Being that my boyfriend’s whole life has been based around aviation, all he ever wanted was a model plane collection.  Two years ago, our second Christmas together, I decided to start that tradition for him.  Deciding on the first model was easy. 

Both his Great Grandfather and Grandfather worked for PanAm so what better plane to start off with.  Little did I know what a hassle it would be to get a model PanAm 747.  For 6 months I placed orders and received emails stating the plane was discontinued.  I even called companies first where they assured me it was in stock until I placed the order and a couple weeks later once again, it was discontinued.  By now Christmas had come and gone. Determined to still find this model, I had to print out a picture and give my boyfriend an IOU. 

Then one night I came across my last hope. WarPlanes.com. I picked up the phone and called where it went directly to a representative.  The man on the other end was so nice and sincere after I told him my story.  He then placed me on hold for about a minute or less before he came back and said “Mam’ I am looking at that model as we speak, Its a PanAm 747 and we have about 2 left, if you’d like I can take your information right now and have it out to you by tomorrow”. I was almost in tears.  Not only was the plane in stock, but it was even less expensive then ANY of the other sites I tried ordering from. 

The model was shipped directly to my boyfriends house and even he almost shed a tear when he opened it. It was a BEAUTIFUL model, and a great way to start off his collection.  From that Christmas on, I vowed to never order another model plane from any other site but warplanes.com!

- Heather Kerniss
Valley Stream, NY

I purchased my first model from TMC Pacific aircraft on a whim; I wanted a reminder of my military service, in the form of a model of the T28 trainer that I had piloted as a Navy flight instructor during the late 1960s. However, the product I received was so impressive that it gave me an idea: to put together an upstairs hallway display of model combat aircraft of the type flown by the men who inspired me to become a naval aviator.

I proceeded to purchase from TMC and display models of the planes flown by Medal of Honor winners Eddie Rickenbacker, Edward “Butch” O’Hare, Greg “Pappy” Boyington, Thomas “Tommy” Maguire and James “Jimmy” Doolittle. Each each model aircraft is displayed next to a framed summary of its pilot’s career containing a brief description of the exploits which led to the award of the CMH. On the wall at the entrance to the display is the following dedication:

“This hallway display is dedicated to Captain Edward “Eddie” Rickenbacker, U.S. Army, Lt. General Jimmy Doolittle, U.S. Army air Corps, Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, USMC, Lt. Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare U.S. Navy and Captain John “Red” Pace, U.S. Navy reserve (my father), all of whom went in harm’s way during a World War so that their fellow Americans could live in peace and freedom.”

(signed) Lieutenant Commander Richard R. Pace, USNR (retired) I have received numerous compliments on the quality of the models in the display.

- Richard R. Pace
Long Beach, CA

An 8mm black and white Bell and Howell movie camera whirred. Dad was filming a commercial version of the DC-3 preparing for take off from Philadelphia airport. It was the mid-fifties and I watched the plane by my Dad’s side from an observation deck.

He took me there often. His love of airplanes became my love of airplanes.

Somehow the DC-3 held me with it’s simple majesty of line, size and form. Nose pointing up, sturdy “legs”, dual engines proudly challenging the sky.

The engines erupted and the plane moved out of my sight but not out of my soul.

Around the age of 54 my wife bought me the DC–3 United version. While I still track them down at airshows, museums and airports, and side roads across America, I can always simply reach to the wooden model DC-3 on the shelf in my living room.

With it in my hands, I can relive the wonder of that day with my father, dream of riding in one someday, and simply appreciate the grace and beauty of spectacularly unique airplane.

- Paul Blundin
Brookhave, PA

By: Dean 

During the night before our early morning departure, a squall line passed through Watertown. Winds near the city limit were clocked at 100 miles an hour and hailstones were hitting our hotel windows like bullets. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Carol Ann so frightened. The storm passed rapidly and when morning broke it was clear and bright so we were able to depart.

We were now traveling as a flight of 2 planes. Dean’s plane has great range with the extra tanks but he stopped with CA and me at Casper, WY where we had breakfast and got fuel. Casper was very windy and our ground speed as we headed west was abysmal. We were in the air about an hour when we began diverting around rain and areas of low clouds. As we got further west, it became apparent that we might have to land so both Dean and I were independently checking for nearby airports. There are very few airports in Western Wyoming but when we finally decided that we could go no further, there was, conveniently, an airport within 10 miles. We landed and found the small ramp was nearly full of planes as 3 other planes had also stopped at Kemmerer due to weather. We had a bit of trouble finding motel rooms but found 2 for $32 each. Not the Ritz but not too bad either. The weather was good in the morning, so we refueled and again headed west toward California.

Dean made a decision to keep moving and to get as close to California as possible. We were both afraid that if he didn’t get close to Napa he might be grounded due to weather and miss the big arrival celebration on Saturday. So, the plan when we left Kemerer was for him to land at Lake Tahoe and for CA and I to continue to Napa. Dean would then spend 2 nights at Tahoe and depart there so as to arrive in Napa at noon on Saturday. As we approached Lake Tahoe, we learned that the entire area including Reno was weathered in. Dean then decided to cross the mountains and land in Sacramento. As we crossed the mountains, I picked up a ¼ inch of ice on the windshield, wings and struts. This gave CA quite a scare; I guess she’d never seen ice on a plane before.

Dean landed at Sacramento Mather where he then planned to spend 2 nights. Soon after CA and I arrived in Napa, I got a call from Dean. He was really, really home sick now. He said he would fly his plane to Vacaville (Nut Tree) and leave it there until Saturday. He asked me to drive to Vacaville to pick him up and take him home. This I did. On Saturday, Carol Ann drove him to the Nut Tree where his plane was waiting and he then flew it to Napa for the Grand Arrival!