Idaho Museum

I had a couple of museums in Boise, Idaho, on my list of stops, but they didn’t pan out.  Fortunately there was one that was not on my list and it was in Nampa, Idaho.

First some shots through the windshield as I drove from Oregon to Idaho.

There are some big trucks on the road and of course there is nothing like having plenty of coffee.

Windmills are everywhere there is wind.

These windmill shots are not anywhere near each other either.

One thing you notice is how much land is devoted to growing things…

Sometimes food and sometimes trees.

And trucks moving things from one place to another.

Then there are these interesting places on the side of the road…

Anyway, then I arrived at the Warhawk Air Museum…

This was a really nice museum with an amazing collection that keeps growing in size.

This is the Blue Max tri-plane.

This is a P-51 C – the Mustang.

It used the Merlin engine.

Packard build the Rolls-Royce designed engine.

This is a MIG-21.  The Russian jet that was especially potent in Vietnam.

Here is a beautiful P-40 Warhawk (also called the Kittyhawk, and the Tomahawk) that was made famous by the Flying Tigers in China just prior to America formally entering WW II.

And through a door leading outside was a…

F-104, by Lockheed.

I was lucky enough to be present at an airshow a couple of years ago to watch two of these babies take off.  It is the most amazing sound.  Unlike any other jet plane I’ve ever heard.  Sort of like a mix between a jet, a rocket, and a vacuum cleaner.  The leading edge of the wings is so sharp that the red/white protector is necessary to keep people from getting cut.  These were very fast planes but very difficult to land and fly.

Here are a few more photos of other parts of the museum:

While I was there several groups of youngsters were being guided around the various exhibits and were having a great time learning about history and technology.

I really enjoyed this place and was so very happy to have come across it.