Blue Angel and Thunderbird flyover

b_arrington said:
We went down to the boat yard to watch. It was very cool. I live military jets of all types so was happy to see it. My wife was really jazzed about it. My teenage son- who is starting his phase of indifference - was really wowed and takes about it nonstop.

A bunch years ago I got to go to an airshow for a big Pratt and Whitney's 65th anniversary. Luckily I was able to get flightline access because at the time my godmother was married to one of the best F-14 pilots, and he was part of the show. The highlight of the event was all the Grumman 'cat planes flying in formation: Wildcat, Bearcat, Hellcat, Tigercat, and Tomcat. I later learned that will the slowest plane was struggling to keep up and had his engine redlined, the Tomcat was flying as slowly as possible with all flaps deployed. And even then the pilot had to override the computer's stall warnings. It was an incredible show.
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I saw that flight group several time up at Oshkosh for EAA Airventure.
 
I was crew chief on the wing commanders F-16C in south Korea in 1989, with the GE 220 engines, she was joy to crew and wrench on!!! 86-0304 was her tail number, WOLFPACK, JUVAT!!!! Good times and memories
 
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If you want a very interesting read about the Air Force and airplane development get a copy of "Boyd - The Fighter Pilot That Changed the Art of War" by John Coram. Available on Amazon or online for electronic copies.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0...316796883&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

John Boyd may be the most remarkable unsung hero in all of American military history. Some remember him as the greatest U.S. fighter pilot ever -- the man who, in simulated air-to-air combat, defeated every challenger in less than forty seconds. Some recall him as the father of our country's most legendary fighter aircraft -- the F-15 and F-16. Still others think of Boyd as the most influential military theorist since Sun Tzu. They know only half the story.

Boyd, more than any other person, saved fighter aviation from the predations of the Strategic Air Command. His manual of fighter tactics changed the way every air force in the world flies and fights. He discovered a physical theory that forever altered the way fighter planes were designed. Later in life, he developed a theory of military strategy that has been adopted throughout the world and even applied to business models for maximizing efficiency. And in one of the most startling and unknown stories of modern military history, the Air Force fighter pilot taught the U.S. Marine Corps how to fight war on the ground. His ideas led to America's swift and decisive victory in the Gulf War and foretold the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

On a personal level, Boyd rarely met a general he couldn't offend. He was loud, abrasive, and profane. A man of daring, ferocious passion and intractable stubbornness, he was that most American of heroes -- a rebel who cared not for his reputation or fortune but for his country. He was a true patriot, a man who made a career of challenging the shortsighted and self-serving Pentagon bureaucracy. America owes Boyd and his disciples -- the six men known as the "Acolytes" -- a great debt.

Robert Coram finally brings to light the remarkable story of a man who polarized all who knew him, but who left a legacy that will influence the military -- and all of America -- for decades to come . . . (less)
 
b_arrington said:
Nope, love it. I always thought the F-4 was an incredibly good looking plane. Maybe it was the droopy triangular configuration of the tail, or the upturned ends of the wings.

Of course, I also have always loved the F4U Corsair and it's bent-wing design. I could endlessly watch reruns of Black Sheep Squadron.

I can easily go down the internet rabbit hole of military plane Wikipedia articles.
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Compare the landing gear design of the gull wing F4U Corsair (Chance-Vought) and the F8F Bearcat (Grumman). The Bearcat had "elbows" in its gear retraction mechanism to allow the longer gear to keep the prop clear of the ground - Chance Vought used the inverted gull wing with shorter, direct retracting gear. Two different solutions for the same problem - keeping the P&W R-2800 engine's large propeller clear of the ground!
 
Steve S said:
If you want a very interesting read about the Air Force and airplane development get a copy of "Boyd - The Fighter Pilot That Changed the Art of War" by John Coram. Available on Amazon or online for electronic copies.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0...316796883&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

John Boyd may be the most remarkable unsung hero in all of American military history. Some remember him as the greatest U.S. fighter pilot ever -- the man who, in simulated air-to-air combat, defeated every challenger in less than forty seconds. Some recall him as the father of our country's most legendary fighter aircraft -- the F-15 and F-16. Still others think of Boyd as the most influential military theorist since Sun Tzu. They know only half the story.

Boyd, more than any other person, saved fighter aviation from the predations of the Strategic Air Command. His manual of fighter tactics changed the way every air force in the world flies and fights. He discovered a physical theory that forever altered the way fighter planes were designed. Later in life, he developed a theory of military strategy that has been adopted throughout the world and even applied to business models for maximizing efficiency. And in one of the most startling and unknown stories of modern military history, the Air Force fighter pilot taught the U.S. Marine Corps how to fight war on the ground. His ideas led to America's swift and decisive victory in the Gulf War and foretold the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

On a personal level, Boyd rarely met a general he couldn't offend. He was loud, abrasive, and profane. A man of daring, ferocious passion and intractable stubbornness, he was that most American of heroes -- a rebel who cared not for his reputation or fortune but for his country. He was a true patriot, a man who made a career of challenging the shortsighted and self-serving Pentagon bureaucracy. America owes Boyd and his disciples -- the six men known as the "Acolytes" -- a great debt.

Robert Coram finally brings to light the remarkable story of a man who polarized all who knew him, but who left a legacy that will influence the military -- and all of America -- for decades to come . . . (less)
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John Boyd headed up an informal group of TAC (Tactical Air Command) pilots called "the fighter mafia". As you correctly said - A bunch of fighter pilots that were tired of SAC Generals designing AF fighters to carry nuclear weapons in a European War - totally unsuited for the Vietnam war. The AF had to take Navy A-1 Sky Raiders from the Boneyard, Navy F-4's and Navy A-7's to fight the war. Over 660 F-105's were built and more than 500 of them crashed or were shot down. It's hard for me to believe that over 5,000 F-4's were built. But the third generation fighters (F-15/F-16) and Navy F-18's were so superior.
 
carterchapman said:
John Boyd headed up an informal group of TAC (Tactical Air Command) pilots called "the fighter mafia". As you correctly said - A bunch of fighter pilots that were tired of SAC Generals designing AF fighters to carry nuclear weapons in a European War - totally unsuited for the Vietnam war. The AF had to take Navy A-1 Sky Raiders from the Boneyard, Navy F-4's and Navy A-7's to fight the war. Over 660 F-105's were built and more than 500 of them crashed or were shot down. It's hard for me to believe that over 5,000 F-4's were built. But the third generation fighters (F-15/F-16) and Navy F-18's were so superior.
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Always loved packing the drag shoot on the F-4 after landing, she was an awesome ol bird, especially with those "SMOKEY" engines:D
 
susanandlance said:
Always loved packing the drag shoot on the F-4 after landing, she was an awesome ol bird, especially with those "SMOKEY" engines:D
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We hated the smokers over NV. We would go to min burner to eliminate the smoke. The final updated models that went to the Navy Reserves had the smokeless combustion chambers...
 
Blueone said:
Her test was negative....she had us going as she is living at the house... One nurse had the virus and worked with a lot of other nurses, techs, doctors and patients.....that was the scare
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Great news
 
Atlanta on Saturday
 
Blueone said:
Her test was negative....she had us going as she is living at the house... One nurse had the virus and worked with a lot of other nurses, techs, doctors and patients.....that was the scare
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So glad to here this Blue, Now get your boat in so you can Social Distance....;););)
 
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