Air Show - U-2/TR-1 tail and guard

[PLMerite]

Real gun, real bullets.


I'm still getting the hang of this digital photography thing, but it's
getting better.


Regards, PLMerite

[muff528]

"PLMerite" > wrote in message
news:5ee0k.605$b_.187@trnddc02...
>
>
> Real gun, real bullets.
>

Reminds me of the MacDill AirFest shortly after Desert Storm in the early
90's. They had a F-117 on display for the first time. It was encircled by a
rope barrier. About 10 ft. further out was another rope barrier creating a
"no-man's land" in which 4 or 5 armed guards were patrolling. My friend
squatted down to get a photo of the plane and as he aimed his camera his
elbows were hooked over the outer rope. A guard promptly walked over to my
friend and "gently" tapped one of his elbows with the butt of his rifle.
After my friend got over his initial embarrassment he finally agreed with my
brother and me that it was pretty funny.

TonyP.

[PLMerite]

"muff528" > wrote in message
news:fSe0k.3411$%Z1.2302@trnddc05...
>
> "PLMerite" > wrote in message
> news:5ee0k.605$b_.187@trnddc02...
>>
>>
>> Real gun, real bullets.
>>
>
> Reminds me of the MacDill AirFest shortly after Desert Storm in the early
> 90's. They had a F-117 on display for the first time. It was encircled by
> a rope barrier. About 10 ft. further out was another rope barrier creating
> a "no-man's land" in which 4 or 5 armed guards were patrolling. My friend
> squatted down to get a photo of the plane and as he aimed his camera his
> elbows were hooked over the outer rope. A guard promptly walked over to my
> friend and "gently" tapped one of his elbows with the butt of his rifle.
> After my friend got over his initial embarrassment he finally agreed with
> my brother and me that it was pretty funny.
>
> TonyP.


IIRC, last time I was at this air show in 2004 they had the 117 roped off
like that.

This year they didn't have any 117s at all. They had the F-35 roped off,
but I don't know if it had a chaperone or not. The JSTARS had a guard, too.



Regards, PLMerite

[John Szalay]

"PLMerite" > wrote in

>
> IIRC, last time I was at this air show in 2004 they had the 117 roped
> off like that.
>
> This year they didn't have any 117s at all. They had the F-35 roped
> off, but I don't know if it had a chaperone or not. The JSTARS had a
> guard, too.
> >
> Regards, PLMerite
>


The only time anyone may see an F-117 from now on, will be in a museum,
they've been retired.. dewinged and being stored in hangers at tonopah.

[PLMerite]

"John Szalay" > wrote in message
42...
> "PLMerite" > wrote in
>
>>
>> IIRC, last time I was at this air show in 2004 they had the 117 roped
>> off like that.
>>
>> This year they didn't have any 117s at all. They had the F-35 roped
>> off, but I don't know if it had a chaperone or not. The JSTARS had a
>> guard, too.
>> >
>> Regards, PLMerite
>>
>
>
> The only time anyone may see an F-117 from now on, will be in a museum,
> they've been retired.. dewinged and being stored in hangers at tonopah.


Well, that would explain it then! Now that you mention it, I do remember
them saying it was being retired.

I did get a good shot of them some years ago at the Desert Storm Victory
Celebration in DC. Well composed if not correctly exposed. Photoshop and I
are struggling with this one.


Regards, PLMerite

[muff528]

"John Szalay" > wrote in message
42...
> "PLMerite" > wrote in
>
>
> The only time anyone may see an F-117 from now on, will be in a museum,
> they've been retired.. dewinged and being stored in hangers at tonopah.
>

Hey! I just realized that I've never seen one fly! Now I guess I never will.
:-(
I missed several opportunities to see fly-bys, etc. but I just assumed they
would always be around.....you know, like B-52's or T-37's.

Tony

[John Szalay]

"PLMerite" > wrote in
news:Xfi0k.156$yg6.3@trnddc01:


> Regards, PLMerite
>
>
>
> begin 666 F-117_001c1a1.jpg
>
> Attachment decoded: F-117_001c1a1.jpg
> `
> end
>
>

Interesting shot.. Thanks

[Proton Fox]

"muff528" > wrote in
news:fSe0k.3411$%Z1.2302@trnddc05:

>
> "PLMerite" > wrote in message
> news:5ee0k.605$b_.187@trnddc02...
>>
>>
>> Real gun, real bullets.
>>
>
> Reminds me of the MacDill AirFest shortly after Desert Storm in the
> early 90's. They had a F-117 on display for the first time. It was
> encircled by a rope barrier. About 10 ft. further out was another rope
> barrier creating a "no-man's land" in which 4 or 5 armed guards were
> patrolling. My friend squatted down to get a photo of the plane and as
> he aimed his camera his elbows were hooked over the outer rope. A
> guard promptly walked over to my friend and "gently" tapped one of his
> elbows with the butt of his rifle. After my friend got over his
> initial embarrassment he finally agreed with my brother and me that it
> was pretty funny.
>
> TonyP.
>
>

Reminds *me* of the Blue Angels Homecoming Show at Pensacola in 1997. At
the sparsely-attended Friday show, the static display F-117A was parked
with nary a barrier, restraint or AP in sight in the morning when I
arrived. The next day, there were half-a-dozen APs standing about glaring
menacingly behind a rope barricade with Mossberg 590s.