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Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:26 am
by Jakemaster
As you know, I went to Wings Over Houston yesterday.  Since my SAT took long, I missed the CAF tora tora reenactment.  But I made it just in time to see an awesome display with the F/A-18.  Once the F-18 finished, I went inside a c-17 and then got a little treat.  The F-18 passed by while taxiing and had the wings folded and the canopy open and the pilots were waving.  After that was Debbie Gary and her Siai-Marchetti SF-260.  I didn't pay much attention, but it was still a pretty good display.  THen I took a little break and looked at some statics which I'll go into detail later.  Then it was time for the canadian Snowbirds.  They were AMAZING!  Their formations were so great that they looked like one plane.  Oddly enough, they were a lot quieter than the F-18 even though they had 11 planes.  After them was my favorite aerial display, an unbelievable performance in a harrier.  That was the coolest, not to mention loudest, performance.

After a missing man formation of texans, I went to look at the rest of the statics.  There was a mig-21, Aero L-29, Hawkeye, Stearman, pt-17, piper cub,harrier, f/a 18, apache, super guppy, and more.  The big ones were the C-5, B-52, KC-10, the other refueler, and the C-17.

They also had an F-117, complete with armed guards.

Then, the most awesome part. They had a warbird area, with a lot of planes.  P-47, corsair, a lot of harvards/texans, a staggerwing, and a bunch of japanese planes.  Then it was my favorite experience.  There was some japanese plane, and it started up.  It was cool.  Then an aircobra started up, and taxied with the jap to the runway right infront of us.  They both took off, and it was cool.  Then my favorite thing of the whole show.  A B-25 started up and taxied away while we were standing like 20 feet away.  Words cant describe how awsome that was, and how cool those big radials sounded.As we left, we heard and saw the B-25 take off.

I might have pics later.  My dad brought his camera, but only brought the zoom lens so he couldn't get that many close ups.  I took some on my camera phone, but could only get about 17.

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:29 am
by Tweek
Sounded good!

Oddly enough, they were a lot quieter than the F-18 even though they had 11 planes.

I always used to be puzzled by that aswell, when watching the Red Arrows :P How can 9 Hawks be quieter than 1 Tornado?!

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:49 am
by Jakemaster
The harrier was definately the loudest of the bunch, but the B-25 was also pretty loud.  As we left the KC-10 started the middle engine.  I have no Idea why.

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:09 am
by Willit Run
Sounded like it was pretty cool show but, PICTURES my boy Pictures!!!!

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:10 pm
by C
Sounded good!

I always used to be puzzled by that aswell, when watching the Red Arrows :P How can 9 Hawks be quieter than 1 Tornado?!


Surely 9 aeroplanes each making the some amount of noise wont be as loud as one (afterburning) twin engined aircraft... :)

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:36 pm
by Jakemaster
pics are up in photos.  Later Ill probably get more from my dad.  His are good, mine aren't. ::)

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:39 am
by Tweek

Surely 9 aeroplanes each making the some amount of noise wont be as loud as one (afterburning) twin engined aircraft... :)


I realise now that it's not the case, but when you are younger and know nothing, it's bound to confuse you somewhat!

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:07 pm
by flightmedic
Sounds like a great show. The Snowbird tutors are actually very quiet in jet noise terms. Glad you enjoyed them. A very good friend of mine flies the # 7 Snowbird.

I too love the Harrier, have done some training exercises with them helping out, but I long to hear the noise of my absolute fav plane of all time.................I remember when I was young the Vulcan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was wicked!! ;D

Brent

Re: Wings Over Houston

PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:10 pm
by Souichiro
The B-25 can, in the right hands be quite the aerobatics plane too! I've seen some playing around in the dbaf on a infromal visit at valkenburg. Superb!!