We got to stand on the edge of the red line today while the planes did some fly-bys, landed and taxi'd up to our 2nd camera position.

We enjoyed some nostalgia with the old F4s. 

Then we enjoyed watching the QF16 rip the sky apart.

Finally we got a cheap thrill when the F22s taxi'd by close enough for us to exchange hand sign greetings with the pilots.

Can you see the smiles on our faces?







Good times.


I'm always humbled when I get to visit with the folks that make this stuff happen... it's hard to imagine it's even possible and then you see that it's day in a life for some folks.

Wow.




best regards,
mike

Cool.  

nice pic, but shoes, socks and shorts?

mgh


nice pic, but shoes, socks and shorts?

He left his sandals at home, apparently.

mgh


nice pic, but shoes, socks and shorts?

It's a special combination that accommodates both the heat and humidity and a need to minimize contact with the myriad of biting and blood sucking critters that live amongst us here in Fla.






:-)

F4s?
 
Lightnings, Wildcats, Corsairs, Skyrays or Phantoms?
 
It's an important distinction if you have one or the other on your six.

I grew up with a friend whose Dad happened to own, amongst other rare birds, a F4 Corsair. We would sit in it and try to imagine what it was like to take one of those things into the fray.

I had another friend whose Dad owned several AT-6/SN-J's. When we were youngsters we would sit in them and have imaginary dogfights.

Fun memories.




The F4s from yesterday were the fleet of Phantom QF-4s that are used as "targets" for training sessions.

The story we were working on yesterday was about how the QF16 will eventually replace the F4s in that role. The F4 was referred to as 3rd gen and now the service wants to train against 4th gen targets or adversaries.

Getting to see the F22s up close was a special moment as they are stationed there but kept under higher security... they don't want us photographing them with out special oversight etc. So having them taxi by us as we were set up for the other planes was a cheap thrill and we turned the cameras off at the request of the Press Info Officer that was handling us.


best regards,
mike

mike_mccue

It's a special combination that accommodates both the heat and humidity and a need to minimize contact with the myriad of biting and blood sucking critters that live amongst us here in Fla.

Huh. I didn't know my x-wife and her family moved to Florida.

*note to self, don't visit Florida*

I know, I know ... it's too early in the morning for my witty banter.

Hi,

Even though it scares the living hell out of me, I just wanna get in one of those birs and feel the rush of it taking off and diving and going all over the place.

I already do a lot of flying and swooping and twisting and turning in my dreams as it is in space, and I keep thinking that trying one of those jets would be as close to the "real thing" as I every would want to try. And of course, being the fooh, the pilot that I want taking my up and around? ... Chuck Yeager of course ... and if you have not read that book, it is hilarious ... and dig that slide rule!

On a lark I typed my friend's Dad's name and F4U into Google and I found the actual plane I was speaking of earlier:

It's in Palm Springs now and still rated as air worthy.

http://www.warbirdregistr...egistry/fg1-92629.html