topic Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground in Community Chat

Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

On It — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:57:34 GMT

This is a daring fly over.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

LTT1 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:31:32 GMT

@On It

WOW amazing!

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Citrine1 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:41:55 GMT

Nope. Too close for comfort.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Sooner — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:46:09 GMT

@On It I've gone to many air shows in my time and the Blue Angels don't do some of the crazy things they did back in the 1960's. They do not do some stunts nearly as close to the ground, like they did with the guy flying upside down over the runway the one passing over him. Yikes!

Once we were sitting on a bank at the end of the runway and one of them came streaking over the tops of the prairie grass right toward the crowd on the bank. He didn't pull up and we were all frozen place scared to death.

As he pulled up and shot right over us everyone on the bank leaned back flat on the grass and saw the bottom of the plane up close and personal: Every rivet and oil spot, and smelled the jet fuel and felt the hot wash.

I am sure that hot shot maneuver let's play chicken with the folks wasn't in the plan and the pilot was laughing his butt off. I doubt any of us ever forgot it!

I seem to remembe after some accident they were mandated to work not so close to the ground, but who knows now. They were the best I ever saw. Even my Air Force ex-fighter pilot friend had to admit it!

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Kachina624 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:54:00 GMT

They use telephoto lens in these photos which make things look closer and closer together than they actually are.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

naturalfan — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:06:44 GMT

The Chicago Air & Water Show is in August and I believe the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds alternate years. I love when there is a Cubs game going on and they always to a little something extra over Wrigley Field.

I remember one year I was at a game (this had to be before 9/11 because I'm sure they couldn't do this now) but one of the planes came out of nowhere and looked like it was going to land on the field. The players on the field even fell to the ground and covered their heads. It was amazing. I live close enough to the lake that I get a great view from my back deck. They usually do a couple of days rehearsals before the weekend and those rehearsals can be more exciting than the actual show. My dogs used to run through the house barking when they heard the noise and sometimes I can actually feel the house shaking.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

On It — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:37:55 GMT

My son was working in a high rise office in San Francisco several years ago. The Blue Angels perform there when the fleet is in. He saw them flying level with his office window. I sent him this photo and asked if they were that close. He said no, they were further away from the building.

My title was a reference Willie Nelson's song.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Kachina624 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:31:27 GMT

@On It. I got it....the reference to the title.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

catter70 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:32:02 GMT

I remember my dad taking us to the airshow at Fort Dix in NJ in the late 50's, early 60's, when I was a little girl. They are in a class of their own.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

SaveTheTurtles — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:32:10 GMT

Holy Smokes! That IS a daring flyover.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

cheriere — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 17:15:31 GMT

Wow! That is pretty daring! I'd love to see something like that!❤️

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Mz iMac — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 19:06:56 GMT

@catter70 wrote:
I remember my dad taking us to the airshow at Fort Dix in NJ in the late 50's, early 60's, when I was a little girl. They are in a class of their own.

@catter70 During the 60s, my father took us kids to the air show at McGuire Air Force Base which is right next door to Fort Dix. I think the entrance gate was Fort Dix. From there to the right was McGuire.

As another poster already mentioned, the air shows back then had better daring stunts. Especially, the ones closer to the ground & crowds. I specifically remember the upside down jets flying right pass or right over the crowds. You could actually see the pilot(s) waving. Everyone in the crowd went home dusty.

Those were fun times. People brought their own lounge chairs, sat under plane wings for the shade, ice cream man & hot dog truck made their rounds for folks who didn't bring their own food.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

On It — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:17:59 GMT

Photos of San Francisco Fleet Week which is every October.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

beckyb1012 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:18:30 GMT

That is so cool, what a sight.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:25:26 GMT

We were just listening to that song (Willy Nelson). I told Hubbs that our little Sparky (Pom Chi) was our angel flying too close to the ground.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

spumoni99 — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:26:04 GMT

In 1972 we had one of the worst air crashes during an air show, a jet flew into a Farrells ice cream parlor killing 23 people and injuring many others. It wasn't the blue angels.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Icegoddess — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:40:05 GMT

Our last air show was in 2008, probably the last. We had a trajedy although it didn't have anything to do with the airshow itself. On the last day a thunderstorm suddenly showed up. A large industrial AC unit toppled over in a tent where people were taking cover onto a child and killed him.

I was lucky enough to go to that show. I actually got a bit of a show in the days before the show as they were practicing and came over the house. They did some fairly low maneuvers over the runway. I got a terrible sunburn, but I also took a lot of great photos. I didn't have a big zoom lens and all my pics were in-hand. I would think it would be difficult to follow the action with a tripod. But a big zoom lens would need a very steady hand. I can't even use that camera anymore now that I need reading glasses so badly.

Here's a montage of the pics I took. I like to say he was waving at me, LOL:

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

On It — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:00:47 GMT

@Icegoddess Your photos are fantastic. He was waving at you for sure. Flying upside down is not on my bucket list. Watching them could be. Thank you for sharing.

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

NEvans2 — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:54:41 GMT

@On It Great picture and my favorite Willie Nelson song!

Re: Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground

Puggywuggy — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 02:52:30 GMT

They certainly perform exciting, dynamic aerial stunts. I live directly in their flight path when they visit our area and have seen them every fall & early spring since my childhood. They are deafening when my windows are open and if I'm on the telephone as they fly by there is a definite intermission until they have passed by my home, LOL. They are amazing pilots!