BAM'n'IVM Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Took the toddlers to the airshow. A mostly good day was had by all. The Thunderbirds' "sneak pass" was not appreciated by BAM, who thought it was "mean" and decided he didn't want to watch the rest of their performance. He did, however, spend almost an hour and a half afterward among the static displays, because those planes were "nice". Special thanks to Captains Matt and Frodo from the California Air National Guard - a couple of nice guys with a lot of encouraging attitude for a three year old who wanted to talk to the pilots, then chickened out when he actually got close. OK, and now the pictures: California sent a half dozen or so Vipers to Ft Worth. The 301st in Ft Worth sent one. Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 The Germans came (from New Mexico): Most of the warbirds were on the flightline, as they were involved in the Tora! Tora! Tora! demo (I had no idea Tex Hill and Don Blakeslee were at Pearl Harbor...but it was nice to see Cavanaugh's P-51 and AVG P-41 flying), but this one was mixed in among the modern fighters - a Sea Fury, I believe. Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 A few more random shots: VFA-201's boss bird: VMAQ-1's color bird sporting some nice paint: Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 And some more...I've just got a little 2.5 megapixel digital, but these shots of the Thunderbirds came out pretty well, all things considered... BAM decided that his Grampy Rick was flying Thunderbird 6 at one point, and tried to wave. Speaking of Rick In Maine, here's the shot he's been waiting for: Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 OK, more randomness... Balls-8 was at the Texas Thunder airshow at Carswell, but I got another shot of her. What I neglected to get was a shot of the targeting pod she's sprouted under her right wing since then. Here's one for Ish the 47 Guy... Couple'a Kansas City Hawg shots Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 OK, one last shot. By this time, IVM was tuckered out and was, in fact, asleep in the stroller. I was just following BAM around the static displays, and he decided it was time to have his picture taken. Here, then, is my eldest. :D Link to post Share on other sites
Chorse6 Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Thank for the pics. Really wanted to go, but my two year old is not crazy about loud sounds. Hopefully in a few years. Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 (edited) One more pic I forgot - B-25 "Special Delivery" was among the few warbirds parked in the static area. So was "Chuckie" the B-17, but the crowd was too thick for good photos there. Oh yeah, and the Heritage Flight was excellent - the Viper demo was first, then the demo Viper hooked up with the F-15E demo bird and the P-47 "Tarheel Hal". Very nice. Edited October 1, 2006 by BAM'n'IVM Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 As usual, the static planes become nothing more than shade umbrellas for the unwashed masses... it that true everywhere or just in Texas??? Link to post Share on other sites
TomcatFanatic123 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 (edited) As usual, the static planes become nothing more than shade umbrellas for the unwashed masses... it that true everywhere or just in Texas??? Oh, it's true everywhere. Whenever I go to an airshow, I walk around the statics, then find something with a wide wingspan to camp out under (usually B-52, C-17, -5, or -130). But by that time, I'm usually already extra-crispy...even after using sunscreen . Edited October 2, 2006 by TomcatFanatic123 Link to post Share on other sites
TomcatFanatic123 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 (edited) Nice shots! As for aircraft being used as sun-shades....bugs the snot out of me....know how hard it is to take a photo with 40 people sitting underneath?! Saw that when I was in Minot this summer. Fortunately, here in Canada, we put up baricades around the aircraft (well, the air shows I attend anyways).....makes crowd control easier as well as photo ops. You know what, Colin? I never thought of it that way...now I feel guilty about doing that and possibly ruining other people's pictures . I'll remember that next time I go to a show. Oh, and one thing I forgot to ask...what is that thing hanging from the underwing pylon of that first Viper? Edited October 2, 2006 by TomcatFanatic123 Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 The first viper was sporting a (and correct me if I'm wrong, oh better-informed ones) Sidewinder training round. Same size and weight, no motor or warhead. Or forward vanes. As for the folks crowding under the aircraft, yeah, that seems to happen as a matter of course. Thankfully, with smaller crowds these days (and more frequent use of FOD covers), it's less risky for the aircraft. Using sunscreen and wearing a hat reduces the need for huddling miserably under a wing and cluttering up someone elses photography. I still remember my first airshow back in '85, seeing a Coke can crammed into the rocket pod on an AH-1 and several folks had used tailpipes and jet intakes as trash cans. Haven't seen anything as outrageous since then. Usually at US airshows, only aircraft that are still considered "top secret" are roped off - most others are touchably close. Kinda nice, really - at the Texas Thunder airshow this spring, my older son insisted on petting every helicopter on the nose as if they were puppies. Couldn't do that if they were roped off. Link to post Share on other sites
PapaSmurf630 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I don't think I've ever been to a show in the UK that doesn't have barricades up... That looks really cool being able to get that close. I'm surprised people don't take more time to shoot shots up in the wheel bays etc to get all the hidden bits! Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 Some do. I don't get to get all the detail shots I want mostly because I'm pushing the kids around most of the time - hence my failure to get a shot of the targeting pod on the BUFF. Link to post Share on other sites
Phantomologist Posted October 3, 2006 Share Posted October 3, 2006 Some do. I don't get to get all the detail shots I want mostly because I'm pushing the kids around most of the time - hence my failure to get a shot of the targeting pod on the BUFF. I've been known to go back and shoot a few frames of "hidden bits" My Photos hehehehehe Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted October 3, 2006 Author Share Posted October 3, 2006 I've been known to go back and shoot a few frames of "hidden bits"My Photos hehehehehe :D ...wow. Link to post Share on other sites
Phantomologist Posted October 3, 2006 Share Posted October 3, 2006 (edited) :blink: ...wow. It's an illness, not unlike unbuilt kit collecting! :D Edited October 3, 2006 by Phantomologist Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted October 3, 2006 Share Posted October 3, 2006 Nice pics Bam. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts