like hell. It felt like it was bleeding, but I helped finish moving the table, and then removed my sock. It looked okay but was swollen a little. Temp in the showroom: moderately warm which is okay. Back at AKM, worked upstairs for 20 minutes, slowly moved some uncompleted models around but my right foot still hurt a lot and I needed to get off my feet. Processed pics in the office until a little after 7 and went home. I’m tired.

Tuesday, July 22 — In at 7:20, sunny, moderate wind. More progress arranging models in the Intake room. To work at 9 and had a busy day with customers and not much AKM work. VERY HOT, very depressed when the customers were not here. I put on a “happy face” for them. But I’m not paying attention to what I’m doing with the computer for George: stupid mistakes: not including a phone number, when going back and adding it, omitting one of the seven numbers and going back  again and doing it right THE THIRD TIME. I don’t pay attention when I’m depressed, and when it’s terribly warm in the showroom (no air conditioning) depression infects me. Processed more pictures of a visiting Pilatus PC-12NG and posted them at an AKM Gallery of flight. Determined to visit a supermarket that isn’t the new Hy-Vee or the regular Shop N Save. Out of here at 6:40 disappointed with the day but hopeful about tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 23 — In at 6:50, windy, warm and threatening more rain after rain overnight. Updated AeroKnow web site. Phot’d a visiting new-build Waco YMC-5 on ramp and taking off.

new-build Waco YMC-5 bound for AirVenture at Oshkosh

Waco departs Springfield

Work was busy but okay. The showroom much cooler than yesterday. Back to AKM for model club which was terrific.

Central Illinois Plastic Modelers club meets at Horizon Aviation 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month.

Departed for home 9:25.

Thursday, July 24 — In 7:15, calm, cool, sunny. Phot’d a C-12 in the new gray colors on the ground and taking off.

Beech C-12

Also a Mooney Mk.20

Mooney Mk.20f

and a Hawker Beech 400A.

Hawker Beech 400A Beechjet

Met Hank Preister who flys a Cessna 310 and works for IDOT. Very nice fellow! Work was okay, read a book about a Martin B-26 pilot and could hardly put it down. Back at AKM phot’d a King Air and a C-21, Cherokee. Processed pics until leaving for home at 7:30.

Friday, July 25 — Had to pay a bill downtown; in at 8:25, cool, cloudy, threatening rain. An older C-12 visited to transport soldiers to who knows where. Pilot visited office briefly & gave me permission to photog men boarding the airplane.

another Beech C-12

I also showed him the pics of the muted GRAY C-12 I phot’d yesterday..I HAD to get to work and that meant not photing his takeoff, but the sky was marginal, so I was not terribly disappointed. Work went okay. Back at 5:20 and processed pictures of this morning’s visitors. To grocer and home at 7:15, tired.

Saturday, July 26 — Had a very rough night. In at 11:10. Very warm and sunny. The most important work at this museum is accomplished. Why am I here? Why bother? I reckon the reason I bother is to take pictures and meet many terrific people who don’t live here — not that there’s anything wrong with them. Two of the best were the crew of a C-12BP that had three-blade props. They permitted me to photograph it inside and out after they visited AKM.

Cj-12 pilot visits AeroKnow Museum office

exiting the ramp, homeward bound

The crew departed SPI and returned 20 minutes later because of bad weather. They waited for it to clear and flew the coop, so to speak. Processed pictures all day because it was so hot upstairs.  Later I posted many pictures from my close look at the bird at my AeroKnow Gallery of Flight blog    http://akmgallery.wordpress.com   Went home at 7:35 having redeemed myself and the day with my photography and diligence in promptly processing pics.

Thanks for reading this post. For more information about AeroKnow Museum, visit our web site — www.aeroknow.com