WIX Archives
Re: Best Ever Airshow Formations
Posted by Scott WRG Editor on Thu Dec 11, 2003 05:07:53 AM
In reply top Best Ever Airshow Formations posted by Gareth Sharp on Wed Dec 10, 2003 02:34:26 PM
The year I went to the Dayton airshow it was right after the 2nd Persian Gulf War (1st from the American viewpoint). To open the show three C-130s flew over and disgorged at least a company of paratroopers. I've never seen so many chutes in my life, very impressive. The show also featured the best combined arms display I've ever seen. A-7's lead the assault followed by A-10's and AH-64 gunships. UH-60 Blackhawks brought in rangers to secure the airfield and the a C-130 made a short landing and dumped ATV's and more rangers. They recovered the objective and the C-130 took off. The A-10s kept the Pyro guys busy and the A-7s returned to add to the fun. And just when you thought it was over two RF-4's came screaming over the field at high subsonic speeds doing a BDA run. Very intense show.
I think the airshow moment that left the biggest impression was when I was 11 my family went to an airshow at Oceana NAS and an F-14A took off and immediately lit the afterburner and stood on its tail as it climbed ballistically into the sky. I was in awe of the sight of that manned rocket and the shear noise of the spectacle.
Scott