Apollo Leader

Air show time! To start things off, the Offutt "parade" was done. In the past, several of the aircraft types that are operated at Offutt were flown by the flight line. This time it was just one RC-135 and one of the E-4B's making two flybys, but impressive none the less.

Proposals for drilling in Anwar (which is not some sort of pristine wildlife refuge as the Left would want people to believe) go back to 1995. The thing is, environmental whackos and their allies in the Democratic party have prevented oil exploration and building of any new oil refineries for the last several decades, putting this country in the predictament it is now. If things continue to get worse, there will be a huge outcry to start looking for more oil and to open up more refineries... environmentalists be damned. In the long run, alternatives, like possibly hydrogen fuel cells, need to be very seriously looked into, but the reality is that this country and its economy are powered by oil N-O-W. As for me, I started using my bike to ride to work today (took about 17 minutes to reach there). As long as the weather's good, I hope to continue doing this. I am hoping to stretch the fuel in my truck out to 3 or 4 weeks instead of the normal 2. I would recommend that for others to reduce and consolidate your trips whenever possible. As for the people of Louisiana, you are most definitely in my thoughts and prayers during this terrible time. And as for the looters and snipers prowling around New Orleans... may a cap be popped in all of your worthless @$$e$.

A B-52H Stratofortess from Barsdale AFB, in Louisiana (I wonder if its got a base to return to... ). This one was known as Junkyard Dog. Tomorrow night I will be getting to the air show portion of things including the Super Hornet.

KC-135 from the ANG unit down in Lincoln... Go Big Red!

Sorry Dave, this is the closest to a commercial airliner or cargo plane I could do for you... a KC-10 Extender.

Back to aircraft. Time for the B-1B Lancer, aka the Bone.

After two days, I'm back! First of all, our rocket club (THOR - The Heartland Organization of Rocketry) once again had a display at the show. The big attraction was the mostly complete Delta III a bunch of our guys have been building for months (here's me with most of the parts). It's suppose to be finished this week and flown near Argonia, KS next Monday. For more info, check out this link: http://www.insaneprojects.com/default.html

That's it for tonight. A few more ground display pics tomorrow night along with what will probably be THE biggest and most complex amateur rocket that will be flown this year!!!

There were two A-10's on display from Davis Monthan. At the first one I stopped at, the pilot I talked to had over 2,000 hours logged in on the A-10 and he has been exclusively flying the A-10 for over 17 years now! The other A-10 had the shiniest muzzle on the end of an Avenger (the A-10's gatling gun) I have ever seen!

There were a few cute female pilots there (civilian) . I recall at least one woman walking in a military flight suit, but I didn't see who she was with.

Two F-15E Strike Eagles of the Bold Tigers out of Home Mountain AFB in Idaho were there. The one was armed with 6 AMRAAM and 2 Sidewinder trainer rounds and the rare sight of it not having its LANTRN pods (they were needed back at base for ongoing training excercises). The other had the pods and was carrying two luggage pods (the other just had one).

A two-seat Hornet belonging to NASA. A single F/A-18 from NASA was on display last year.

Both of these two F-16's had the lights you are talking about. The other C model on display, from Sioux Falls (as seen below), didn't have them. The two pictures I have from below are about the best I can do. If you want the higher resolution versions let me know.

I think I might know that butt, did you happen to get the name of the pilot of that T-38C? I have a friend from college who is an Instructor Pilot at Vance. 324081[/snapback] Sorry, I didn't catch his name. I remember him telling me that the primary function of Vance is pilot training (I'm pretty sure he was an instructir). About the only names I can remember are some of the 55th Recon. Wing guys I was talking to to see if they personally knew some of the 55th guys I am friends or acquaintance with.

Closeup of some of this really nice finish. More tomorrow!

Don't see this everyday... a Czech L-39 made to look like it was aboard the Saratoga back in the 60's or 70's!

EC-130H "Compass Call" ECM version of the mighty Hercules.

These two F-16C's were from Canon AFB in New Mexico. Both Fighting Falcons are set up for a defense suppression mission... two AGM-88 Harms along with Sidewinders and AMRAAMs (all missiles are trainers - note the blue bands). The single pod where the LANTRN pods would go is to help assisst in detecting radar guided threats.

I will be gradually be doing this over the next week or so, but here are the next set. (I have higher resolution versions of these pictures for those who are interested). RC-135... I see these guys floating around the Omaha/Bellevue area on an almost daily basis.

T-38 Talon.

Got time for a few pics. Here's a T-6A Texan II. Pretty much all Air Force pilots start off on this trainer.

Unfortunately, both Super Hornets were for both demos so there was none for close up inspection. But when the one was coming back from doing the Legacy Flight with an F6F and an F4U, it did come within about 50 feet of me so I at least got those close up shots. Hopefully, I'll post some later tonight or tomorrow. I got a 256 Meg cartridege for my camera this morning so I was able to take a bunch of high rez stuff. Still have only a 2 Megapixel camera with limited zoom so my inflight shots are pretty limited. I was VERY impressed by the aerobatic capability of the Super Hornet, but it obviously dosen't have the sheer, unadulterated power of the F-15 Eagle (a D model from Langley performed later in the day). PS Sorry Dave, there were no Airbuses or any other "boring" civilian caro or passenger jets this time.

Shouldn't we be starting a Day 5 thread? Still my opinion that if 24 gets up to Day 7, all 7 Days should be run back to back over a week period on FX, and of course the special presentation would be called "24 - 7"!

Since August of 1986, I have attended every single air show that has been held here at Offutt AFB. This weekend marks the 19th time (it would be 20, but there was no show in 1994 due to the runway being repaved). Still deciding if I'll be a glutton for punishment and be out both days as I usually do, but even if I'm just out for Saturday, I'll make sure to have tons of pictures to share. Of course, the big thing this year is the first appearance of the Super Hornet at this show. Here's the link to the show's official site: http://www.offutt.af.mil/airshow/

Looks like the situation has been cleared up between me and Nick and I should have my shirt this week.