Each year at about this time the Beech airplane enthusiasts throw a
Beech Party in Tullahoma, where they enjoy each others company and all
things Beech. The airplanes have been arriving for several days.
Today, I snapped a few examples of the airplanes that brought it all about.
The pride and joy of the Beech enthusiasts is the BE-17 Staggerwing,
built in the 1930s and 1940s. This photo was too far away to show the
details of craftsmanship, but it was the best I could do today.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Staggerwing.tif.html
The follow-on to the Staggerwing was the Twin Beech, built for the Army
and Navy in a number of configurations during WWII, and produced for the
civilian market in the 40s and 50s. The Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 hp
radial powered most of the Staggerwings and the Twin Beech, though some
were converted to turboprops later.
This one was caught on a low pass down the runway.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Twin+Beech+in+Flight.TIFF.html
After WWII, Beech developed the Bonanza for the civilian market. The
original had the butterfly tail shown here, while the later models
featured a conventional tail.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Red+Bonanza.TIFF.html
And when pilots get together, frequently they want to do things that are
not a part of their daily routine, such as formation flying and low
passes down the runway. This formation contained the military trainer
version of the Bonanza, the T-34, along with a Bonanza.
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/T-34+and+Bonanza.tif.html
All shot from a distance with the E-1 and Takumar 135/3.5.
Comments and critiques welcomed.
--
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
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