W.A.A.A.M.

Today was supposed to be a rest day, but I ended up putting too many city miles on my chassis. At the Western Antique Aeronautic and Automotive Museum, W.A.A.A.M., I stood and strolled and chatted with three mature volunteers and a bit with the founder Terry.  I was there for human interest, leaving the nuts and bolts to JG to understand. JG loves antique planes, but the dozens of aircraft and motor cars looked alike to me. I am all over the difference between a yew and a hemlock, or a woodchuck and a hedgehog, or a biscuit and a scone. But good lord, the refinements of a Piper Cub, an American Eagle Eaglet, a Cessna Jenny or a Buhl Bullpup escape me. I enjoyed the stories the volunteers told me about daring flights, harrowing crashes, man in machine versus Nature. “Glacier Pilot”, by Beth Day, was recommended by Felix, in case anyone else prefers the adventure to the mechanics of aviation. 

The museum’s history is brief but singular. The founder, Terry Brandt, collected old planes and cars. In 2007 he opened a museum, recruited a board for his 501(c)3, and donated his collection to his exempt organization in a clever bit of generosity and tax planning. His father made his fortune in a uniquely California way. His father built a machine to shake almond trees at harvest, saving the labor to pick them. And thus the commercial almond groves from Fresno to Merced were born.

We looked at a stunning variety of old planes and cars, each one in flyable or drivable top condition. Alan:  “You’ll see drip pans under the planes and cars, but not under the volunteers.”   Felix: “You’ve heard of UFO’s? That’s short for Unidentified Flying Octogenarians. My biggest trouble is getting into the craft, so I leave the flying to the young pups… I came to Hood River thirty years ago from Los Angeles… I could’ve gone broke working my father’s lumber business, but instead I went into the Air Force, then worked as a commercial pilot for Continental Airlines, then retired to an apple orchard and hobby aviation. There’s always something to do.”

There will be a local car show of antique cars, the Concours d’Elegance, in August in Pebble Beach. I mention this for the contrast. We paid $17 each to see over a hundred antique aircraft and autos. Tickets to the Concours cost $425 each to admire parked old cars, no planes.  I remain an inveterate bargain hound.