One of my favorite shows to attend is the Homecoming Air Show of the United States Navy Blue Angels. Not only can you expect to see a variety of acts, but Pensacola is one of the true air show communities in the United States. I want to thank the Blue Angels, especially AD1 Jeff Reed for their hospitality.
This was my first Super Hornet Demo. The F/A-18 E and F will replace the F-14 Tomcat over the next few years. The Rhino costs 40% less per hour to operate. It's cost initially is $57 million dollars.
The Rhino flew side by side with the F-4U Corsair for the Legacy Flight.
After the Legacy Flight Dale "Snort" Snodgrass gave an outstanding demo. Snort has the most flight time in a Tomcat of anyone else in the world.
The SH-60 Seahawk is the Navy's version of the UH-60 Black Hawk. It is used for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, drug interdiction, anti-ship warfare, cargo lift, and special operations. During this demo they are rescuing a downed airmen. The flag that is flown beneath the CAG Bird was flown over Baghdad.
Frank Ryder has been flying since 1968. He has flown over 100 different aircraft accumulating thousands of hours of flight time. Frank flies the Cyclone sponsored by Oreck.
Jimmy Franklin has been flying in front of air show crowds for over 30 years. He has flown aircraft in several movies such as "Terminal Velocity and Rocketer".
A few miscellaneous photographs from this years show. Sean Tucker flew several great performances, however I had a difficult time keeping up with him. Take a look at his tail. In honor of "Loni" Anderson (Blue Angel #6) he has painted the number 6 on his tail.
NAS Pensacola is home to Training Wing 6. TW6 trains approximately 600 USN, USMC and USAF students each year. The wing consists of T-34, T-2, T-1, T-39 and the new T-6 Texan II. The T-34 instructors average 35 flight hours per month, T-2 instructors about 28 flight hours per month, and T-1/T-39 instructors about 21 flight hours per month. Students average between 16 to 20 flight hours each month. Instructor flight time is in addition to his ground responsibilities such as operations officer, flight leader, or academic instructor.
Showing the history of the TW6 was the SNJ and PT-17.
Les Shockley in his jet powered ShockWave. The ShockWave Jet Truck runs over 300 mph racing airplanes at air shows; holds the world record in a quarter mile for trucks at 256 mph in just 6.36 seconds; and holds the world record for full size trucks at 376 mph as recorded by Guinness Book of World Records. At 36,000 horsepower, the ShockWave has enough power to accelerate at 3 Gs vertical, which is as much as the Space Shuttle!
The Emerald Cost Sky Divers are based out of Elberta, AL.
The Firebirds are not new to the Air Show circuit. The fly the two Extra 300S and one SU-27
Jan Collmer & The Fina Extra 300L. Jan is a native of Dallas Texas and began his career in Pensacola Florida earning his wings at NAS Corpus Christi.
This years show also had the USAF Heritage Flight. Dale "Snort" Snodgrass flew the F-86 along side the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
After the Heritage Flight the F-16 West Coast Demo Team performed their demo.
The H-3H Sea King is one of the oldest helicopters in the United States Navy. It has flown for more then 50 years. This bird is stationed at NAS Pensacola and is used for Search and Rescue. Here they are taking photographs of the crowd which was estimated over 150,000.
After being absent for almost the entire year the AT&T F-86 returned to flight this fall. Flown by Snort it is great to have it back in the air.
A few crowd photographs.
