Blue Angels
The US Navy’s Blue Angels headlined an air show over Kansas City on July 6 and 7, 2019. They spent the 3rd practicing, which was awesome for a guy with a camera who is living in the Power & Light building. There’s a great balcony from which to watch and practice taking photos. I need to apologize in advance. There are over 60 photos here that I really liked. I couldn’t leave any out. Some are pretty rough but it’s harder than it looks to get a close up of something moving so quickly across the sky. No wonder they’re notoriously hard to shoot down.
I’m an unrepentant ground pounder. I spent most of my time in the army in tracked vehicles that have no business leaving the ground. I did go to different Army schools to teach me how to leave planes and helicopters before they land onto the ground, but those were meant to be the fastest and safest methods (ropes and parachutes) to get a number of soldiers onto the ground. We looked upon the Air Force and the Navy pilots with disdain, unless we needed them to keep the bad guys from attacking us from the air. They’re the number 1 and number 2 air powers in the world, and I’d lay money that the US Army’s helicopters are number 3. I’ve never understood why the Navy’s army has an air force, too. They’re probably number 4, simply because they’re the US Marine Corps. It’s best not to argue with them.
Anyway, the morning of July 4th I had heard that the Blue Angels were going to do a flyover of the US capitol in Washington DC for the 4th of July Salute to America. I looked out my window and saw them lined up at the airport and couldn’t believe these were the planes that would fly over DC.
Especially when the rain rolled in. Wait, there are only two in this photo.
And later there’s only one left. I guess they’re planes, right? They can easily fly from Missouri to Washington DC. Well, after watching them fly over the nation’s capital, I was startled to hear them roaring back over the city before the local fireworks started. Man are they loud.
Then on the 5th they headed out to practice again. The crowd on the roof is pretty fun, following them from one side of the building to the other.
Being on the 31st floor puts in context how low they really fly.
Look at the contrail on the wings in the photo above. I love it. Below, too.
One of the maneuvers the Blue Angels are famous for is their game of chicken over the air field. They practiced that a few times, too.
The Air Force has protected lowly ground troops with the A-10 Warthog. When I was in the field in Ft. Hood, Texas, we’d often watch them practice live fire over the ranges. I was always amazed to watch the recoil of their Gatling gun visibly slow them down and then, when they stop firing, the plane jumps forward.
Anyway, on the 6th I walked down towards the river and got to see the A-10s from a very close vantage point.
That is probably the best close support fixed wing aircraft ever made. I love the stories of them returning home during with Gulf War with half the wing missing. They’re basically an armored bath tub with massive engines and an unbelievable machine gun. It’s great to have them on our side.
After a lull in the action the Blue Angels came out.
It’s crazy how close they fly. I know they’re famous for that but seeing it in person is quite thrilling.
I liked that photo with the birds in the foreground. They look like they’re competing.
I went down to my vantage point feeling like I’d basically seen the whole show twice already and that waiting around in the heat was a waste of time. Then when the came screaming overhead everybody became as giddy as children. The excitement those planes bring and the skill of those pilots is incredible. I’m so proud to be an American and share this beautiful country with sailors and airmen like those pilots. It is so impressive!
Until the academies meet on the football field. Then it’s “BEAT NAVY” every time. Without remorse.
~ Freddy
