Lee Ann Torrans: Dallas Grandparent Activities for Summer!!!

Dallas West End and Grandparent Activities

So much to do! Grandparents are always looking for ways to entertain. Here are some great ideas.

The visual landmark: Old Red Courthouse

Just a stone’s throw from the Margaret Hunt Hill Trinity River Bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava.  Visible from the Courthouse.

Fokker D.VII at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Dallas was created as a transportation hub and the museums here reflect that interest.

The Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas, is filled with memorabilia of Claire Chennault of the Flying Tigers and restored air craft.

The Texas Museum of Automotive History at historic Fair Park contains more than $30 million worth of classic and antique cars.

The Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas, collects artifacts and archival material from the railroad industry with both exhibits and general programs. The museum has relocated from Fair Park to the Frisco Heritage Museum and Frisco Junction, a living village comprised of buildings representing the area’s history.

The Dallas World Aquarium is located at the West End of downtown Dallas.

Fokker D.VII

The Fokker D.VII was designed by Reinhold Platz in 1917 and 1918.  The famous “Red Baron” suggested that it should be put into mass production as Germany’s premier front line fighter.

Fokker was unable to produce D. VIIs fast enough, so the Albatross and the Allegemeine Elektizitats Gessellschaft (A.E.G.) companies also produced the D.VII.  These three companies had built more than 1,700 D.VIIs.

The plane had a high rate of climb and excellent handling characteristics. The D.VII’s service ceiling was higher than most Allied fighter planes. This advantage allowed D.VII pilots to built up speed and energy during an attack run.  In August 1918, Fokker D.VII’s destroyed 565 Allied aircraft – making the D.VII one of the most feared aircraft of the war.

After the war, the Allies required the Germans to hand over all remaining examples of the D.VII. About 120 examples of the type were smuggled into Holland where Fokker set up shop and continued to produce aircraft. The U.S. Army brought 142 D.VIIs back to the United States and used them as Air Service trainers for many years. Twelve D.VIIs were transferred to the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps operated six of these aircraft until 1924. As a result the D.VII influenced the design of several later U.S. Navy fighters, including the Boeing FB-I which entered service in 1925. Additionally, the Swiss operated a number of D.VIIs well into the 1930s.

The Fokker D.VII on display is a full scale flying replica built by James Osborne from original specifications and fitted with an original Hall Scott engine and instruments. It is interesting to note that most of the D.VIIs handed over to the U.S. and England had their Mercedes engines replaced with engines built by the Hall Scott company. The replica aircraft on display is painted in the personal colors of Ernst Udet of the German Air Command. Captain Udet was one of the more famous German aces of World War I and was credited with 62 Allied kills. During the late 1930s, Udet headed the Luftwaffe’s Technical Department and was largely responsible for rebuilding the German air force prior to World War II.

Classic Car Focus: 1913 Mercer Raceabout

Take a quick tour of the Texas Museum of Automotive History

New music of Jack White: Love Interruption.

Classic Car Focus: 1913 Mercer Raceabout

Classic Car Focus:

The Mercer Racebout was one of Americas first sports cars and constructed during the brass period of automobile construction. The principal feature of the Mercer Reaceabout was the fact that it would reach speeds of 70 mph when most cars rarely exceeded 30 mph and 50 mph was considered at the top range.

Classic Car Focus:

The Mercer made in Mercer County, New Jersey by F.W and C.G Roeling, who also constructed the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

The Type 35 was powerful and light. Its valves, with high-compression pistons and high lift cams, offered 56 horsepower at 1900 rpm.  The Mercer ultimately was unable to compete in terms of speed with Stutz and Simplex and could not win at the Indianapolis races.

The fenders, running boards and lights were designed to be detachable to make the car lighter and conform to the Grand Prix guide. The Runabout was identical to the Raceabout except it included a starter, generator, windshield, soft top and optional doors.

Christies Motor Cars sold a Mercer at their 2002 Pebble Beach Auction for $865,500 USD.

The Texas Museum of Automotive History will move into the art deco building that currently houses the Science Museum when it relocates downtown in 2012. The eclectic early century design of the Science Museum building will provide a dynamic complement to the vintage cars on showcase.