Presidents' Day Weekend - Part 12

After breakfast, we drove over to the airport, as I stated in the previous post. We had heard there might be a couple of neat airplanes there that we could photograph. We dinked around a little, looking over the fence, and then went into the Key West Seaplanes' office to see if they knew anything about the airplanes. They didn't, but recommended that we check with the folks that flew the Waco biplane. They might know more. They sure did! The gal took us out on the ramp to take pictures of this airplane (and their Waco).

This is the rare Stearman that drew us to the airport (as if we needed any draw!)

The Waco looked really good for an aircraft that was built in the 1940's...but then again, most any airplane with a round engine is beautiful, no?

After a brief bit of "discussing" the price, we got a good deal and I found myself following Eric into the forward cockpit of the Waco. It was extremely cozy, but we didn't really notice that much.

The pilot climbed in and soon the old radial was singing its throaty song. Eric and I glanced at each other with huge grins when several puffs of exhaust drifted past us. Now this was living!

We taxied lazily down the taxiway in gentle S-turns, letting the radial warm up. Rows of general aviation "spam-cans" were haughtily gloated at as we taxied by in a "real" airplane.

When we got clearance, we turned onto the runway and as the pilot eased the throttle forward, the loping sound of the engine turned to a rumbling growl and then a clattering roar as we lifted off and climbed out to the east.

The pilot banked the aircraft into a right-hand turn to the south. Past the nose stretched the pale blue-green waters of the Atlantic.

Our turn completed, the pilot leveled the aircraft and we headed back to the west, past the airport and towards Mallory Square and the docks.

The biggest problem with taking pictures out of a biplane soon became quite apparent. There are struts and bracing wire everywhere. I think I have more pictures of fittings and unions than I do of scenery ;-)

Looking towards the east/northeast we could see a couple of cruise ships that had come in earlier that morning. There the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico meet those of the Atlantic...at least so it seemed to us.

After making another right-hand turn, we headed up parallel to the cruise ships. What a beautiful day! What beautiful sights! What a beautiful ride!

Carefully holding my camera out in the slipstream and propwash, I took a shot straight down. It turned out better than I had hoped.

After a little more sightseeing, our nickles began to run out, so the pilot headed back towards the airport.

Soon we were on final to the runway. There was a bit of a crosswind. Notice how the pilot has angled the airplane towards the wind and how the nose of the aircraft doesn't line up with the runway.

After a great landing, the pilot taxied back to the parking spot. Soon the wooden propeller slowed to a standstill and the loping engine cut off into silence. What a ride!