Surprise, Air Force One Visits CID - Again!

Its only been 2-1/2 months since Air Force One visited 42N's tarmac at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Campaigning season is intensifying and Iowa's six electoral votes are considered essential for either candidate to win the presidency. As one person noted today, internal polling must indicate the closeness of the race, that's why the president visited - and its only July - and before the conventions! 

Local news crews covered the arrival, speech and departure. Since Air Force One was parked behind a wall of baggage containers near a chain link fence it was hard to get a clean look at the plane. Television reporters climbed atop their news vans and filed live reports at noon. On the left is Waterloo NBC affiliate KWWL. On the right is Cedar Rapids' CBS/FOX affiliate KGAN. The ABC affiliate, KCRG was present but reported a half hour earlier per their format.  

The president talked to people at the plane's base, then moved to a group by the bunting, and then left for a home visit followed by a speech at Kirkwood Community College. He stopped downtown for an ice cream cone (mint chocolate chip) before returning to the plane mid-afternoon.

Making everything run smoothly for a presidential visit requires considerable coordination. One huge element of planning is special convoy vehicles. Those vehicles are transported the night before Air Force One's arrival via a C-17A Globemaster. The giant plane parked today away from Air Force One.

While the election is still months away the likelihood that these components will be visiting Cedar Rapids again and again and possibly again is quite high.

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Swisher Blacktop Barn Charm

The road between Swisher, Iowa and Amana is called the Swisher blacktop even though it is made of concrete. About halfway between those two towns is this modern vivid red barn. Four horses may be stabled there along with their food - on this day they sought shade beneath the trees. This week's 42N barn charm offering is more recent in construction, complete with metal walls and roofing but utilizes classic barn design elements.

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Touching Iowa's Glacial Past

Iowa is a land shaped by glaciers that receded some 13,000 years ago. Two of the more unique examples of what glaciers influence can be found at MacBride Hall's Natural History Museum on the University of Iowa campus in downtown Iowa City. One item is a hunk of native copper that was glacially transported here from northern Minnesota, Wisconsin or Canada. The other artifact is glacial grooved limestone where parallel scratches made from pressure and movement can be seen and felt. These items provide an ongoing opportunity for anyone to touch something created by glacial forces long ago. 


The copper and limestone are positioned side by side as part of a short narrative slideshow. Yes, an old fashion, 35mm slideshow complete with tray and audio components. This particular display has been present for some thirty years and seems positively glacier-like in its ability to tell a story compared to modern audio-visual aids. Still, you get the message and can feel the history.

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Vivid Green in Soaring Temperatures

During this time of little moisture and near 100 degree days for the past week or so, it is surprising to find a green oasis. Saved by a tree canopy this forest bottom is covered with all shades of green near limestone caves. Inside Ice and Horse Thief caves at Wapsipinicon State Park near Anamosa, Iowa, the walls sweated and the ceiling dripped. And as you might expect the temperature was markedly less than in the open sun.

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Red, White and Stearman

Two Boeing Stearman participated in static display at the 2012 Marion Airport Fly-In a few days ago in Marion, Iowa. Stearman biplanes were manufactured during the 1930s and 40s. These remarkably sturdy planes served as pilot training platforms for American aviators during World War II. This silver colored Stearman, according to its pilot was built in 1940 and painted in 1942 training colors. The aircraft served in St. Louis, Missouri during the war as a trainer for naval aviators. The pilot says the plane is on its second engine after overhauls retired the first. Both planes appear to be in excellent condition with fabric or composite material making up the wings and fuselage. Both planes also drew substantial attention from the crowd, helping to make this year's run-up to Independence Day just a bit more patriotic.

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American Gothic Barn Charm

Local regionist artist, Grant Wood painted what became a cultural icon, American Gothic in 1930. It hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood ventured to Eldon, Iowa to paint AG using the simple house which still stands today. The farmer was Wood's dentist and the farmer's daughter was Nan Wood, Grant's sister. This barn is painted with Iowa and Midwestern scenes and is located a few hundred feet east of the Palisades-Kepler State Park near Mount Vernon, Iowa along Highway 30. Many highway travelers slow down when they near the larger than life portrait of an American classic. Some jump out of their vehicle and try to strike the classic pose for a snapshot. Welcome to Iowa.

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Student Made Electric Racing Cars Draw Attention at Fly-In

Making a promotional stop at today's Marion Fly-In were several high school students and teacher. The Cougar Electric Car Company, part of Cedar Rapids' Kennedy High School is a program designed for students to experience design, manufacturing, promotion and racing electric cars. In the number 50 car today was incoming junior, Wyatt. His experience through this program includes racing this and the other student made electric cars in competitions at tracks in Iowa, Nebraska and Michigan. He is investigating programs offered through General Motors for his post high school education.

Wyatt related racing stories as well as design and fabrication tales. His passion for the program is apparent in telling how various batteries perform and then easily slips into a discussion of how to win races. During one race he described brake failure during a pit stop. Wyatt's solution was to stop the car by pressing his gloved hand to the rotating wheel, squeezing and wishing for the best. His action resulted in first, second and third degree burns to his fingers including the extraction of rubber tire fragments from his hand by medical professionals. He now jokes that he doesn't have finger prints on three fingers.


Other members of the Cougar team discussed how the cars work, where they race this summer and what they are learning in the process. Another driver mentions his best finish was fourth in a recent race. Barry Wilson, the academic adviser to the program challenged the driver to do better, figure out how to get more power out of his car and how to drive more strategically to win a first place trophy. And still another team member, who is also a driver talked about her diving skills in the pool. She is excited to do more racing this summer and contribute to the design of future electric racing cars.

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