General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Wizz on September 26, 2015, 01:57:37 AM
Title: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Wizz on September 26, 2015, 01:57:37 AM
Growing up in Wichita I got used to the sights and sounds of thundering angels at a very young age. Im a Blue Angels guy all the way but the air force does it right. I've seen enough in my time to know when something really special happens. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=24AvYhaOP6A After spending 9 hours on a saturday with my 5 and 3 year old for McConnel AFB's open house I still hadnt had my fill. So the next day I timed it to where I picked the kids up from their mom's, drove a half mile away to a very nice park right off the base to the north right next to the flight path.
As soon as I got both kids out of my truck a B-1 with wings sweeping back shoots above the tree line at 2500 ft a quarter of a mile away and climbs above us in full afterburner into the vertical. The day before the only time my kids got scared was during the B-1 demonstration( Just like me as a kid :D)
As the B-1 reached its peak altitude it rolled over out of the climb and completed a full barrol roll. I went completely nuts and so did my kids. They absolutely loved it :x
So many great memories and stories please share some of your own. :cheers:
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Wizz on September 26, 2015, 02:01:53 AM
Everytime I watch that it just fires me up. I get that same feeling a lot when I play this game :salute :cheers:
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Wizz on September 26, 2015, 02:08:32 AM
This is why I fly buffs gentleman. My great grand father told me all about his life as a Mitchell pilot in Burma during WW2 and i grew up watching B1's and F16's everyday. The B1 is just scary :x In 89' I was there when a formation of F16's and a B1 broke every window in downtown Wichita. Roof top full afterburner fly over for the national anthem. That is #2
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: hgtonyvi on September 26, 2015, 02:55:23 AM
Kool. Buffs are kool if you have a plate of fries and a big Hugh burger. Nah just kidding, buffs are great, they are the ones that causes the impact fights. :cheers:
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: JohnnyHeelz on September 26, 2015, 09:36:57 AM
This is in Aces High General Discussion, why?
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: The Fugitive on September 26, 2015, 09:41:02 AM
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: colmbo on September 26, 2015, 10:43:04 PM
Newton, Kansas in the early 60s. Weekend airshow, we were late getting there and as we turned down the road toward the airport an F-100 crossed left to right in front of us probably under 100' going like stink. Yowza!
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: guncrasher on September 26, 2015, 11:07:39 PM
I wish I could recall the day when wizz didnt post a single thread.
semp
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Scherf on September 26, 2015, 11:25:36 PM
Any time I got to hear the Vulcan Howl:
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Wizz on September 27, 2015, 12:35:08 AM
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: WWhiskey on September 27, 2015, 10:06:46 AM
I've been to air shows all over the US and many in Europe from Paris to Farnborough, Probably the most thrilling air show I've ever been to was in 1987 at Ramstien,, I know I was there in 1988 as well and I'll get to that! In 1987 the runway was fogged in but they had planed on the weather and had 5 or 6 helicopter teams there, not really all that thrilling, I'm not a big fan of helicopters anyway, me and some friends got up on top of this bus to get a better view, there was a B-52 flyby during a mild break in the fog, they were on a round the world flight so no touch and go. , I'm not sure what flight team of jets did it, but one did fly for a bit, then the fog got really bad and we thought it was over, , about then a single VO105 came over, and started a routine over the crowd, that year there wasn't nearly as many as the next , maybe 50 thousand give or take,, the bus we were on top of was pretty much alone except for the sea of people and I'm sure, stood out for the pilot who began to use it as his focal point in his routine, at first this was neat, we had ring side seats to a helicopter show! Pretty soon tho I was looking at the edge of the bus judging the distance to the ground and the amount of damage my ankles were going to sustaine as I jumped off in case this went all wrong! this guy would fly towards us, pull nose strait up climb, roll back somewhat,,, then spin the tail around and look "ME" in the eye! As he came down, pulled back and rolled out towards the runway, and again,,I'm thinking just in case I hadn't seen it the first time! LOL The fourth time he did this same move, me and my friends all looked at each other and wondered when we were going to jump? But we stayed,,, on the fifth try, he got it over, spun the trial,around inverted, then nosed over and pulled it back to the deck, the rotor wash blowing us around ! I'd seen my first upside down flying helicopter! The show was over wise a wasted trip, but I'd never seen a helicopter upside down, and I'd never been as scared and still spellbound as I was that day,, at one point I was afraid to jump because I thought it might panic the pilot and cause him to otherwise crash! :joystick: A very personal show for me! And probably not much of a show for anyone not within 50 feet of my location! The next year was the big crash, I was way to close to that one as well and paid with some flesh, but I'm still here, almost a hundred are not! I love air shows, yet it's like pulling teeth to get me to one since then, I seem to chicken out as the dates get near, I still love to fly, just don't like being on the ground near low flying jets!
Early the next year 1989 I was on Manuevers in Germany on the side of a hill overlooking a valley when an F-4 phantom came roaring over, low and slow, smoke trails standing out as they always did, that startled me, he was almost in the trees,,but then the F-16 coming in low from the F-4s 2 o'clock, nearly strait at me doing a breakneck turn, rolling over and locking up instantly on the phantoms tail made me fall to the ground, the second F-16 falling in on the firsts wing was the icing on the cake, I had cracked! Laying in the ground, tears in my eyes, I'd had all I wanted! I love to fly, but I keep it on the computer,, I've flown a handful of times since then for real, I missed Red bull again this year,, still chickening out at the last minute! It's like a game of chicken for me just to see how close I can get to actually going to an air show!
The picture is from 1988 Ramstein. (http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/WWhiskey/scan0003.jpg) (http://s249.photobucket.com/user/WWhiskey/media/scan0003.jpg.html) (http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/WWhiskey/2-7-2012121758AM.jpg) (http://s249.photobucket.com/user/WWhiskey/media/2-7-2012121758AM.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: FLS on September 27, 2015, 10:54:49 AM
Well done WWhiskey. :salute
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Wizz on September 28, 2015, 04:44:33 AM
I've been to air shows all over the US and many in Europe from Paris to Farnborough, Probably the most thrilling air show I've ever been to was in 1987 at Ramstien,, I know I was there in 1988 as well and I'll get to that! In 1987 the runway was fogged in but they had planed on the weather and had 5 or 6 helicopter teams there, not really all that thrilling, I'm not a big fan of helicopters anyway, me and some friends got up on top of this bus to get a better view, there was a B-52 flyby during a mild break in the fog, they were on a round the world flight so no touch and go. , I'm not sure what flight team of jets did it, but one did fly for a bit, then the fog got really bad and we thought it was over, , about then a single VO105 came over, and started a routine over the crowd, that year there wasn't nearly as many as the next , maybe 50 thousand give or take,, the bus we were on top of was pretty much alone except for the sea of people and I'm sure, stood out for the pilot who began to use it as his focal point in his routine, at first this was neat, we had ring side seats to a helicopter show! Pretty soon tho I was looking at the edge of the bus judging the distance to the ground and the amount of damage my ankles were going to sustaine as I jumped off in case this went all wrong! this guy would fly towards us, pull nose strait up climb, roll back somewhat,,, then spin the tail around and look "ME" in the eye! As he came down, pulled back and rolled out towards the runway, and again,,I'm thinking just in case I hadn't seen it the first time! LOL The fourth time he did this same move, me and my friends all looked at each other and wondered when we were going to jump? But we stayed,,, on the fifth try, he got it over, spun the trial,around inverted, then nosed over and pulled it back to the deck, the rotor wash blowing us around ! I'd seen my first upside down flying helicopter! The show was over wise a wasted trip, but I'd never seen a helicopter upside down, and I'd never been as scared and still spellbound as I was that day,, at one point I was afraid to jump because I thought it might panic the pilot and cause him to otherwise crash! :joystick: A very personal show for me! And probably not much of a show for anyone not within 50 feet of my location! The next year was the big crash, I was way to close to that one as well and paid with some flesh, but I'm still here, almost a hundred are not! I love air shows, yet it's like pulling teeth to get me to one since then, I seem to chicken out as the dates get near, I still love to fly, just don't like being on the ground near low flying jets!
Early the next year 1989 I was on Manuevers in Germany on the side of a hill overlooking a valley when an F-4 phantom came roaring over, low and slow, smoke trails standing out as they always did, that startled me, he was almost in the trees,,but then the F-16 coming in low from the F-4s 2 o'clock, nearly strait at me doing a breakneck turn, rolling over and locking up instantly on the phantoms tail made me fall to the ground, the second F-16 falling in on the firsts wing was the icing on the cake, I had cracked! Laying in the ground, tears in my eyes, I'd had all I wanted! I love to fly, but I keep it on the computer,, I've flown a handful of times since then for real, I missed Red bull again this year,, still chickening out at the last minute! It's like a game of chicken for me just to see how close I can get to actually going to an air show!
The picture is from 1988 Ramstein. (http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/WWhiskey/scan0003.jpg) (http://s249.photobucket.com/user/WWhiskey/media/scan0003.jpg.html) (http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/WWhiskey/2-7-2012121758AM.jpg) (http://s249.photobucket.com/user/WWhiskey/media/2-7-2012121758AM.jpg.html)
that is why I made this thread :salute
thank you for sharing
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: WWhiskey on September 28, 2015, 10:42:42 AM
Thank you!
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: WWhiskey on September 28, 2015, 10:47:00 AM
RAF Brize Norton - 5th Grader at recess - Vulcan 'from up north' flying closed pattern touch and goes on the B47 (long) runway - drawn by the Vulcan Howl - wandered from the school to the flight line - breath held at each pass - eventually busted by a passing air policeman - much parental concern about priorities - memory - priceless.
:salute
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Ratsy on September 29, 2015, 10:43:51 AM
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Scherf on October 01, 2015, 12:33:21 AM
Holy crap Whiskey.
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: Gman on October 01, 2015, 01:23:12 PM
Fantastic WW, thanks for sharing that, pretty incredible and heroic.
I think my favorite airshow story memory is one of heroism as well. My home airbase is home to the Canadian air demo team "The Snowbirds". A school mate of mine, Cliff Dejong, had a father that was lead solo pilot when we were growing up. His aircraft had a major structural issue during a show, and if he ejected he would have lived, but it was uncertain if the aircraft would have cleared the crowd or not. He stayed in it, radioed that he was making sure it would clear the crowd, which it just barely did. Unfortunately making that choice meant his ejection failed, and he died. We have no Medal of Honor up here, but we should, and Captain Gordon DeJong should have received it IMO.
Personally, the best memory I have is the first time the Russian/Soviet Mig29 came to North America, to our Abbottsford International Air show. They even let a Canadian F18 pilot fly backseat in it during the show, in their Mig29 trainer they brought. He wrote an excellent article, and was able to give a lot of intel to western pilots on the plane and its capability. Anyhow, seeing that Mig29 crank on its 9g+ turns at low level made me forever fall in love with it. IIRC this was 1989 or 1990 or so. Great write up regarding the events of that airshow/first weterner to fly the Mig29 here - https://books.google.ca/books?id=CPXN5nm31o0C&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=captain+douglas+martin+mig+29&source=bl&ots=xJlq5zeS2K&sig=_aJG0ZBU3INy3_kbu3wcKakAqV0&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=captain%20douglas%20martin%20mig%2029&f=false
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: WWhiskey on October 01, 2015, 02:25:02 PM
Fantastic WW, thanks for sharing that, pretty incredible and heroic.
I think my favorite airshow story memory is one of heroism as well. My home airbase is home to the Canadian air demo team "The Snowbirds". A school mate of mine, Cliff Dejong, had a father that was lead solo pilot when we were growing up. His aircraft had a major structural issue during a show, and if he ejected he would have lived, but it was uncertain if the aircraft would have cleared the crowd or not. He stayed in it, radioed that he was making sure it would clear the crowd, which it just barely did. Unfortunately making that choice meant his ejection failed, and he died. We have no Medal of Honor up here, but we should, and Captain Gordon DeJong should have received it IMO.
Personally, the best memory I have is the first time the Russian/Soviet Mig29 came to North America, to our Abbottsford International Air show. They even let a Canadian F18 pilot fly backseat in it during the show, in their Mig29 trainer they brought. He wrote an excellent article, and was able to give a lot of intel to western pilots on the plane and its capability. Anyhow, seeing that Mig29 crank on its 9g+ turns at low level made me forever fall in love with it. IIRC this was 1989 or 1990 or so. Great write up regarding the events of that airshow/first weterner to fly the Mig29 here - https://books.google.ca/books?id=CPXN5nm31o0C&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=captain+douglas+martin+mig+29&source=bl&ots=xJlq5zeS2K&sig=_aJG0ZBU3INy3_kbu3wcKakAqV0&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=captain%20douglas%20martin%20mig%2029&f=false
Excellent story!! Salute to your Lost friend!
Talking about the Mig 29s,,I was stationed at Wackernheim, McCully BRKs Germany during my stay and when I wasn't in the Field , The Unit was 1/59ADA 8th Infantry Division, the first time I saw the new Mig, we had went on alert and had been ordered to bring up all the Chaparrals and Vulcans , line them up and light them up, get ready to track! most of them didn't know what was going on, but a few of us did since we were planning on going to the same place they were, Paris! Pretty soon Two Mig29s came in about 1000agl with two F16s in tow about 1500 back, every move being tracked as they made there way to Paris, all the Chap and vulcan guys got a big thrill that day! I'll bet the mig drivers got a bit of a thrill as well getting painted by 100 or so ADA guys, tho not the thrill they had hoped for! One of those Migs never made it back! Anatoliy Kvochur went in after a bird ingested into the right engine!
Title: Re: Share your favorite air show moments! Videos and photos encouraged
Post by: RSLQK186 on October 03, 2015, 02:20:45 PM
My mom became a single parent of 5 when I was 10. She decided a family vacation was long overdue and took a vote. 4 boy vs 1 girl. Transpo '72 is was. She and my sister suffered a 1,000 mile round trip for a gang of pre teen thugs.
But nothing compared to what Maj Joe Howard suffered. Never take Wikipedia at face value. What I am reading now is that he parachuted into the fireball of his crashed Phantom or that wind carried him into the fireball. i believe the sudden turn his chute took was caused by the backdraft feeding the intense fire. The huge crowd cheering him to the ground for what looked like a good eject that led to instant jaw dropping silence is one of the few things that I remember from the trip. That and the long drive back. You think that this would have changed my desire to become a military pilot, but it only magnified it. My odd lack of weight for my height put the breaks on that. Was years later that we found out it was due to insulin dependent diabetes. 24 years later I took my son to a local airshow. He was 2 and does not remember being allowed to run all around in the Delta Airlines DC-3, but I do. And Memphis Bell a couple of years back. He remembers that.