This would also be known as the Oregon International Air Show in Hillsboro. My dad and Julia decided to come with me on my annual "journey" to the place where I can watch (and mostly HEAR) roaring jets above my head. Although I do enjoy an occasional barn-stormer....for me, it's all about that thundering sound that pierces the ears and roars through the heart. If it doesn't make a ton of noise, it's not really worth watching. (By the way, this is the only time I enjoy noise of any kind...just ask my kids, students, neighbors, and husband.)
So, I didn't take any pictures of us, but I did get some of the jets. Just in case anyone is a "jet junkie" like me, you'll have to turn the volume all the way up, put your ear by the speaker, and imagine it being 100 times louder....then you can ALMOST experience my excitement. It could have only been better if they would have managed to secure a bigger headline precision jet team than the patriots (say the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds). But, I'm okay as long as I get to see my F/A-18 and this year's highlight, the Harrier.
Julia took this picture of the biplane that "paints"....he also had a wing-walker on board, but it's not easy to see in this photo.
This is the F/A-18...my favorite entry every year. Although this year, the one jet came "alone" even though the program clearly stated "jet TEAM", but I'm not bitter or anything!!!!!! Here's a video...not that it will do the plane justice at all, but it'll have to do. How can you not LOVE the screaming of a jet flying over 500 mph overhead.
The above picture is a Harrier. I just have to explain that this picture is not capturing the Harrier mid-flight. The position you see was held by the jet for about 2 minutes. The pilot hovered in one place, turning the plane around 360 degrees like a game of spin the bottle once each way. Did I mention that this is AWESOME. If you haven't seen one of these planes, you should totally put it on your "bucket list"!
Here is a video of the Harrier finishing it's "hovering" maneuver and taking off again. It's sooooooo cool.
The final entry of the day was a civilian jet team (former military pilots) The Patriots. They are fun to watch, but they are NOT the Blue Angels....still enjoyable.
Thanks for reading about one of my "favorite things".....(I'm singing that song from Sound of Music as I type this)....air shows, particularly jets make my year.
2 comments:
I SO didn't realize that you liked this experience SO much. I confess that I'm certain I enjoyed the jets more then my kids...my husband appreciated what we were watching as well. For my kids, it was the plane that shot fireworks (why do that during the day and not at night?) and Brian and I join you in listing the jet as our favorite as well. VERY cool. Thanks for letting us know about the show.
Wow, the hovering thing is SO cool!! I've never seen one do that. I'm happy for you that you got to go to your Happy Place--I know how much you love that. I am still kicking myself that we never made it over there. The Patriots did look pretty cool (but I've seen the Blue Angels, too, so I know what you're talking about). I'm glad you posted about this because it was a little like being there! :)
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