I could spend hours looking at old planes, trains and automobiles.  Come to think of it, I often do!  The July 2021 Northwest Air Tour made a stop in Buhl on Wednesday.  Thursday, it’s on to the airport in Jerome.  Many of these planes have some long hours on them but have been meticulously maintained.  I watched as one pilot polished his maroon wings and another tinkered with an engine.  Then I looked skyward and saw four old biplanes in tandem making an approach.

Of course, I had just put away the camera and was on my way out of the Buhl Airport when I saw them on the way.  When the antiques landed, I fired up the zoom and tried getting some pictures.

The weather was perfect at mid-day.  Not too hot and the smell of wildfire smoke wasn’t nearly as pungent as when I left work in Twin Falls.  I was impressed by the crowd at 11:00 o’clock in the morning.  It’s quite obvious there are a lot of flying enthusiasts in Buhl.  The “Buhl Air Force” entertains during the Independence Day Parade.

I did note some of the smaller planes I saw.  Twenty years ago, I could’ve squeezed inside but not today.  Some are old spotter aircraft.  Two seats.  One behind the other.  I’m used to a bit more room.  I’ve been aloft in both a B-17 and a B-25.  An uncle was killed in the latter.  At the time I didn’t know the story.  I was just enjoying the flight.  In the B-17 I could stand up and walk around during the trip.  It wouldn’t be possible in some of the smaller craft I saw in Buhl, however.  Some have open cockpits and it must be a thrill to be hundreds to a thousand feet off ground and getting a taste of the breeze.

We’ve come a long way in just under 120 years.  From the Wright Brothers to Richard Branson.  Human ingenuity remains a wonderful thing.

LOOK: Route 66’s quirkiest and most wonderful attractions state by state

Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.

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