Neighbor Day, Spokane, Wa

**birder** · #1 06-05-2011, 08:28 AM

This was yesterday, and the sky was cloudless and temp 75, slight wind, and old aircraft flying everywhere...radial engines winding up and sputtering then roaring all around. That my son and I could get a free ride in the Boeing 40 was long anticipated and did not disappoint

The Laird is one of only a few of it's type, the red mailplane Stearman is also very rare, but after suffering a total wreck it has been painstakingly rebuilt by it's owner who is a retired airline pilot. The Stearman trainers os WWII vintage are all based here and practice formation manouvers including landing almost simultaneously and wheeling about in the sky. Air traffic control was busy at Felt's Field to maintain order and simple routes were flown even so while Sawyer and I were riding the Stearman formation crossed below us, a spectaclular sight

**birder** · #2 06-05-2011, 08:33 AM

These next pics are the Laird Commercial with it's 1000 hp Wright radial (the Stearmans run a 7 cylinder Continental) And the worlds only flying Boing 40 which has a 9 cylinder Pratt+ Whitney and is LOUD when it spins around

**Don Boose** · #3 06-05-2011, 08:56 AM

Looks and sounds like a great day, Glen! All those old biplanes are wonderful, but especially the Laird, Boeing 40, and Stearman mailplane are especially so.

Don

**birder** · #4 06-05-2011, 10:32 AM

Sorry about the typos, I wish I knew how to upload a video, just a couple seconds of the 40 taxiing in....would wish you were there too Don! If you come to this area send me a pm...maybe I could hook you up at least to see the planes that Addison has, including his Waco that is nearly done now and which he plans to put on Edo floats....

**rickstef** · #5 06-05-2011, 11:40 AM

Glen,

best bet is to create an account on youtube and then use the youtube tags to link it here

Rick