AIRPLANES!!!

Today, we went to the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum at Marine Corp Air Station Miramar.  2011 marks the Centennial of Naval aviation, and we were all excited to check out some of the awesome planes.  It was an open cockpit day, so the girls even got to sit in the cockpit of a few of the planes, and pretend they were pilots.

North American SNJ "TEXAN"

As soon as we were out the door of the little museum building, and into the yard where all the planes are located, Audrey was off and running towards the first plane in sight.  She was all ready to climb up there and "drive."  Of course, there were only a select few open to sit in the cockpit, but her excitement was adorable!  Eliza was excited that the first plane we stopped at, was yellow - her favorite color.  

Sitting in the pilot's seat of the Northrop F-5E "TIGER II", surrounded by all the controls, the expressions of joy were as rewarding as Christmas morning.

Daddy and the girls checking out a plane from the underbelly.

Grumman F9F-2 "PANTHER"

They ran from plane to plane, checking them out from every angle.

Audrey "flying" towards this plane was completely unbidden, and so cute.

Once I explained to Eliza about the wheels folding up when the plane was in the air, she made sure to point it out to Audrey on every plane from then on.

Checking out a missile under the wing of one of the planes.

Looking at each other through the plane.

Peek-a-boo Mommy!

Eliza loved copying the figure in yellow.

More missiles (or torpedoes, or something - I just know they were big).

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A "HORNET"

Sitting in another cockpit - too busy to look at the camera.

General Motors TBM-3E "AVENGER"

Flying away.

Plasekl HUP-2 H-25 "RETRIEVER"

Then we came to the section of the yard with all the helicopters.  The girls loved that they could look right in through the front of this one. 

Audrey checking out a "drone." 

Boeing Vertol CH-46 "SEA KNIGHT"

Climbing in to check out one of the helicopters.

Audrey climbed up and tried to put a seat belt on.  Eliza went straight to the back to explore.

Sikorsky CH-53A "SEA STALLION"

The girls and I.

Daddy and the girls in front of the HAWK missile battery.

We stopped in the gift shop and let the girls each pick out a little toy airplane.  It was a great morning and we were happy to find another great place to visit here in San Diego.