Air Show Preview
Today was such a nice, sunny day. On a Friday like this, how could I resist going to the roof and watching the Thunderbirds?
Answer: I couldn't, and my camera phone was with me.
What I saw this afternoon was amazing. These crummy clips don't do it justice. Those jets can scream! Take a quick peak at the jets:
While we were watching from the roof we saw one of the low-speed, low altitude, nose up fly-by stunts. It felt like it barely cleared us and then it scared the heck out of traffic on the Hoan bridge. That stunt was followed by four jets in formation, flying low and slow with landing gear down. You could almost read numbers painted on the planes! Some of the people who beat me to the roof top said that they actually got to feel the jet wash from the previous low altitude fly over.
After the Thunderbirds left, I went back down to the ground. But, I couldn't resist coming back up for a peak when I heard the sound of jet engines screeching so loud that they echoed all the way into the basement, clear as day, through the HVAC ducts! I was just in time to see the strangest formation EVER! A P-51 and an F-15 flying together (Forgive me if I'm wrong about the models. I'm not 100% up on my aircraft). I'm not sure whether to be impressed that the propeller plane could keep up with a fixed wing jet, or that the jet could fly that slow without dropping out of the sky. In either case, it really puts things into perspective when you see a vintage fighter plane up against something more modern. It's a must see!
If I've talked you into going to the air show this weekend there is some equipment you must not forget to take: camera (video or still), sunscreen (hopefully in place of rain gear), sunglasses (you'll be looking up a lot), binoculars. Do not forget the binoculars!!! You are going to see so much more with them. Buy a good pair if you have to.
Officially, the event takes place at Veteran's Park on Saturday and Sunday. But, you'll be able to see it from anywhere along the lake. They say it's from 11:00am-4:30pm. Judging from today's display, I'll bet that there will be plenty going on in the sky all day long!
Answer: I couldn't, and my camera phone was with me.
What I saw this afternoon was amazing. These crummy clips don't do it justice. Those jets can scream! Take a quick peak at the jets:
- To view, right click to save the file and view.
- Flying in formation
- Flying over us
- Making lots of noise
Links are fixed. The .zip file is still here.
While we were watching from the roof we saw one of the low-speed, low altitude, nose up fly-by stunts. It felt like it barely cleared us and then it scared the heck out of traffic on the Hoan bridge. That stunt was followed by four jets in formation, flying low and slow with landing gear down. You could almost read numbers painted on the planes! Some of the people who beat me to the roof top said that they actually got to feel the jet wash from the previous low altitude fly over.
After the Thunderbirds left, I went back down to the ground. But, I couldn't resist coming back up for a peak when I heard the sound of jet engines screeching so loud that they echoed all the way into the basement, clear as day, through the HVAC ducts! I was just in time to see the strangest formation EVER! A P-51 and an F-15 flying together (Forgive me if I'm wrong about the models. I'm not 100% up on my aircraft). I'm not sure whether to be impressed that the propeller plane could keep up with a fixed wing jet, or that the jet could fly that slow without dropping out of the sky. In either case, it really puts things into perspective when you see a vintage fighter plane up against something more modern. It's a must see!
If I've talked you into going to the air show this weekend there is some equipment you must not forget to take: camera (video or still), sunscreen (hopefully in place of rain gear), sunglasses (you'll be looking up a lot), binoculars. Do not forget the binoculars!!! You are going to see so much more with them. Buy a good pair if you have to.
Officially, the event takes place at Veteran's Park on Saturday and Sunday. But, you'll be able to see it from anywhere along the lake. They say it's from 11:00am-4:30pm. Judging from today's display, I'll bet that there will be plenty going on in the sky all day long!
8 Amendments:
Remember the Blue Angels screaming over last year that was awesome I didn't have any luck seeing the thunderbirds today as I was napping.
Actually the Thunderbirds fly F-16's. I seen the two plane formation from west of Miller Park, so I was several miles away and couldn't tell what the prop plane was, but I assumed it was a WW2 era fighter. As for the planes flying at the same speed, the P-51 D could make over 400mph
I too am a huge airplane freak and hope to get down to see some of the show, I love the T-birds and the Blue Angels, they are simply amazing.
Last year I drove through a Blue Angel's smoke trail within seconds after he buzzed the Hoan bridge. And his buddy flew right over me!
I have some terrific blue angels footage from last year when I was at the 440th - as in - the BA's taxing in formation down the runway, takeoff, warmup, etc. Check my youtube account under "phelonyjones"
I hope....very much....that my connection at the 440th can get me in again this year to film the thunderbirds. Super cool stuff.
Does someone have a napkin I can borrow?
Note to self: Don't forget to pack Dan's bib...
That formation you saw patric was actually an F-15 flying in formation with a P-51... I saw it pretty close and it wasn't an F-16. But its damned impressive because they were wing tip to wing tip... which means the F-15 is going closer to stall speed while the P-51 is going close to all out speed.
I Love air shows too... Unfortunately I don't get to go to any all that often. However, I found a video that is pretty cool and the pilot survived the crash with only minor injuries... It's pretty amazing...
http://videointrigue.blogspot.com/2006/07/airshow-crash.html
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