Comments on: Tying the record

By: …Sweet! — Shining City

…Sweet! — Shining City — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:33:23 +0000

[...] tying the low-altitude record at Fleet Week. “In front of people,” as Neptunus Lex noted. I love it, I love it, I love it. Call me an evil neocon. I don’t care, because I love [...]

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:54:07 +0000

I was standing on a crowded pier with about 100 other people when Blue Angel #5 roared by and the collective gasp sounded as if it came from one throat. Perhaps we should have been upset about his flirting with the rules (as I presume he was), but we were all just incredibly excited to have seen something like that. As for me, I also thought it was the BA’s way of raising a polite finger to Supervisor Chris Daly, with his talk of doing away with the Angel’s air shows in San Francisco.

By: FbL

FbL — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:03:33 +0000

D’oh! Should’ve mentioend above that it was Sunday I was referring for the overshot.

By: FbL

FbL — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:01:53 +0000

Rey, now that I think about it, the overshot and the high-speed I was thinking of were on separate days. Sounds like the announcer’s reaction to the high-speed pass is part of the script… but I saw the cloud building a number of times that day and nothing came close to the “solidity” it had on that particular pass (Friday, I think it was…).

As for the overshoot, it all developed rather quickly and was not right in front of everyone. It was on the far side of “show center,” moments after the Solos touched down, so people weren’t paying as much attention.

Three Thunderbirds were in formation, moving from audience right to left, and the fourth was supposed to catch up and slide into that rear slot. However, he was closing way too fast. I was standing near a couple USMC pilots and shot a quick look at them to see their reactions. When they exchanged silent but somewhat startled looks, I returned to the Thunderbirds in time to see the 4th one roll side to side, pull his nose up, then finally give up (push back down and shoot past the 3-ship from below). He quickly slowed after that and slid back and up into perfect position.

Kinda scary, though…

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:41:42 +0000

I’ve been out on SF Bay for many Fleet Weeks
as crew on a sailboat and the resident
airshow expert for my friends.

There is nothing like watching #5 come streaking down
the waterfront before show center building up speed
to make “the cloud” appear! This can only be seen
from a boat opposite the shore. The other highlights are
seeing the “Sneak Pass” happen over the crowd on the shore
(he’s flying right at you) and the solo 360 turn above your head.

I’ve seen the Birds and the Blues at many airshows-
SF Fleet week is among the best. My program
is to take off work Fri, go to the end of Municipal Pier
where #7 is narrating and the radio trailer is there,
go sailing Sat and Sun with friends.

The crackpots you read about do not speak
for most of us-just witness the crowds on the
shore (many who paid big bucks for a box seat)
and all the boats in the background.

Thanks for the cool video post and congratulations for
capturing a great moment!

Blue Skies,
Rich

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:23:10 +0000

But of course, good sir.
‘Twould not be you, otherwise.
Its why we (almost) love you.