BlueAngles 2003 Awsome!

[acarpe3448]

Just saw the Blue Angles yesterday. The 2003 team was just incredable. The formations were very tight, the MC was announcing the "close diamond" was 18 inches apart. I always thaught it was 36 inches. The solos rocked you with afterburners and super close passes. I was in awe. Don't mess with the US Military. There was also some great demos by the F14, F15,the F117 did a surprise flyby on it's way to another airshow, and there was an 18 wheeler truck that had 3 F-14 engines on it that went down the runway at 397 mph shooting flames 20 feet long. Just incedable day. You military guys are well trained and can not only blow away an audience but can bring any nation to it's knees. My hats off. What an experience. If you get a chance to see them this year, I highly recommend it. It meant alot to a guy thats furloughed and has not had a chance to fly in a year now.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

It meant alot to a guy thats furloughed and has not had a chance to fly in a year now.

even a 172?

 

[acarpe3448]

Yeah, I take that back I have had a few hours in a bug smasher. Not quite the same as some turbine time, but maybe things will change in the future.

 

[bigD]

I always love the loud noise created by the jets at airshows, and the formations are very, very impressive.

But I was at an airshow in Galveston a couple of months ago, and although there were F-15 and F-16 demonstrations, I was most impressed by Jan Collmer(sp?) in his Extra 300. That guy was unbelievable. I've been to a lot of airshows over the years, and his routine that day was right up there with the best I've seen.

 

[flywest]

Dayton

One of my students gave me pavilion tickets to the Dayton Airshow. According to their website, it looks like the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds, and the Golden Knights will all be there. Anybody been to the Dayton show before?? Is it worth camping out for a couple of days?

Regardless, I can't wait to see them in action! Let the countdown begin . .
Regards,
FlyWest

 

[Chunk]

I'm kinda irked at all the non-flying demo's at the airshows. The jet truck is where it started, and it was cool, but now there's car-crunching dinosaurs and crap.

The mighty War Hoover took me to the Reading, PA show in 98 (I think) and all I heard while standing the static display duty answering questions was "when does the dinosaur thingee eat the cars?" It was maddening. Of course, we were the first display inside the entrance, so I answered a lot of "where are the bathrooms" and "waddya mean I can't smoke"'s....

Can't complain too much....airshows are the best type of duty around. Tough to get your helmet on for the flight home with the swollen cranium from all the honeys saying hi and kids asking for autographs!

Original point: Airshows should be for airplanes...not redneck car-eatin' dinos.

[/rant]

Chunk

 

[Boeingman]

Can't complain too much....airshows are the best type of duty around.

I will second that. I always loved bringing the F-4 to airshows and talking to the kids during the static displays.

 

[EagleRJ]

They're lots of fun...

...but the most thorough preflight you'll ever do is after an airshow! It's funny what can be added or taken away from an aircraft by knuckleheaded members of the public.

 

[surfnole]

About a month ago the Blue Angel's AND Thunderbirds were at Patrick's Air Force Base in Cocoa. They were both great, but I liked the Thunderbirds better. I can't judge the technical merits of either show, but the Thunderbirds always had something going on right over the center point. On the other hand, it seemed like you were looking around for the next flyby of the Blue Angels. The Thunderbirds show was shorter, but was more action-packed.

One of my favorites is when one plane distracts your attention with a low fast flyby, and then another comes screaming over your head a few seconds later from behind totally surprising you. It gave quite a shock to my 10 year old and his friend.

 

[StrykerFL]

I too was at the Patrick AFB airshow and I must disagree. The Blue Angels have a much better show and fly much tighter than the Thunderbirds. I do have to say the T'birds had some pretty sweet maneuvers but as for the entire package, the Blue Angels win. Aircraft colors, maneuvers and the fact they fly so darn close together (36" wingtip to canopy) has always demanded my respect. My dad flew with most of those guys in the 80's and 90's so I got an inside view of it all and it was needless to say, Awesome. He had actually flown the VF-101 F-14 that did the demo at PAFB in the mid-eighties. We checked the bureau number and it showed up in his logbook about a dozen times. That to me was amazing. Here was this plane that he had actually flown almost twenty years ago and I was standing right next to it.

Of all of the performers though I thought the Aeroshell team was the best. Their level of precision and abilities had me impressed.

The F-14 demo was by far the best of the jets. The roar of those twin GE F-110's was definitely music to my ears. It brought back memories for sure.

As far as the entire show was, F-15, F-117, Warbirds, F-14, Golden Knights, Extra 300, Pitts, Fat Albert, Blue Angels and T'Birds Demos, it was well worth the three hours I set in traffic for the show and I live about five mile from PAFB.

 

[bunnyfufu]

why didn't you just walk?

 

[Chunk]

why didn't you just walk?

huh?

 

[bigD]

I think bunnyfufu was referring to this:

I set in traffic for the show and I live about five mile from PAFB.

5 miles is a long walk for me, but I'd ride a bike!

 

[Chunk]

Fat Albert

For those of you who have a military ID (be it AD, reserve, or retired), you can get a ride in fat albert during the show. During the aforementioned Reading show, we had an O2 leak that some of the Blue's mechs was helping us fix (on his own time! Great group of guys). He gave me a business card of the MO (IIRC) and said to take it over to the flightline at such and such a time.

Great ride when they kick those JATO bottles...the crew chief gets on top of a little giant ladder strapped down and makes sure that all the bottles fire.

"If you have the means, I highly reccomend" the ride.

Chunk

 

[ShawnC]

Of all of the performers though I thought the Aeroshell team was the best. Their level of precision and abilities had me impressed.

Aeroshell is a great team, hard to believe 4 crop dusters became one of the best teams in such a short amount of time. They also give back to aviation, they recently bought a Cherokee 180 and are giving Young Eagle rides in it.

 

[VaB]

That's funny. I saw the Blues on Saturday and thought they actually looked a little sloppy. Compared to other times I've seen them that is. They were still good.

Love that darn jet truck though.

 

[acarpe3448]

Yeah I know what you mean about them looking sloppy. I noticed a few times that they were a little out of formation. We talked to each of the Blue Angles after the show and they each said that they were not real happy about the performance, they said the ride was real bumpy and a direct crosswind on the runway. However, I was still blown away by what they can do. I tell you that guy that flew the yellow airplane, the current Aerobatic Champion, he put on a hell of a show, and the truck was awsome.

 

[ShawnC]

That yellow plane would be Kirby Chamblis in his Edge 540. Pretty good pilot, I have liked the acts of his that I have seen in the past.

You should see his paint job up close, really cool.

http://www.iac.org/images/kirby_chambliss_edge_2_400x600.jpg

 

[2000flyer]

I saw the Blue's last year and I must say it was probably one of the worst shows I've ever seen from them. I've always preferred the Blue's over the Thunderbirds, but this time it was really disappointing. Formations were sloppy, the diamond roll (or whatever they call it now) was absolutely miserable. They were all a fraction off and it really turned out horrible. But, maybe they were just having one of those days, though talking to a friend who saw them about 2-weeks later, he too said it wasn't the same show as in the past.

Our airport has had the Blue Angels the last two shows. I'm hoping next time they get the Thunderbirds just to have something different.

The best darn show I've seen recently is a mix of old and new. If you ever get to see Jimmy Franklin and his 450HP Waco with a GE jet engine bolted to the bottom, pull up a chair and enjoy the show. He puts on a great act.

2000Flyer

 

[ShawnC]

The best darn show I've seen recently is a mix of old and new. If you ever get to see Jimmy Franklin and his 450HP Waco with a GE jet engine bolted to the bottom, pull up a chair and enjoy the show. He puts on a great act.

2000Flyer

I don't know what it is about that act, the jet powered Waco, or the fact that he has a wing walker too.