May 11, 2005

Four In One And One For All

Today was the busiest and most fruitful day of the trip so far.  In fact, it will take me two days to attempt a recounting of the day's events.

We awoke at 0500 so as to depart no later than 0700 (we are slow risers and even slower 'get our things together' guys...it ain't easy packing a motorcycle - no trunk to throw things)[yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus in a P/U truck following us, but it don't make it any easier..we are old].  We eschewed breakfast, taking our multitude of pills with warm tap water as we needed haste to reach our target in Vail by 1100.  And thus we launched on this important leg of the trip by 0700 in 48 degree (F) clear and crisp weather.  We were clad in leathers and winter gloves and drove west with the rising sun on our backs and numerous Southern Pacific railroad trains to our right.  We waved at the locomotive engineers as often as possible and they tooted their 'whistles?' as often as they could.  It was a wonderfully refreshing morning filled with life and promise.  If everyone could see this morning as we did and feel the life and peace as we did, many of our differences would disappear or seem foolish.

So we rode on and on with little to no traffic to contend with.  The chill bit refreshingly into us and we made great time on IH 10 West toward Tucson.  The immense expanse of the American Southwest continued to amaze me.  I have seen it many, many times, but every time I see it (especially on a motorcycle) I cannot escape the attempt to visualize the curvature of the earth.  You can only do this on the vistas of the limitless southwest and I cannot stop doing it every time I am there. I sense myself peeking over the horizon and feeling the sheer magnitude of the physical globe we inhabit.  Sort of eerie, I know, but wonderfully connected to where we are and how far we are from anything but what we have.

We stopped for a break as we needed to refuel and we decided we had some time to kill...it was 0930 and we had only 80 miles to go to reach target by 1100.  The speed limit and our 'legal observance' of same meant we could get there with time to spare even if we took a break for breakfast.  So we did. Then we motored to Vail and arrived at our target by 1045.  What was strange is that none of those we had talked to were there. Stan Steuri, a local resident who came to the location, greeted us...but none of the others who promised to join us.  Puzzled, but not dismayed, we loitered around the #4 (66-0294) aircraft for nearly an hour until nearly noon before we wondered if we had been set up. [Such things happen in a competitive society filled with camaraderie].  Stan then suddenly mentioned he had to do something at 1100 and would return as soon as possible. We had our pictures and poses and such and thought of moving on as well.  Then it hit us. Arizona doesn't change to Daily Savings Time.  We had arrived an hour EARLY!

At any rate, Stan returned, and others arrived as scheduled.  The American Legion Post 109 New Commander-Select Jeff Mcintyre, greeted us along with Pete Nino (ex Thunderbird), John Kidd (ex Thunderbird), Dave Peterson (friend of Jake's) and Stan.  Stan informed us that Vail is used as a mailing address but the Post is actually in Corona de Tucson much to the dismay of the Tucson-ites.  Corona means crown...thus the Post is part of the Crown of Tucson.  We had a delightful meeting discussing the history of the Post, the plans for expansion, and the background of the F4 we had come to visit.  Among other things, we learned they had towed the F4 on it own wheels from Davis Monthan to its current location using back roads and volunteers towing vehicles.

It very important to know when you view the pictures below of this particular aircraft that the product you see has certain distinct unique properties:

• The idea for restoring this aircraft came from a couple girl scouts
• Two people in particular are responsible for its completion: Dick and Dee Pfeiffer, both ex Thunderbirds who spent untold and un thanked hours getting the job done.
• The aircraft is the finest display of a Thunderbird aircraft, bar none, that has ever existed.  In many respects, this example is better than the F4's when they were in use for real in the early 70's.

Anyone who has seen this aircraft must agree or must not know the past as it was and the present as it is.

After a most generous lunch with the commander and others, we headed for AMARC (Air Maintenance and Recovery Center) and the bone yard to view 66-0291 and 66-0377 where they rest peacefully in less than colorful glory.  John Kidd (ex Thunderbird) who works at AMARC took us to them where we took pictures and swapped stories and tried to remember these great Phantoms in the glory they once knew.  It was somewhat sad to see them languishing in the desert after the life they had lived.  It was difficult.  It was much like visiting a loved relative in a facility where all aged people are treated with respect but without knowledge of their life long achievements.

We then took a tour of AMARC, an immensely complex and expansive operation that I can not adequately cover in a simple journal.  This tour, and the visit to our old friends in the desert, was possible only through the support of the AMARC Public Relations personnel, specifically, Gregory Garcia, Executive Director, and Terry Vanden-Heuvel, PR Specialist. Their assistance allowed us to access the base and ride our bikes to the aircraft.  We are deeply grateful for this opportunity.

From AMARC, we went to the Pima Air and Space Museum, a large and wonderful collection of air and space related items that could take days to complete.  We were interested in 66-0329, however, which we visited briefly (the day was getting late and we didn't think we wanted to be night qualified riders in Tucson). It, too, evoked a sense of  sadness to see it languishing beside a Navy Communications trailer.  But old friends are old friends and we paid our due respects.  While there, Mike Bilcik arrived from 90 miles away to visit with us.  What an honor to meet with another Thunderbird on this trip.  Mike is a great guy and friend and we really enjoyed his visit.  We then went to John Kidd's home for a late afternoon dinner of chili and lies and tales no one would believe if not present at the making and more lies and ad infinitum.

Thus, this brief commentary covers  the highlights and I must away to sleepy comfort...the hour is late and the hills are steep and I have miles to go before I sleep (tomorrow).

Here's some pictures (we took over 150 today...I can only show a few at this time)[Full 66-294 Album HERE]: