11/11/2010 VETERANS DAY IN PENSACOLA, WATCHING THE AIR SHOW

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TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY:      9 NM (Back west to sir show)


THURSDAY VETERANS DAY

Richard and Barbara left us today after Dan drove them to the airport to pick up a rental car for the drive home. I did a quick change of linens and a load of laundry before we took off to anchor and watch the day’s aerial activities.

THE OSPREY WAS THERE BRIGHT AND EARLY TO GREET US

Oh wow! What a show! As we idled towards our anchorage destination we watched some super jet, don’t know what kind, screaming every which way across the sky. He went straight up then made a complete reversal and barreled towards the hard ground, leveling off at the very last possible moment. Whew! Glad he made it. Wait, what is that awful cloud of black smoke rising from the airstrip? Our hearts stopped, fearing it was some kind of devastating crash. After examining the schedule of events, we finally decided that it was all part of the show, Rich’s Pyro Show. Sure looked real from my view.

SEE THE TRAIL?

SCREAMING F-15

F-15 RIPS THROUGH THE SMOKE

We had to laugh when we found these avid fishermen, backs turned to the water, ignoring their lines and watching the show. No one could resist.

We found our place in the sheltered waterway between two slips of barrier islands, dropped the anchor then lowered the dink for a ride to a great vantage point atop the sand dune.

HAPPILY ANCHORED

At 2:00 the “real show” began when the Blue Angles’ Fat Albert, a C-130, welcomed us all and introduced their part of the program. Holy Cow! It was a most spectacular display of speed, power, concentration and just plain (plane?) guts. It was a perfectly choreographed ballet with the leads parting then coming together again while the chorus performed with flawless synchronicity. Weeding through the 200 photos I took shall be a most difficult job.

FAT ALBERT OF THE BLUE ANGELS

DANCING IN FORMATION

SLEEK IN THE SKY

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

ALL TOGETHER NOW

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

THE FORMATION

YOU TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

Just before dark, three parachutes descended from the sky, first free falling then jetting across the sky.  The evening held still more for us spectators.  There were fireworks!!   Yes folks, fireworks shooting from airplanes, fireworks from a helicopter and good old fashioned fireworks shot skyward from the ground.  It was a pyrotechnics’ dream come true.  We had a full day and our hunger for some aerial excitement was thoroughly sated.

TANDEM PARACHUTES

FIREWORK OVER THE BASE