Langley AFB, Virginia Beach, Kitty Hawk & Outer Banks Jun '07
This trip was about 485 miles that included plenty of long bridges, in windy weather, with the ever exciting metal grating just to keep it interesting for motorcycles. My first stop was at Langley AFB to visit the fine folks at Air Combat Command HQ. From there I rode on to Virginia Beach where I saw plenty of Navy hardware. Aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, etc.
I also completed the Aviators Hajj to Kitty Hawk. This obligatory journey, to be accomplished by every able-bodied pilot, took me too the hills where it all started. The most surprising, and disappointing, reality was that grasses and trees were all over the place so the island in no way appeared as it does in the classic 1903 pictures. It was explained to me that congress wouldn't begin work on a monument until the dunes were 'stabilized' otherwise construction would be impossible.
Fortunately there are still several natural dunes nearby, and the bronzed mock up is placed on sand, but it was still weird standing where the First Flight took place in a field of grass, surrounded by trees, knowing that the location was chosen for its vast forgivingly soft sands and consistent breezes.