NAS Pensacola Welcomes

Touring TaylorMay 6-10, 2013

Touring Taylor Arrives at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.

Touring Taylor arrived in Beautiful

Pensacola on May 6. His tour

guides were Sandra Porras and

Dianna Hayden, 2 school teachers

in Escambia and Santa Rosa

Counties in Florida that work for a

special fieldtrip program called

Flight Adventure Deck at the

National Naval Aviation Museum.

Touring Taylor in Flight Adventure Deck

The first few days of his stay, the

teachers were very busy taking

students through their program at

the museum. So, Taylor was able

to see many of the hands-on

mathematics and science of flight

devices that middle-schoolers in

our area use when they come on

field trips to the Flight Adventure

Deck.

Touring Taylor in Flight Adventure Deck

Taylor stepped on the Space

Scale to learn about gravity on

other planets; however, he

didn’t weigh enough to

measure! He decided to try his

luck at the frictionless air track

to study Newton’s Laws. Look

at that Action Reaction!

Touring Taylor in Flight Adventure Deck

Taylor also learned about the

relationship between altitude

and air pressure, and did some

experiments with buoyancy and

aerostatics!

Touring Taylor in the National Naval Aviation Museum

On Thursday, Taylor was able to

explore the other parts of the

museum. He started in the

Blue Angel Atrium where 4

former A-4 Skyhawks hang in

honor of the legendary flight

team. Then Taylor looked over

the railing into the World War II

exhibit.

Touring Taylor in the National Naval Aviation Museum

Soon, Taylor got hungry and he found some penny candy and some animal crackers in the

museum’s Home Front exhibit that recreates life in a small town in the 1940s. He also learned

that gas was pumped then much differently than it is today.

Touring Taylor in the National Naval Aviation Museum

Taylor learned that Neil Armstrong was once a Naval Aviator, that the Triad was the first Naval

Aircraft, and that the NC-4 was the first flying machine to cross the Atlantic (with a few stops on

the water).

Touring Taylor in the National Naval Aviation Museum

Taylor took a look at a moon rock, tried to take a ride on the Jenny (but it wasn’t quite ready for

flight), and took a look into the helicopter that transported several presidents: Marine One.

Touring Taylor in Hangar Bay One

Taylor stopped by the newest

section of the National Naval

Aviation Museum, and found a

real F/A-18 Hornet previously

used by the Blue Angels.

Touring Taylor finds the National Flight Academy

Touring Taylor loved the

National Naval Aviation Museum

so much, he decided to look for

other adventures. Soon, he was

standing in front of the brand

new National Flight Academy

which is a fully immersive camp

experience which simulates life

aboard an aircraft carrier.

Touring Taylor onboard NAS Pensacola

After leaving the National Flight Academy, Taylor stumbled upon Forrest Sherman Field which is

home to the Blue Angels. Across the street, Taylor found Pensacola’s Historic Lighthouse.

Touring Taylor onboard NAS Pensacola

Next he made his way to the Gulf Islands National Seashore Fort Barrancas Area. Here he learned

about Fort McRee, and the original Spanish Fort.

Touring Taylor onboard NAS Pensacola

Taylor toured the inside of the fort, played in a field of Florida’s state wildflower (tickseed or

Coreopsis), and even found a bird’s nest with an egg inside! For the respect he showed by not

disturbing the nest, he was named Gulf Island National Seashore Junior Park Ranger!

Touring Taylor onboard NAS Pensacola

While onboard NAS Pensacola, Taylor also got to watch waves tumble over the sands of Pensacola

Beach. He saw a flock of pelicans, climbed a Naval Live Oak tree, and collected seashells.

The National Naval Aviation Museum bids Touring Taylor a farewell, but would welcome a visit from the entire class in the future!

For more information, contact

National Naval Aviation Museum: www.navalaviationmuseum.org

National Flight Academy: www.nationalflightacademy.org

Fort Barrancas: http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-barrancas.htm

Pensacola Lighthouse: http://www.pensacolalighthouse.org/

Blue Angels: http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/

Flight Adventure Deck: http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/education/flight-adventure-deck

Hope you enjoyed Taylor’s Tour!

Sincerely, Sandra Porras and Dianna Hayden, the teachers of Flight Adventure Deck