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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
The Thunderbirds are flying as I type this. Watched them a bit from my deck, but eight miles from the runway and trees between makes it hard.
I teared up, remembering how I used to fly formation like that. Never again, of course, and that hurts.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17,739 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17,739 Likes: 1 |
But you can always say that you have done it! And Lived it! Many of us have not!
Deer Camp! about as good as it gets!
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
I was offered the job of T'Bird announcer at one time, and turned it down. Coulda, woulda, shoulda... But at that time, my daughters were pre-teens and the idea of them spending three years in Las Vegas with me gone 300 days a year was not tenable.
On the bright side, that decision eventually allowed me to be the NASA countdown guy, so it all worked out for the best.
Still, there is NOTHING like flying high-performance jets.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,250 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,250 Likes: 2 |
flying is one of those things that the more you do it, the more you WANT to do it and the less you do it the less you want to do it.
I am glad some of those days are past.
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Posts: 425
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 425 |
We go over the hill about 4-7 times a winter to watch the Blues off the end of the runway at NAF El Centro. Kinda ruins the regular airshow at Miramar you are so damn close. The last few years we have been treated to the T birds when they come down for the pilot exchange program........fantastic show they fly.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,905 Likes: 20
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,905 Likes: 20 |
I'd give my left nut to go watch the T/Birds.... Entry price is not the question...$15/family !!!!!!!! I'm 3+ hrs away.....hard to leave Podunk to go to the city 100K people ? My Gawd........... Rocky....tell us of your AF career.......... NASA countdown guy !!!!!!!!! whoa......(: https://www.ksl.com/article/5042955...ns-dazzling-spectators-with-performances
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
Tikka, one of these days, you're gonna send me an invite to come and ride into the backcountry, sip beer, and allow me to regale you with memories. And I'll show up.
In the meantime... When I was a little kid, I wanted to be three things. I wanted to be John Wayne fighter pilot. I wanted to be Scotty Powers, the guy who counted backwards for NASA, and I wanted to be Jack O'Connor gun writer. Believe it or not, I manged to be all three. (I was never as good as O'Connor but I did manage to publish almost 100 shooting articles.)
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,910
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,910 |
I was at Hill for 8 years, always "worked" the airshows, then would enjoy them the next day. The T-birds are fun to see. When I was there, worked with the "Viper West" demo team. IDK what they do with the new -35, but seeing the Viper train most Fridays was never not cool.
All that said, I am over the jet noise for a while. I am soon to be moving far away from it for a while.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,919 Likes: 10
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,919 Likes: 10 |
Probably one the greatest recruiting tools ever for both teams. The shows they do over air stations are the best where they can get things down near the ground. They have to keep movements quite a bit higher around the mega cities. Videos from the ground suggest they're nice smooth synchronized rides. Shots from the cockpit indicate they're constantly on the stick and the epidemy of concentration.
I can't imagine the skills and training it takes to do ground level stuff upside down. Doesn't seem right to push the stick forward to climb out at the end.
Quite an accomplishment to make those teams. Being USN, I'm partial the Blue Angels. Back in about 1972 they did a 9-day airshow at Dulles (Transpo 72 ). I think every team in the world was there and 3 or 4 pilots bought farm that week. Even got to kick the tires and sit in the shade of a SR-71.
If I could do life over again, I'd not change a single experience across my 4 years of working Naval Air. Worked with A3-B's. I could do everything except pull the chocks and take off. Just tying them down and running them wide open for high power tests was a kick in the ass.
Reaching the age here where several of my pending experiences might be the last go around. One's final flight probably fits in that realm.
Last edited by 1minute; 06/25/22.
1Minute
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,905 Likes: 20 |
Rocky UR on.......I've been known to just disappear for the day Just like Thursday..almost headed to CR NP area...but didn't Kool trail goes into the south Park..from Lower Bowns Pic .........near there
Last edited by tikkanut; 06/25/22.
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19,245 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19,245 Likes: 4 |
The Thunderbirds are flying as I type this. Watched them a bit from my deck, but eight miles from the runway and trees between makes it hard.
I teared up, remembering how I used to fly formation like that. Never again, of course, and that hurts. I feel the same way when a Blackhawk or Huey fly over head. I used to be there. Those used to be my birds. I got to touch them, set in their seats, turn wrenches on them, move them with a tug and put fuel in them. I love the smell of 23699 mixed with WTR and the odor of mothballs. I miss it all. I know, I'm weird. kwg
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR. American conservative. Never trust a white liberal. Malcom X Current NRA member.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,019 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,019 Likes: 3 |
Those air show's are a huge needless waste of tax dollars.
Padded VA Hospital Rooms for $1000 Alex My ignoree,s will never be Rock Stars on 24 hr campfire.....Like me!!!! What are psychotic puppet hunters?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
Some of us who have flown close formation rather jokingly refer to the teams as the Blunderbirds and the Blown Angles because we KNOW how rough it is in there with your wings nearly overlapped in the turbulence from the lead jet. It is indeed a workout to keep a jet that close and appear to be welded together. You never actually move the controls, in fact. You THINK the plane up six inches or closer by a foot - and it goes there. You ignore EVERYTHING but Lead. If he flew into the ground, there'd be four holes exactly spaced.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,256 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,256 Likes: 2 |
R Great shot Tikka!
Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,905 Likes: 20
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,905 Likes: 20 |
Those air show's are a huge needless waste of tax dollars. Training........ I can think of a hundred other ways the fed's waste money joe for example.....$400K that dick head ain't worth $400/year
T R U M P W O N !
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,910 |
Those air show's are a huge needless waste of tax dollars. They are actually very valuable training opportunities, much like fly-overs at sporting events.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,905 Likes: 20
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,905 Likes: 20 |
R Great shot Tikka! LIKE...... Rocky wants to go here (:
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
Air shows are more of a recruiting tool than training. The idea of getting to play with all those wonderful toys and getting paid to do it is a powerful incentive.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 15,745 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 15,745 Likes: 4 |
Those T-birds are pretty good but I like my Blues better. 😁 Very few understand the schedule and pace involved with being a member of either team. Several years ago the Blues put on a show here at Meridian and when it was over I walked up to the ropeline with my grown daughter and her two daughters. They were completely flabbergasted when several of them called me by name because they had been students of mine earlier. Score one for “Pops” 😊
NRA Life,Endowment,Patron or Benefactor since '72.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,399 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,399 Likes: 4 |
Those air show's are a huge needless waste of tax dollars. You're right, of course. Those tax dollars could best be used to pay for free housing, free food, free medical and hospitalization, free cell phones, free beer and whisky, free drugs, and free lotto tickets for all the illegal aliens pouring across our southern border plus all the welfare cheats already sucking at the tax payers' teat. L.W.
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)
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