Shop project for the grandson

[Dave951]

One of my sons is a USAF pilot and now I'm officially a grandpa. So what do grandpas do in the shop for the "next generation"? Why build stuff of course.

Riding toy is a replica of his dad's KC135 Stratotanker. Wood is locally sourced ash. Paint is similar to where his dad is stationed at Kadena AFB. Boom drops to "tank" toy fighter jets (now under construction in hangar workshop). Tail is marked NKAWTG, USAF lingo acronym for Nobody Kicks A$ Without Tanker Gas.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

You go, gramps 😉
Pics of the toy jets are required when they're finished

 

[Dave951]

Here's a pic of the real deal for the 909th

 

[phideux]

What was the tanker they used before these??? When we were little my Dad was ending his military career, 25yrs and 1 war, with the Air Guard. He was with the 106th ARRG, he was an Avionics guy and the hanger chief. Being the 60s my Dad occasionally took us to the hanger on the weekends while he worked(try that nowadays). Me and my brother crawled all over all sorts of airplanes. I remember they had about 1/2 a dozen tankers, Big, 4 engine turbo-props, seen them power them up a few times, awesome, still had the little cockpit where the boom guy would crawl into to fly the boom. I always thought they were 135s, I guess not???

 

[Coltdefender1911]

That's an awesome project Paw Paw.

 

[Ben Jefferson]

When they135s get replaced aren't the new tankers twin motored?

Nice work pops!

 

[Windini]

Holy Flying Possums! What was I doing on Feb 26, 2017, that I missed this thread?😀

Dad flew one of them there tankers from Kadena in '70 - '73. We lived in Ishikawa for a little under a year, then moved on base. That was a great ride toy, Granpa, I bet the little guy loved it.

Thanks for the boost, @Ben Jefferson! Fond memories.

 

[Scsmith42]

Dave, that is way cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Geezer]

Somehow, I missed this thread, too. Dave sure did raise the bar for grandpas.

 

[BlackGun]

Ok since this thread is up again let’s see the jets. I love seeing people make stuff that can be treasures for generations. You the man Dave for building something instead of receiving an Amazon packaged gift.

 

[BigWaylon]

My dad built a pedal plane for my son ~10 years ago. I bet he used it about 3 times. But it’s hanging from the ceiling in my garage, no way I could get rid of it. They had it out at an air show in Monroe and here’s my son walking/pushing a friend of his as she pedals it around.

a completely under-appreciated gift...

 

[BlackGun]

That‘s cool. Heirloom.