As promised, a post about the airshow.
It was a blasty blast. I have always enjoyed airshows and the Viper Pilot and I have been going to them together all seven years of our relationship. If you’ve never been to one – it’s time to change that. Stat.
This airshow was a bit different than the others we have been to together…because he had to work at this one.
Obviously, the Viper Pilot was there. With a Viper. We had to be there extra early because the Viper Pilot had to stand by the plane and do the whole meet & greet thing. I snapped this wicked picture of him and another pilot in his class and the jet before the crowds rolled in.
You may notice that this bird has a little different look to it then other F-16s you’ve seen. That’s because it is painted like a giant Texas flag. First, here are few more pictures to drool over. Then I will ‘splain.
Look at that hunky guy! 😉 |
The jet is in honor of the 65 anniversary of the 149th Fighter Wing, aka The Lonestar Gunfighters. You can read more about it here. Sadly, it will only stay painted this way for a year. They do flyovers with it and airshows. The Viper Pilot is training in the jet with the Texas National Guard, hence all the Texas stuff. This jet, nicknamed Wonder Woman (heh, heh) was the first jet he flew solo.
We spent a few hours hanging around the jet (me taking tons of pictures and him talking to folks). I couldn’t resist a picture of this little guy…he wants to be a pilot when he grows up, can you tell?
The little kids were fascinated by the jet and the guys in the big green suits. This little girl was talking to him and jumping around with excitement.
People wanted their pictures taken with the pilots, too. Autographs for a buck? Ha, I kid.
Then we got to watch the airshow. It had it’s fair share of aerobatics, which is cool and all…but in my opinion, these jets are way cooler. Here are a few pictures I took of the F-4, A-4, and F-16.
Three Viper pilots watching the F-16 demo. They don’t love their job or anything… |
Before the weekend was over, we were headed to base to pick up a few things at the BX when we saw some of the Guard guys out flying around. Naturally, I took pictures. He’s going to give these pictures to the pilots since he knows them. Maybe someday, I’ll be able to get a picture of Alex flying a F-16.
I personally think he has the coolest job in the world. And that isn’t just because I have a special appreciation for supersonic aircraft since I know how to solve for the compressible flow over the wing on a computer. I am so proud of him, what he has accomplished and all that he does day in and day out. He is my own personal celebrity and I’m his biggest fan. Cheeesy, but true. 😛
Well, I’ve finished making four giant chocolate chip cookies this evening and managed to prep for tomorrow’s lesson – I think it is about time to take the garbage out and hit the hay. Elmer already has. Actually, she’s in the hay. A cold front moved through and she’s burrowed under the blankets on my bed. I’ll give you the skinny on the giant chocolate chip cookies another day. It’s purdy neat.
Yesterday, I went to Starbucks. I was sitting in a meeting looking at the new Starbucks red cups they just came out with for the holidays. I decided that I like the new cups, with just one minor edit…
Before you go back to whatever it was you were doing before you read this post, type “do a barrel roll” into Google and enjoy.
Remember, “If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy.”