Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Plane Pr0n

A couple of gratuitous aircraft shots of an F-15 and a couple of P-51s, flying together at an airshow down at Eglin AFB in Florida.
Off Into the Sunset: The F-15 West Coast demonstration team flew its final performance May 1 at Eglin AFB, Fla. The Eglin unit is formally disbanding as the base transitions from operating F-15s to become the F-35 initial joint training site per BRAC 2005. "It was a bittersweet moment," said Lt. Col. Bill Edwards, aerial events chief for Eglin's Air Armament Center, of the team's aerial finale. He presented the 10-man team with farewell gifts after Capt. Sam Joplin finished his F-15C performance with two World War II-era P-51 Mustangs in the skies above the base. The demo team began flying in 1983. Initially based at Holloman AFB, N.M., the team moved to Tyndall AFB, Fla., before settling at Eglin. It retained the West Coast moniker throughout. The team's final performance was part of the reunion of Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing, whose legacy will pass from Air Combat Command to Air Education and Training Command at the end of September as the base undertakes its planned role as the F-35 joint training schoolhouse. (Eglin report by Chrissy Cuttita)

Blurb above from the AFA's Daily Report; more photos and an expanded narrative at the "Eglin report" link.

Photo credit (both photos): U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares

9 comments:

  1. You know, back in 2000 for my Comp I class I wrote a comparison paper on the F-15E vs. the F-22 Raptor. Funny how times change. I should dig that paper out for a good laugh.

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  2. I saw that flight. The W.C.D.T was always impressive and we were treated to a lot of air shows. The C-Lab is near the end of the runway that they take off from. Always vertical, I love it. On occasion we would go up on the roof and have an unrestricted view of the show. I'll miss them.

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  3. Gorgeousw! We had the Blue Angels & Golden Knights last weekend at the N'Awlins Air Show. (Thunderbirds came in 2007).
    Wow!

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  4. Jenny: Cool indeed!

    Jesse: You really SHOULD drag that paper out and excerpt it... I think it would be interesting.

    Dan: I envy you... but I'm sure you know that. I haven't been to an airshow since 2000, it's past time to get to one.

    Moogie: Envy applies to you, too! Both the Angels and the 'Birds put on great show, but I'm partial to the 'Birds... for obvious reasons!

    Kris: Yep!!

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  5. Love them old warbirds! Nothing like the big iron fighters from WWII!

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  6. Gratuitous? Let's be honest...those are just plane hot! Our last show...04 in OKC. And we just caught the tail end of it.

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  7. Jay... you're right about "gratuitous." But I get tired of saying "apropos of nothing..." :D

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