Tampa Airport Tour

We recently joined a homeschoolers group that does field trips out of Hernando County. They field trips are usually closer to us. Mom snagged a few spots on the Tampa Airport Tour and it did not disappoint! I loved the war room for the police station. This is were they monitor all the 911 calls and all the security cameras from the airport. They even watch the traffic cams on the roads around the airport. I enjoyed learning the history of the airport. I wanted to go up in the control tower but they said no! The ARFF was really cool. We learned all about being a airport fire fighter. They have to have special training to deal with jet fuel and airplane fires. The regular classroom was full for the day so our group got to use the media room for a video. No one complained because the chairs were so comfy! We got to see the equipment lockers and one girl tried on a fire suit. I loved the firetrucks the most. They had so many different types based on what needs may arise. The one in the photo below is the firetruck for spraying the foam on the tarmac and also can pierce the fuselage of the place to inject foam.  The giant piercing rod. They wouldnt let us lift weights on the tour but the firefighters are required to use the gym 1-2 hours a day to stay in shape. We saw one of Trumps planes departing the airport after being here for over a year for repairs. Must have had to get parts! We goot a 1 hour bus ride around the property and say all sorts of cool things. This is the training area where they burn the fuselage and then firefighters get to put it out. They do this a few times a year and have other  local fire stations join them. This is where they test the engines of planes in for repair. It buffers the sound from nearby areas when they have long engine tests. There is a second, much smaller, one for smaller planes as well. There are a lot of hangers for plane repairs, they were all FULL! What a great field trip! I learned a lot and had a great time. I am feeling kinda crappy and my throat hurts but I am getting better. My hamsters are cute and make me happy. Oh and two days later, mom did stupid. She stood up and managed to jam a mechanical pencil into her little toe, and it broke off in her toe. She will need surgery to remove it.