The General Layout

This trip is in two part with several legs to each part.  Part I is the Eastern segment and Part II is the Western segment.  The trip is not designed to be a race between two points, a contest of who gets where before another, a test of endurance, or any other such competitive venture.  It is designed to enjoy the travel and the scenery and the history.  And, most of all, it is designed to allow a visit to each of the remaining F4E Thunderbird aircraft whereever they may be.  As such, each leg of the trip is set at about 300-400 miles.  I have friends from the old days whom I will be visiting along the way and the day's milage is calculated into the visit time needed.

I have purposely avoided the Interstate Highways (Super Slabs) in favor of US, State, and County routes to allow a more visual and entertaining trip.  As such, the 300 mile general distance per day is quite appropriate because the route will take me through many towns and other areas not condusive to high speed travel.  With a nice breakfast, light lunch, and adequate dinner... [along with the requisite time needed to exercise, take photos, write journals, handle my home based business while on the road, maintain this site, and write journal notes] ... 300 miles (or 8+ hours) on the road is enough.

If you are in the vicinity of any of the legs of my travels and are a Thunderbird Alumni, I would love to hook up with you for whatever portion of the trip you can make.  Contact me using whatever means works for you on the Contact Page.

PART I DESTINATION POINTS AND TAIL NUMBERS ARE:

Tampa, Florida (MacDill AFB - 0302)
Athens, Tennessee (VFW Post - 0319)
Monett, Missouri (City Park - 0315)

Total distance of Part I actual miles = 3535

PART II DESTINATION POINTS AND TAIL NUMBERS ARE:

Vail, Arizona (Amercan Legion Post #109 - 0294)
Tucson, Arizona (Davis Monthan AFB - AMARC: 0291 & 0377) and (Pima Air and Space Museum - 0329 )
Atwater, California (Castle Air Museum - 0289)
Battle Mountain, Nevada (FBO - 0286)

Total distance of Part II approximately 4200 miles

Details on each leg of the trip are contained in the appropriate MAPS AND ROUTES sections under the TRAVEL PLANS tab of this site.

Total distance of entire trip approximately 7735 miles