Hello Friends and Family,
Link to this year's index by clicking here.
Blue Angels |
I suspect it came about it naturally because my dad served in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the Air Force — and my Uncle Ed served a full career in the Air Force. I recall that my dad used to take me to the airport to watch the planes land. And I was able to visit with my uncle at Edwards Air Force base and to see some of the aircraft up close and personal. I seem to recall being allowed to sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet on one such visit. |
The name comes from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company which purchased 16,000 acres in 1917 to grow cotton for the rubber tires used on World War I aircraft tires. And the name stuck. There are still cotton farms, growing specialty cotton — long-fiber Egyptian cotton for fine clothing (I own several Aloha shirts made of Egyptian cotton and they are almost like silk). |
It is absolutely amazing to see these pilots fly their F/A-18's in such tight formation that it sometimes looks like the planes must be attached to each other. Of course, my Uncle Ed would claim that these guys are the minor league and that the Air Force Thunderbirds are the ones with the "right stuff". I don't know but I was impressed. Especially with the skill demonstrated with their "carrier landings" — hitting an exact spot on the runway. (I don't know, do the Thunderbirds do that?) |
I was discussing the performance with a friend who is a pilot with Southwest Airlines. Jokingly, I asked him if he ever does these stunts in his Boeing 737s. "Nope", he commented dryly, "smooth and level is how we do it". I guess that's why Southwest is so successful (that and the great employees like Mike). |
I tried to capture that crossing maneuver with my camera but it is next to impossible with them traveling as fast as they were. I tried to estimate where they would cross but I was off just a bit — and trying to trigger the shutter at just the right time — you have to be exceedingly lucky. And when four of them crossed immediately in front of us — priceless! |
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To be continued... |
Life is good.
Aloha,
B. David
P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com