| Author | Message | ||
     Rick_a |
Finally uploaded these pics. The cloud cover was pretty low so the F-16, A10, P51's, F-15, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-4 and parachute teams did not perform. It was still, as always, a good time.                                                                  The wife knitted all day, the stepson kinda moped around, but the little man and I had a great time. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Great pics, that little helo drone is similar to the one that got 'lost' in restricted airspace last year over the capital; it is my understanding that chain guns and hell fires, mount right the hell up to the winglets. | ||
| Ltbuell |
Hey Rick,great pics(love the WW2 stuff of all even though its all fun and cool).The aerobatics are way cool to watch.Darn,didn't see a M-14 in that Vietnam display(favorite "piece").Love to go to air shows for so many reasons.You don't see too many Japanese air planes(pretty cool you got to see the ones that were there).Now what would be cool to see some of the German Luftwaffe as there isn't too many of those in the US in flying condition(a FW-190 up in the Seattle area as well as a Me-109.Didn't get to see either of them fly)Have ones like them in static displays at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in the Seattle area though.Thanks for the pics.Son looked pretty cool there and enjoying himself.LT | ||
| Blake |
Cool. The Corsair is one of my favorite planes. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
Rick you must have gone sunday i was there saturday was cold and miserable but the phantom and the black daggers went on. didn't bother to get the real camera out because of low ceiling but was still fun to watch | ||
| Strokizator |
Blake, it's a good thing for you my father is not still around. He was a plane captain aboard a carrier in WWII in charge of an F6F Hellcat. Anytime someone would mention a Corsair he'd go into a tirade on how the F6F almost single handedly won the air war in the Pacific (in his opinion). The Corsair and Hellcat used the same engine and I always thought the Corsair was a sexier plane. I believe that's an F4 Wildcat in the photo above. What a great way to spend the day. For an interesting read check this out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Swett I had the privilege of meeting this guy and worked with his son. | ||
| Aesquire |
1. I can't believe someone has restored a Curtis SB2C. ( the stubby looking one with a big 32 on the tail ) A plane that was loaded down with too many bright ideas from the Navy, it took 4 years to finally work out the bugs. ( when the first 2 test planes crash the bugs are major ) A dive bomber you really didn't want to dive. Nearly missed the war, but replaced the SBD in the picture above it. The SBD was thought obsolete even before Pearl Harbor, but soldiered on for 3 years becoming the king shipkiller in the US Navy. By the time the SB2C replaced it, there were few fleet engagements left. The SBD ( and the Submarine Service ) had killed most of the enemy fleet by then. 2. The Vought F4U Corsair ( bent wings, funny pod under one wing, 5 on nose ) is a night fighter variant. It was faster than the F6F Hellcat because of a very effective ram air system. The Hellcat drew intake air from a still air zone behind the engine. The Hellcat was Much easier to fly, and especially land, so the Corsair was given to the Marines, and operated from islands ( Black Sheep Squadron, etc. ) until late in the war. The Hellcat finished off the Japanese Navy air forces, after coming in as a faster more powerful replacement for the F4F Wildcat. ( pictured below the parked Corsair pic with white stripes on tail and 5 on nose ) The Wildcat was the plane that stopped the Japanese advance across the pacific. Actually originally designed as a Biplane, the Wildcat was redone as a monoplane. It actually lost to the Brewster Buffalo ( considered one of the worst planes ever after adding fuel, armor and guns. The Buffalo was a sweet flier when built very light and used with good success by the Finns. ) and was revamped into the pudgy little killer shown above. The landing gear was hand cranked up and down. Not as pretty or maneuverable as the Zero, the Wildcat could dive faster and take far more punishment. It was not unusual for a Wildcat to make it back to the carrier, land it's wounded pilot safely, and then be thrown overboard as too shot up to repair. ( as in "how the heck did this thing fly over a hundred miles with this many holes?") 3. The japanese Torpedo plane is actually a modified Vultee Valiant training plane. That may be one of the Tora Tora Tora planes. 4. The little helicopter drone is cute. And a little scary. 5. The Blue Angels are one of the oldest and IMHO the tightest flying demo teams. 6. The Corsair became one of the premier Fighter/Bombers and was made into the 50's. It is pictured in flight with a A4D Skyhawk, a plane that fought right up through the Gulf War, and was so good ( for a nuclear bomber ) that it was used as an aggressor plane at Top Gun. ( seen in the movie ) | ||
| Britchri10 |
Ask us Brit's about the effectiveness of the Skyhawk as a F/B! The Brewster Buffalo was the early mainstay of the RAAF after the fall of Singapore & was not liked by many of it's pilots. Chris C | ||
| Kenm123t |
Some of my friends from church flew Wildcats in ww2 and one built them One flew WildCats Corsairs and the Skyraider in Korea and Vietnam. | ||
| Rick_a |
It was on Sunday. That PT-17 was actually the most exciting routine of the day. The pilot was VERY close to the ground much of the time. The plane was unmodified so it lost engine power every time it was inverted due to fuel starvation. The plane is slow and cumbersome, but the routine was amazing. That Dauntless IIRC is the last of some three currently flight worthy in the world. The Helldiver is the last of it's kind still flying. That Zero is a replica, but still very rare, even as such. That one pic of the Shockley jet truck is while is on the better side of 300mph. The day before our shop got buzzed by one of the Blue Angels. It was pointed straight at a coworker and I, and didn't pull up until I was getting ready to run. He pulled up, flared out, was still heading down, then corrected up again, right on top of us. It was awesome. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
that little helo drone is similar to the one that got 'lost' in restricted airspace last year over the capital; It was being tested out of PAX River | ||
| Pwnzor |
Great pictures, looks like a great time was had by all. That Zero is a replica, but still very rare, even as such. Here's a real one. I provided logistics for the move to New Zealand last year in March, and then back again after the air show was over.  You can check out the entire process here | ||
| Blake |
Stroki, I'd agree with Dad. The Hellcat for sure got the job done. I just dig the Corsair, plus I worked for Vought (the "V" in "LTV" Aerospace) right out of school. | ||
| Whistler |
Vought F4U Corsair aka "Whistling Death." | ||
| Pwnzor |
Here's a Wildcat on the back of my truck... 2001 IIRC  | ||
| Ghost_rider33 |
I almost got to work as an Airframer for the Angels, but I'm too tattooed. I got orders to the George Washington instead. Those hornets are some of the oldest in the fleet. Alpha plus if i'm not mistaken. They look like they might be charlie's though. | ||
| 86129squids |
I see at least one little airman who is having WAAAY too much fun!!  Thanks so much for the pics! Loved the planes, but that dang truck is the wackiest/scariest thing I've seen in a minute... pushing 300MPH?!?!  | ||
| Rick_a |
I didn't get any pics...but we checked out a C130. I've traveled in the cargo bay but never been in the cockpit. What a dizzying array of switches and instruments. We both sat down in the seats...and the kid proceeds to crank on the nose wheel steering wheel. That goofball. He loves the big transports. Here's the demise of the first Shockwave truck...one of the chute's malfunctioned. Thanks for sharing and your input, guys. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Awesome pics, thanks for sharing!  I used to go to a few airshows with my Dad and/or my uncle when I was young. My Dad worked for Qantas (later I did too for a little while), and my uncle was a pilot. The A-4, aka "Heinemann's Hot Rod", was always one of my fav's - compact, uncomplicated and very manoeuvrable for its time. The RNZAF aerobatics team used them and I was lucky enough to see them twice, including their famed buddy refueling "plugged" barrel roll  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
The Brit's were some of the first to put the Corsair into operational use flying from carriers. If you want a really really good read, I highly reccommend "Carrier Pilot" by Norman Hanson, no idea if it's still in print. Great pics thanks for sharing. |
