Plant-eating dinosaurs did not eat grass, because there wasn't any, so it is thought. During the Mesozoic Era, when the dinosaurs lived, conifers - cone-bearing trees and shrubs - dominated the landscape. They included redwoods, yews, pines, palms, cypress and the monkey puzzle tree. Flowering plants and grass evolved only later.
By the way, a plant does not look like its parents, but will always resemble its grandparents
The Flying Lab is a Beech 18 that served in the Air Force as the C-45. Built in 1953, the aircraft was a valuable tool for Grimes engineers to test and evaluate aircraft exterior lighting systems under various conditions while actually in flight. After being grounded since 1986 due to an unfortunate accident, the “Grimes Flying Lab” took to the skies once again on Friday May 30th, 2008. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the volunteers who spent countless hours to repair and restore the aircraft to its former condition, a legend lives on.
To see the Lab in flight,especially at night, is a real treat. If you ever have the opportunity, don't miss it!
The Flying Lab has a special meaning for me. I developed a fascination with airplanes as a young lad growing up in Urbana. I would spend countless hours during summer vacation sitting and watching airplanes come and go at Grimes Field. At the time, I never envisioned I would ever have an opportunity to actually fly in an airplane, much less become a pilot.
One 4th of July, airplane rides were being offered to the public at Grimes Field for the grand sum of 1 cent per pound of body weight. Along with individuals who donated their time and personal airplanes for the occasion, the Grimes Flying Lab was also being used to ferry folks on a brief aerial tour of the local area. If memory serves me correctly, at that time the Lab had a seating capacity of 10 people including the pilot and co-pilot.
Taking advantage of what I thought would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, I happily stood in line in the hot sun for over 4 hours waiting for my chance to realize a dream come true. After stepping on the bathroom scales and paying my fare of 94 cents, I was delighted to discover that just by coincidence, my ride would be on the Flying Lab. Even more unbelievable was the fact that (again due to sheer luck) I would be sitting in the co-pilot seat. This was too good to be true.
I sat in awe taking in all the new sensations of flying while being equally spell bound by the multitude of dials, gages, and controls in the cockpit. Trying to divide my attention between the new sights I was seeing outside the window and admiring the pilot's skill of making this complicated behemoth obey his every command, I was happier than a kid on Christmas morning. All too soon it was over and I was once again back on the ground.
In the years to come, each time I would see the Flying Lab take to the air, I would relive the experience in my mind, savoring my good fortune go have had the opportunity to fly on the Lab. After high school, I enlisted in the military where I was naturally drawn into aviation. I had the opportunity to fly many types of aircraft ranging from gliders, to helicopters, to multi-engine transport planes, to submarine hunters.
After military service, I obtained my civilian private pilot's license and flew my own single engine airplane. Not forgetting the opportunity afforded to me on that hot 4th of July as a kid, I took advantage of every opportunity to introduce everyone I could to the joy of flying. I loved to watch the reactions of first time fliers, both young and old, as we rolled down the runway and pointed the nose of the airplane toward the sky.
Although I am no longer an active pilot, I attribute my continued love for aviation to an unforgettable experience afforded to me by the Grimes Flying Lab as a young lad, several years ago.
