by PhantomTweak » Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:53 am
I miss the airshows too. When I worked on base at MCAS Yuma, we could always get to watch the practices all day while working on the flight-line, and come the day of the show, a few of us knew of a secret spot on base overlooking the entire flight-line from slightly above. Made for a fantastic spot to avoid crowds and watch the shows un-impeded by the usual crowds of snow-birds.
First time I was watching an '18 came in low and slow, dirtied up. His AOA kept getting higher and higher, and I was sure I was going to have a front row seat to a sight I never wanted to see: An accident. Or see again, I should say. F-4s tend to not do well when the horizontal stab programs full "up" when the weight-on-wheels switches trip...Anyway, I watched this FA-18 get nose higher and higher, and his forward speed lower and lower, until he was, literally, standing on his tail, just the engine thrust holding him up. I was sure it was the end, and waited to see the seat come out, but he just let it dance there for little bit, then actually accelerated. Straight up. I was in AWE. They didn't permit it during the show as being too dangerous to the crowds, but watching this practice session really opened my eyes!
I did watch the Patty Wagstaff crash that famous night. We were all relieved she wasn't seriously hurt.
I sure miss all that now I'm up in Oregon...
Pat☺
Have fun, fly high, far, and free!
Pat
2S7, Chiloquin OR
