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Road trip to the USS Alabama Memorial Park |
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Teardrop trailer in the shadow of an SR-71 Backbird |
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Fuselage damage, courtesy of Hurricane Katrina |
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In New Orleans, we don't often get to see military
equipment. We do have one really great annual air show, and
an occasional natural disaster-namely Hurrican Katrina in
2005-brings almost every military vehicle known to man to
town. Besides these events, however, it's necessary to take
a road trip to see some military equipment up close. I have
always loved visiting the World War II battleship USS Alabama,
on display at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile.
Last March, we had the opportunity to stop in
and see the battleship, a submarine, and a really nice fleet
of airplanes. The park has tons of great planes like an SR-71
Blackbird and a B-52 Bomber. It had been several years since
we had been to the park, and our last trip was definitely
before Hurricane Katrina. This is important to note, because
Katrina ravaged Mobile just as it did New Orleans.
The park that was once a pristine showcase of
military might and technology had become a disheveled bed
of wrecked and crushed planes and vehicles. While you might
think this would ruin your roadtrip, you couldn't be more
wrong. Believe it or not, this has made Battleship Park ever
so much more interesting.
The planes show the scars of being washed together
in a hangar. My favorite plane at the park, the SR-71 Blackbird,
now has huge gashes running down the side of its body. This
allows a unique look at the construction of the airplane.
I was amazed to see that the skin of the plane looked almost
like corrugated cardboard. It is like having a cut-away view
of the sort found in educational books about military planes.
Every part on the right side of the plane had been affected.
I told my wife that it looked like a giant can opener had
been used to open the side of the plane.
The park has other planes in various states and
conditions. It is now proudly displaying its new F-18 and
F-14 fighters. These two don't look like they saw action in
Katrina, and the battleship and submarine also look mostly
unscathed. The park also features a Vietnam era PT boat and
a bunch of tanks to see and climb on.
The park is wonderfully clean. The displays are
informative, and the staff is a group of really friendly people.
I know that parks of this type are found across the United
States, but this one is really worth the trip. I am not sure
if they will fix any of the planes or vehicles damaged in
the storm. I kind of like the way they are-the damage adds
fascinating patina to the experience. If you're driving through
Mobile, Alabama on Interstate10, pull off to Battleship Park
and spend a few moments visiting a little history.
Chad
Whitney
7/29/07
USS Alabama Memorial Park
2703 Battleship Parkway (Highway 90/98)
Mobile, AL 36601-0065
Just off Interstate 10, Exits 27 or 30
[Map]
www.ussalabama.com
| Chad
Whitney is one of the owners/operators of Outside
Supply based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Chad gained
his interest in outdoor technologies from his love of
outdoors and traveling. His background includes work as
computer technician, network programmer, and solar panel
installation in recreational vehicles. He and his wife
have personally tested many of the products they sell
during road and boat camping trips in the Gulf state area.
(An overview of the types of inverters that are used by
dashboarders and RVers is
online here. If you have any questions about solar
panels, inverters, portable power devices or GPS navigation
systems, visit outsidesupply.com,
or email Chad at outsidesupply@gmail.com. |
