Starting off with pics from today (practice). More pics will follow. Unfortunately, these are not processed much hence the lower quality.

There was a cloud base that gave some dull light and it lifted at the end of the show by the Blues.

one more..atleast the sun came out here....

more from practice.

Today (sat)...The closest I got to the crowd line...sorry...

Just finished watching the KSC airshow that was on NASA TV. Wish it had been in HD but it was a very good effort. Rob Reider was excellent as too was the audio. All of the following performers were shown and had great performances; Michael Goulian, Ed Hamill, Viper East, Super Hornet, Starfighters, F-4 Heritage flight, Navy legacy flight, 920th Rescue Wing water rescue demonstration with HC-130 and 2 pavehawks, US Army Screaming Eagles parachute jump, B-25 Panchito, C-130 Fat Albert and the Blue Angels. A couple glitches with the camera crews trying to find jets in the clouds (I guess NASA TV is used to only panning straight up). The Blues seemed to have technical issues with their smoke today which appeared on TV as being more sporadic than solid. I expected more vapor but I guess it just wasn't the right conditions. One of the best parts all day was when Blue Angel #5 and #6 did their sneak passes and you see this poor woman duck for cover as she hears #6 coming over top of her. In all it was a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon in the northeast.

Nice shots Eksath,great shot inside Fat Albert but you need to clean your sensor which im sure you have figured out.

Yeah..Changing lens with a Pavehawk around is not good for dust...I gota clean when i get back home...

More of Fat Albert.

1.Note the flight engineer floating off his seat.
2. The Shuttle Landing Field runway
3. The blue tow line that the orbiter uses to head back to the OPF post landing

SWEEET !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Andrew!

The one of the Fat Albert cockpit has the engineer floating (i was floating too and trying hard to keep my camera in focus) as we pulled positive Gs.

There is Starfighter engine startup.
F-4 Taxiing for departure
double #7 aircraft from the Blues.

The Blues had brought 9 jets and Fat Albert to KSC.

is nasa tv going to show the blues again today?
if so, what time

I'm going to ask the obvious question, you were floating pulling positive G's? I thought that only happened pushing negative G's - like when Fat Albert does its high angle descent?

unfortunately no

LOL - that was great!

i was anticipating the sneak and was wondering what ensuing confusion would happen...

Eksath - your pics are really awesome!

Click to view attachment

Is this photo as Fat Albert reached the top of the climb and was nosing over? I like the hula doll on the dash. Pretty severe change in G's by the looks of all the belts and wires too. Thanks for the different view.

Yes. Going over the top on the intro pass.Will try to give you more looks...

Two more...

A couple more...

Be sure to vote in the poll

A few more.

Quick question for those we were there or knows the answer:

Why is it that Major Miller is flying #1 spot in the pix above? Or was that just Boss using the #6 jet?

I would assume those are from passes with just the two solo planes. Note that the other plane is a #7 jet with LCDR Weisner's (sp?) name on the side. Guess there was a maintenence issue with Merlin's bird?

I think he is talking about the shot where #6 is in lead with #2 in formation behind it..

There were nine Blue Angel F-18's parked on the SLF for the show. I'm sure it could get confusing depending upon which aircraft they flew. We actuually had two "7's" on the ramp!
Jerry

hey Guys,

The bird with the # 6 (edit) on the tail WAS flying lead in the three ship diamond on Sunday. I have a few possibilities as to why that was:

1. There was a delay in getting the Blues over the show center despite the Blues Narrator giving the intro hence it is possible that the #1 numbered bird went tech at/before rollout requiring a swap.

2. The Blues are not sticking to the numbering system/pilot named birds to put the press out of whack in fingering who is the fallen Angel pilot.

just some thoughts.

There was a #7 two seater flying in practice. I will review all the tail numbers and post them when i can for all the days.

I'll go with your first option. It's pretty easy to tell who is the pilot not flying, since there is absolutely NO slot jet in any of the maneuvers.

Gang -

I think I can shed some light on the situation.

There was some issue with #1's airplane. I'm told that the Blues always want the Boss to fly a single seat aircraft. Since the spare was a 2-seater, they did a double swap with the boss going into #6 (single seat) and #6 moving into the 2-seat #7 spare for the show.

Hope that helps!

Great show wasn't it? Yay!

Rob

Indeed Rob. Fantastic weekend.

Also thanks for the clarrification.

Here are some more pics.

Great working with you again Rob! Always a pleasure.
Now that we've both "kicked the tires" on Atlantis, so to speak,
do you want to go in on it when it's retired?

Blue skies,
Jerry

For these last 2 shows, were they not introducing the pilots when the climbed in before, and climbed out after the show? Just curious! You know... "Flying Blue Angel #1... the commanding officer and flight leader..."

I was not at show center, so Rob may be able to comment on the Blues announcing, but the ground show was no where near the crowd. It was at the Shuttle landing Facility, North of the Vehicle Assembly Building.
There was no way that an announcer could describe the pilots climbing in or out of the jets because they were about 8 miles away.
I don't know if they described who was flying each Blue Angel aircraft during the actual performance, since I was at TICO with the civilian performers.
Blue skies,
Jerry

Hey all. To begin, Id like to say great shots Eksath, keepum comin please. Thank you for the heads up Rob on the delay of The Blues Sunday, Fran and I were wondering about that. Fran and I thought the show was fantastic. My first trip to KSC (Fran has been there many times, but not for an air show). The setting on the causeway was great. We made sure to get the $100 tickets as we always try to get as close to air show center as possible. We always love a show being opened with chutists with the American flag, just a classy touch. The Hornet was a screamer(we love the power and noise). Michael Goulian always puts us in contortions..lol. First time seeing a water rescue with the 920th Rescue Wing..great stuff! Also,first time seeing a USN Legacy Tailhook Flight and the first time seeing a Corsair..Killer( I am 54 but a kid at heart when it comes to air shows). Loved the Starfighter and Ed Hamil. The Screaming Eagles always kick azz. The Viper East show always rocks! Another first, Heritage Flight with a Phantom and Viper. We loved the extra Phantom passes since we had not seen one before(live..lol). Any Warbird is cool and the B-25, Panchito was excellent! Fat Albert always wows us and The Blue Angels are simply the best. We were wondering why thier Saturday show was short though? We have seen Ed's P-51 many times(and Never get enough of that) but Sunday the Horsemen showed up, which again, we had never seen, so along with the other performers and a full show by The Blue Angels Sunday we had a blast, and both gave the show an A. Fran and I both missed the Blues Ground Crew prep, the Blues Pilots, "seeya Boss" and the takeoff and landings,but it was still an incredible show and well worth the expense and long drive. Thank you to ALL who made this possible, NASA, Rob to the Blues, start to finish...Awesome!!! Fran and Mike

Frank & Mike -

You have said it all! It was an awesome show and I enjoyed it as much as you did. What a spectacular locale for a show. I'm sure that the NASA folks and everyone else involved, including the Air Support staff, will be reading this as well. It was an amazing show and Ralph Royce, the air boss, stacked an excellent show - he kept it moving beautifully into the Blues' start time.

Best to you both!

Rob

Pssst...lol...Rob...that is Fran...and Mike ...lol...tho Anyone who loves air shows I hope to see there and support the cause...I just Had to rib ya on that one...No Harm No Foul tho...ok? Thank you again for your outstanding contribution to air shows. Hope to seeya next year, as we'll have to pass on the Blue's Homecoming...dang it...Gotta wait till late December to start planning next years road trips. We plan all our vacations around air shows. The Greatest Shows On Earth!!! Thank you again sir, Mike

Great job at the show Rob! ... Sorry, I didn't get a chance to stop by. The action was virtually non-stop, I was lucky to grab something to eat and drink without missing an act!

Nice shots Eksath!!! ... It was nice meeting you at the show. It must of been a great ride on Fat Albert!

Some shots from Friday

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

I'm glad to see some great pictures this year. Whoever made the decision to move the show line 180 degrees was smart!

Great pix everyone!!!

And Rob, thanks for the clear-up

What no one wanted to ride in the bubble for Fat Albert's demo? Should have given me the call! nice pic by the way.

Anyone have any pictures with some Shuttle stuff (Pad, or VAB) in the background? Or did the angles not allow for it?

I chose to ride in the cockpit because i figured the sun location would preclude me from getting decent air to ground shots at the show site. Most of the passes would have put the causeway between me and the sun. I figured my cockpit action and out of the glass house pictures will be a more interesting. It was!

I do have some VAB and NASA facility stuff outside the cockpit. ..well... we did pass the VAB sideways...Will upload them when I can. We stayed away from the pad.

Three more.

More photos from the show.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

More Blues

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

I wonder who Stuff's backseater was in the F-4? My bet is next yrs Phantom East or West pilot.

more from the KSC show.

Top view of Panchito

Lieutenant Commander Paul Brantuas

And Superhornet Dedication pass.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

Great shots Ken. Love the Superhornet dedication pass shot.

Nice shots Ken , nice vapes on the sneak pass and the Hornet.

Thanks Guys....

JT, you would had a blast at this show... The lighting was good all day!

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

Like the Horsemen shot Ken!

Fantastic pix Ken! Keep up the good work...

A few more...

Does anyone have any close up shots of the Pave Hawk Demonstration from the Saturday Performance? More specifically, inside the lead helicopter, (Not the one doing the rescue). If you have any could you post them?

Thanks!

Andrew Zaback