Moffett Air Show 2004

[JD]

I saw the new Thunderbird team at Moffett a couple weeks ago. These guys
are good. They are very good. They have a hokey introduction with the
"sharp young officer" act being overdone, but what the hell, the purpose is
recruitment, so I guess the over-enthuiastic rah-rah is just part of the
gig. Then they started playing the Air Force Anthem and the diamond
started to roll. These guys fly a tight smooth diamond that I didn't see a
bust in during the entire show..... and I'm a picky observer. I've been
aviating personally for over 40 years and watching military demo teams since
1955 and I think this is one of the better teams I've seen. All Majors with
one Captain. The solo surprise pass was just great with the solo appearing
from behind the large hangar and holding constant bank angle / turn rate,
that s.o.b. made one of those chest thumping, gut grabbing,
God-I-LOVE-this-****, full burner passes at maybe 20 feet, 50 at most and
then disappearing behind the other end of the hangar. They're worth
catching if you can. They also had a neat acro routine by a very smooth
gent (Robin Somebody) in a Lear 23. Long walk (mile from VIP parking to
the reserved seats) and not much on static display. One of the pilots
said most of the nation's military aircraft were in the war ops or training
for the war ops which made sense to me. He thought the big shows would
still have bigger static displays. This one had 3 F-16's (don't know the
blocks) with 2 from DC ANG and one from Arizona ANG, a KC-135 from Riverside
AFB, a Coast Guard Herc, a couple of choppers and a neat little Viggen (I
think) flown by Skip Holm. Cool, huh? Fun day at a well managed, but
s-l-o-w airshow put on by Air Show Networks.

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article <4Otxc.69703$Ly.47528@attbi_s01>, "JD" >
wrote:

> I saw the new Thunderbird team at Moffett a couple weeks ago. These guys
> are good. They are very good. They have a hokey introduction with the
> "sharp young officer" act being overdone, but what the hell, the purpose is
> recruitment, so I guess the over-enthuiastic rah-rah is just part of the
> gig. Then they started playing the Air Force Anthem and the diamond
> started to roll. These guys fly a tight smooth diamond that I didn't see a
> bust in during the entire show..... and I'm a picky observer. I've been
> aviating personally for over 40 years and watching military demo teams since
> 1955 and I think this is one of the better teams I've seen. All Majors with
> one Captain. The solo surprise pass was just great with the solo appearing
> from behind the large hangar and holding constant bank angle / turn rate,
> that s.o.b. made one of those chest thumping, gut grabbing,
> God-I-LOVE-this-****, full burner passes at maybe 20 feet, 50 at most and
> then disappearing behind the other end of the hangar. They're worth
> catching if you can. They also had a neat acro routine by a very smooth
> gent (Robin Somebody) in a Lear 23. Long walk (mile from VIP parking to
> the reserved seats) and not much on static display. One of the pilots
> said most of the nation's military aircraft were in the war ops or training
> for the war ops which made sense to me. He thought the big shows would
> still have bigger static displays. This one had 3 F-16's (don't know the
> blocks) with 2 from DC ANG and one from Arizona ANG, a KC-135 from Riverside
> AFB, a Coast Guard Herc, a couple of choppers and a neat little Viggen (I
> think) flown by Skip Holm. Cool, huh? Fun day at a well managed, but
> s-l-o-w airshow put on by Air Show Networks.
>
>

Who sponsored this year's Moffett show? I know that all the antiques &
homebuilts were probably at Watsonville.

[JD]

don't know Orval.... The only credit grabbing outfit was the Air Show
Network.

[Jdf4cheval]

Glad you enjoyed the show, JD. I was at the Moffett show in August 2002, and it
was a slow mover then as well. I saw the thunderbirds for the first time in
years at Edwards last October. You're right - spectacular!
Too bad the Blue Angels won't be at San Francisco for this year's Fleet Week.
Joe
<< I saw the new Thunderbird team at Moffett a couple weeks ago. These guys
are good. They are very good. >>

[Darrell Earnshaw]

JD wrote:

> I saw the new Thunderbird team at Moffett a couple weeks ago. These guys
> are good. They are very good. They have a hokey introduction with the
> "sharp young officer" act being overdone, but what the hell, the purpose is
> recruitment, so I guess the over-enthuiastic rah-rah is just part of the
> gig. Then they started playing the Air Force Anthem and the diamond
> started to roll. These guys fly a tight smooth diamond that I didn't see a
> bust in during the entire show..... and I'm a picky observer. I've been
> aviating personally for over 40 years and watching military demo teams since
> 1955 and I think this is one of the better teams I've seen. All Majors with
> one Captain. The solo surprise pass was just great with the solo appearing
> from behind the large hangar and holding constant bank angle / turn rate,
> that s.o.b. made one of those chest thumping, gut grabbing,
> God-I-LOVE-this-****, full burner passes at maybe 20 feet, 50 at most and
> then disappearing behind the other end of the hangar. They're worth
> catching if you can. They also had a neat acro routine by a very smooth
> gent (Robin Somebody) in a Lear 23. Long walk (mile from VIP parking to
> the reserved seats) and not much on static display. One of the pilots
> said most of the nation's military aircraft were in the war ops or training
> for the war ops which made sense to me. He thought the big shows would
> still have bigger static displays. This one had 3 F-16's (don't know the
> blocks) with 2 from DC ANG and one from Arizona ANG, a KC-135 from Riverside
> AFB, a Coast Guard Herc, a couple of choppers and a neat little Viggen (I
> think) flown by Skip Holm. Cool, huh? Fun day at a well managed, but
> s-l-o-w airshow put on by Air Show Networks.
>
>

I attended Moffet about two years ago and was somewhat disappointed by
the lack of military hardware on display. Unfortunately, I thought this
year's show was even worse. The exception was the F-15 display and of
course, the Thunderbirds, which I missed due to a bad case of sunburn
coming on. Based on my experience, I doubt if I'll go to another Moffet
event. (Alas, barnstormers and comedians with bits falling off their
aircraft don't hold any interest for me, and that irritating British
announcer...)

I've heard that Salinas puts on a good show, so maybe that might be
worth it. Ideally, I'd like to make it down to Edwards for their open
day -- I'll be that's really worth seeing.

Regards,

Darrell

[Emilio]

I was little surprised that Thunderbirds flew at the Moffett. The Moffett
go back a long ways under NAVY. I saw Blue Angels there many times when I
lived there at Sunnyvale. Often times I didn't even had to go to the
Moffett do to the fact that my apartment was right under the flight path.
They come flying just over the rooftop. I remember hearing all the babies
in the neighborhood burst out crying when they dashed by with thunderous
noise; my baby son included. My wife called them "The Blue Devils!" They
flew so close that I cold not fit all the aircraft in formation on the
picture I took.

Fun memories. Is the Blue Angle flying Super Hornet now?

Emilio.

"Jdf4cheval" > wrote in message
...
> Glad you enjoyed the show, JD. I was at the Moffett show in August 2002,
and it
> was a slow mover then as well. I saw the thunderbirds for the first time
in
> years at Edwards last October. You're right - spectacular!
> Too bad the Blue Angels won't be at San Francisco for this year's Fleet
Week.
> Joe
> << I saw the new Thunderbird team at Moffett a couple weeks ago. These
guys
> are good. They are very good. >>
>
>
>

[miso]

I was going to say there wasn't going to be an Edwards air show this
year, but I figured I'd double check, and sure enough they have one
planned for October 2,2004:
http://www.edwards.af.mil/oh.html

When EDW has the one day show, it often doesn't have a headliner.
However, the static displays and other acts more than make up for it,
plus October in the desert is really a fine time. No headliner means
no crowds too, though that hasn't been a problem post 9/11. I suspect
stories of cavity searches at the entrance keeps the tourists away.

October will also be time for Red Flag at Nellis, with a guestimate of
period one starting on the 9th. There will also be a air power demo at
Indian Springs in October.



Darrell Earnshaw > wrote in message >...
> JD wrote:
>
> > I saw the new Thunderbird team at Moffett a couple weeks ago. These guys
> > are good. They are very good. They have a hokey introduction with the
> > "sharp young officer" act being overdone, but what the hell, the purpose is
> > recruitment, so I guess the over-enthuiastic rah-rah is just part of the
> > gig. Then they started playing the Air Force Anthem and the diamond
> > started to roll. These guys fly a tight smooth diamond that I didn't see a
> > bust in during the entire show..... and I'm a picky observer. I've been
> > aviating personally for over 40 years and watching military demo teams since
> > 1955 and I think this is one of the better teams I've seen. All Majors with
> > one Captain. The solo surprise pass was just great with the solo appearing
> > from behind the large hangar and holding constant bank angle / turn rate,
> > that s.o.b. made one of those chest thumping, gut grabbing,
> > God-I-LOVE-this-****, full burner passes at maybe 20 feet, 50 at most and
> > then disappearing behind the other end of the hangar. They're worth
> > catching if you can. They also had a neat acro routine by a very smooth
> > gent (Robin Somebody) in a Lear 23. Long walk (mile from VIP parking to
> > the reserved seats) and not much on static display. One of the pilots
> > said most of the nation's military aircraft were in the war ops or training
> > for the war ops which made sense to me. He thought the big shows would
> > still have bigger static displays. This one had 3 F-16's (don't know the
> > blocks) with 2 from DC ANG and one from Arizona ANG, a KC-135 from Riverside
> > AFB, a Coast Guard Herc, a couple of choppers and a neat little Viggen (I
> > think) flown by Skip Holm. Cool, huh? Fun day at a well managed, but
> > s-l-o-w airshow put on by Air Show Networks.
> >
> >
>
> I attended Moffet about two years ago and was somewhat disappointed by
> the lack of military hardware on display. Unfortunately, I thought this
> year's show was even worse. The exception was the F-15 display and of
> course, the Thunderbirds, which I missed due to a bad case of sunburn
> coming on. Based on my experience, I doubt if I'll go to another Moffet
> event. (Alas, barnstormers and comedians with bits falling off their
> aircraft don't hold any interest for me, and that irritating British
> announcer...)
>
> I've heard that Salinas puts on a good show, so maybe that might be
> worth it. Ideally, I'd like to make it down to Edwards for their open
> day -- I'll be that's really worth seeing.
>
> Regards,
>
> Darrell

[Ian MacLure]

(miso) wrote in
om:

[snip]

>> > KC-135 from Riverside AFB, a Coast Guard Herc, a couple of
>> > choppers and a neat little Viggen (I think) flown by Skip Holm.

Saab J-35 Draken. Its an ancient design.
When I was a kid I thought it was about the coolest plane
in existence.

IBM

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[JD]

Hi Darrell You sound like a local guy. If so, I went out to Palo Alto
yacht harbor (something of a misnomer) and all the way out to the dock, you
can park and sit in the comfort of your wheels, sip a cola, and watch a fair
amount of the show. You're about a mile away, but all the turns and the
solo set up happen over this area. It's still pretty cool. I've flown
into Edwards with my airplane as a static civilian exhibit. That is one
cool airshow, but be prepared to walk and stand in the hot sun.

[Jim Knoyle]

"JD" > wrote in message
news:go5yc.77835$Ly.63603@attbi_s01...
> Hi Darrell You sound like a local guy. If so, I went out to Palo
Alto
> yacht harbor (something of a misnomer) and all the way out to the dock,
you
> can park and sit in the comfort of your wheels, sip a cola, and watch a
fair
> amount of the show. You're about a mile away, but all the turns and the
> solo set up happen over this area. It's still pretty cool. I've flown
> into Edwards with my airplane as a static civilian exhibit. That is one
> cool airshow, but be prepared to walk and stand in the hot sun.
>
>
Many years ago, before the environmentalists took over, it was
a very nice but small yacht harbor. They even occasionally
dredged it. They just haven't gotten around to replacing the sign.

Years ago, for the airshow, I set my receiver on a timer at home
and put my kayak in at the harbor (after checking the tide tables :-))
and paddled down to Long Point with my handycam.

Too darn close and all of the wrong angles for the Blues.

[Darrell Earnshaw]

JD wrote:
> Hi Darrell You sound like a local guy. If so, I went out to Palo Alto
> yacht harbor (something of a misnomer) and all the way out to the dock, you
> can park and sit in the comfort of your wheels, sip a cola, and watch a fair
> amount of the show. You're about a mile away, but all the turns and the
> solo set up happen over this area. It's still pretty cool. I've flown
> into Edwards with my airplane as a static civilian exhibit. That is one
> cool airshow, but be prepared to walk and stand in the hot sun.
>
>

Hi JD,

Yep, I live in Los Gatos. I'm definately interested in going down to
Edwards, but whether I can convince my wife will be another matter.
While she tolerates my forays onot various military museums around the
world, she's not exactly an aviation enthusiast herself. (Damn the
woman. You'd think after spending 13 years as a Royal Air Force wife
she'd cotton on to these types of things :-).)

-- Darrell