Had the pleasure of taking my oldest son out to his first air show, the Wings Over Wayne at Seymour-Johnson AFB. It was awesome!

We got to see F-15's, a F-35, A-10s, a Mig-17 and the Thunderbirds fly. There were others of course but seeing those fighters flying were just so incredible. We got to go in numerous birds on the ground and talk with the pilots and flight crews. We got to go inside a C-5 Galaxy, stand in the bomb bay of a B-52H, view the cockpits of an F-15 and Spitfire. They had the Tora! Tora! Tora! show that was incredible. There were only seven or eight planes involved, I couldn't imagine hundreds.

I haven't been to a show in nearly a decade, it was great going with my son. We got to see some badass stuff today, eat $4 charcoal midget hotdogs and make some memories. Next time I'll spring for the bleacher seats.

It's humbling to see such a display of power. I'm glad that it's ours. We are blessed to have these planes and the men and women who design, service and fly them.


My son and a F-22

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GarandGuy,

Cool! I have fond memories of my dad and I going to the Houston Airshow, and a few years ago I brought my son to his first one. They really are amazing.

Love taking my kids to airshows...I'm sure you and your son had a blast! There just something about the raw power of a jet engine on afterburner that gives me chills...I could watch and listen to those things all day.

Fyi, I think the plane in your photo is actually an F-22...which in my opinion is an even cooler aircraft than the F-35.

Great to see people enjoying airshows! I've been to enough for my lifetime but I'm glad they still draw a crowd.

And yes, that is an F-22 Raptor, not an F-35.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Great to see people enjoying airshows! I've been to enough for my lifetime but I'm glad they still draw a crowd.

And yes, that is an F-22 Raptor, not an F-35.

I swear the sign said F-35. Guess we saw a F-22 today as well. An aviation expert I am not. I'll update the original post. Thanks gents.

quote:

Originally posted by GarandGuy:

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Great to see people enjoying airshows! I've been to enough for my lifetime but I'm glad they still draw a crowd.

And yes, that is an F-22 Raptor, not an F-35.

I swear the sign said F-35. Guess we saw a F-22 today as well. An aviation expert I am not. I'll update the original post. Thanks gents.

I love airshows myself. The F22 looks just as good in flight as it looks on the ground







I have always enjoyed Air Show photography

I have worked 3 or 4 shows and I am always intoxicated by what some of these pilots can do when merged with these extraordinary machines

. . . . . . . . I just fixed the over sized photos

I took my wife and daughters to an air show many years ago. The Blue Angels were there. I took all three of them to the fence behind the planes just before the show, and the pilots and crew came out in front of us, fired them up and taxied them out. I took the precaution of providing ear plugs for the four of us. I'd positioned everyone to stand in the jet blast when they turned. I told them "You don't get the full experience unless you feel the blast and heat from the engines and smell the JP4". Unfortunately, I don't think they let any of the audience get that close anymore. Kind of a shame.

I used to go to air shows all the time as a kid. Saw a lot of incredible planes and it was always a thrill to actually get to talk to one of the pilots. It just drove my desire to fly that much more.

I never forgot that feeling, and when I was flying and had the opportunity to do air shows I always took a lot of time to talk with the kids (do fun things for them like let them put on my flight helmet, etc.) It is very humbling when a kid asks you for your autograph as well. I’m hopeful that maybe my treatment of those kids inspired at least one of them to pursue the same dream.

^^^

It's the sound of freedom. Military air shows are uniquely an American tradition. I had the privilege of being a member of Starfighters
F-104 demonstration team from 96 through 99. Flying the F-104 was a fantasy of mine sense the 60's when I was a 104 Crew Chief.
Having the opportunity to fly the 104 at Moody AFB where my Son was a F-16 Crew Chief was certainly the high point of my 50 years of flying.I will never forget the look on the faces of young kids. I tell them all, its OK to to have a Dream in America, and I was a high school drop out. The Air Force experience changed my life.

The Raptor is a very impressive aircraft, having seen them at airshows and fought them in training.

Too bad they shut the line down and can't make anymore.

Shutting the line down and destroying the jig's was the dumbest thing our government could due. Hopefully the F-15X will be built! I
doubt a generation 6 fighter Piloted by a human is in the works

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
The Raptor is a very impressive aircraft, having seen them at airshows and fought them in training.

Too bad they shut the line down and can't make anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by 104RFAST:
Military air shows are uniquely an American tradition.

Well...here, and then the rest of the world, too.

Agreed. Air shows are awesome.

I wouldn't say they're specifically American.

We have some pretty cool air shows as well.

aerial shooting Axalp

The only air show in the world where the planes approach from below. Oh, and including live fire.

It's every year in october and it's open to the public. On the down side: it's a long hike up into the alps and there are now roads to get up there. Not a chance to take a chopper up there as well, because it's military aircraft only during the time.

And a few years ago there was the air show in Payerne in western Switzerland for the 100 year anniversary of the Swiss Luftwaffe.