Flat Stanley Sizzles in New Mexico!

Flat Stanley had an awesome visit in Albuquerque (spell check! ok, we're good), New Mexico with my old college pals Paul and Rebekah Clawson!

Fun Facts about New Mexico:
(brought to you by G-Bug and Truth)
47th State
State Nickname: The Land of Enchantment
Capitol: Santa Fe
State Bird: Greater roadrunner
State Flower: Soaptree yucca
State Insect: Tarantula hawk wasp
State Mammal: Black bear
State Fish: Cutthroat trout
Fun Fact: The world's largest international hot air balloon festival is hosted here in Albuquerque!
Famous Person: Georgia O'Keefe, an artist who painted large flowers, bleached bones, and New Mexico landscapes

Here are the photos and notes from our hosts - enjoy!

"New Mexico is famous for, and is very very proud of, green chiles.

Here, Flat Stanley is hanging out in the back of a 63 Chevy Nova with red and green

chiles.  When ordering a Mexican dish in New Mexico you say red for red

chiles, green for green chiles, or Christmas for a mix of both."

"We took Flat Stanley to a car show in Albuquerque.  

Here he is sitting on my favorite truck at the show."

"While this aircraft is now retired, the 58 SOW still flies and trains on

very similar helicopters.  Helicopters can quickly get troops in and out of

areas and they can provide close ground support to troops fighting on the

ground."

"Flat Stanley visited the 377th ABW on a very windy day."

"Kirtland AFB is home to the 377th Air Base Wing.  Kirtland AFB is the

largest employer in Albuquerque.  In addition to ~4500 active military

personnel on base, the base also hosts ~10,000 civilians who primarily do

defense research."

"Kirtland AFB is also the home to the 58th Special Operations Wing.  The

58th trains special operations forces and pilots.  Most special operations

missions require that airmen get in and out of a particular area very

quickly and are almost always very dangerous.  This plane, is very unique

and was an important special operations plane for ocean rescues for the Air

Force and Navy in WWII."

"The Catalina is one of the strangest planes we have displayed at

Kirtland AFB."

(The kids thought this plane was AWESOME!)

"Traveling is exhausting, but Flat Stanley had more stamina than Silas."

"This was Flat Stanley's favorite plane on display.  He thought it looked like

the Oscar Meyer Weiner truck."

"Flat Stanley's favorite car at the car show: A highly modified VW bus. This bus

is world famous and was a central attraction at the show."

"New Mexico is known as the land of enchantment. Also, most NM license

plates also include 'USA'.  This is included because many people in the USA

do not realize that New Mexico is a US state and not a part of Mexico."

Thanks Paul, Rebekah, and Silas for being wonderful hosts in the Land of Enchantment!