Stationed in Hawaii with Kids: Name that Aircraft!

Near the main gate at Kaneohe Bay, there are static displays of old Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, along with a personnel carrier (I think), bulldozer, and some sort of howitzer/artillery. There is also a scaled down replica of the Iwo Jima Memorial. Since there is no dedicated parking lot, it's easy to drive on by thinking you aren't supposed to stop there... but we park either by the Pass and ID office, the Lodge/CBQ, or the Marine Mart and walk, depending on which side of the street we want to take a look at.

This one used to fly out of Barbers Point Naval Air Station, back in the day.

Today, we parked on the "Navy" side (right hand as you enter the base). I call it this because the Navy aircraft are on this side... the other side of the street has more things displayed, which is more than appropriate since Kaneohe Bay is a Marine Corps Air Station.   There's plenty of grass between the  displays and the road (so you're not constantly paranoid that a little one might run into traffic), and placards that explain what you're looking at.

Thought I should include the token Marine Air fighter.  :)

Both of my kids love airplanes.  They don't really care that these aircraft have been retired forever.  You can walk around them, check them out, walk under them, point to the various parts of the plane and discuss what they do, where the weapons are mounted, etc.

This one has been out of service longer than I've been in the service... even counting my days as a midshipman!

I don't see people laying out there, so I'm not sure you'd be allowed to spread out the picnic cloth and park yourself there for the afternoon, but it's an interesting way to kill an hour, tires the little ones out, keeps the older ones engaged, and it's free.  Can't beat that!

Tell me this is not the most pimped out helicopter you have ever seen.  Stunning work.

Five brownie points for each of the platforms you can name.  I only knew 2 without checking.  Another, I guessed correctly because it was similar enough to its replacement (which is about to be retired), and one, I had no clue since its replacement has also been retired for a number of years.


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