Dover AFB Open house - range report - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

dave_in_delaware · 10-08-2006, 06:57 PM

Well, I'm back from an awesome day. I took my fiancee on a surprise "excursion" down to the Dover Air Force Base's Open House today. The theme was "Go Big!" and it was the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Air Force. It was a beautiful day to go (it was open yesterday, too, but a little too rainy for me to stand outside): clear blue skies, bright and sunny, and warm.

We got there about 10:05 and parked in a nearby field. Then buses drove us over to the Base. We then got to go through a security checkpoint (what fun). We went to the Air Command Museum first to see what was inside, then walked around outside and checked out all the planes on the ground. There were many that were open for a walk-through. I will post pictures at a later time. I won't list all the aircraft that were on display. This page http://public.dover.amc.af.mil/library/openhouse.asp gives the info better than I could.

Then we headed over to the airfield to watch all the demonstrations. Again, I won't list them here since the above list will tell you what was scheduled to appear. I have a few pictures and many movies of most of the demonstrations. Once I find a decent file hosting site I'll post links to these as well.

After the Air Force Thinderbirds were done (about 3:50), we packed up and made the trek back out to the bus pick-up spot, rode over to our car, and went home (well, not before going out for dinner).

[quick note] While waiting in the field to leave the parking area, I asked one of the AFB guys about his sidearm. I asked if it was a .45 caliber. He snickered and said "No, it's a 9." I also asked about the manufacturer. It's a Beretta (gov't issued). I thought for sure they'd use a larger caliber, but oh well. [/quick note]

As soon as we got home, I downloaded all the CompactFlash cards to my computer and went through them all to see if I got anything worthwhile. I did.

So, I'll post pix and links as soon as I can, so be sure to check back here if you're interested in some of the pictures and movies from our trip to DAFB.

A day surrounded by history, honor, and high technology is certainly a good day.

EDITED TO ADD: I have uploaded all my pictures to the file hosting site. Please feel free to browse my folders here: http://www.putfile.com/daveindelaware ... I'll be adding videos and possibly even screen captures at a later date (I'll post it here when I do).

Enjoy the pictures!

DanTheEldest · 10-08-2006, 08:06 PM

Sounds like a great day! I attended a few airshows at Davis-Monthan in Tucson when I lived there that had a similar lineup of displays and demonstration flights. The Thunderbirds were usually there, but one year we had the Blue Angels, and that was just amazing. I also realized first-hand that the Harrier is probably in the top three of loudest jets ever built, particularly when it's hovering about a hundred yards away. It really shows how far aviation has advanced in only a hundred years when you realize the cargo bay on a C-5 is longer than the Wright brothers' first flight.

dave_in_delaware · 10-13-2006, 02:13 PM

Yeah, it certainly was a good day. I had never been to an air show like that. At least not that large. It was awesome being inside some of those planes, then seeing them fly demonstrations right in front of us!

I've finished uploading the pictures from that day so everyone can see what was there. Check them out here: http://www.putfile.com/daveindelaware/images If anyone wants a full-sized version of one of the images (they were resized on putfile), let me know. The original images are 1600x1200 pixels set at "fine" quality.

A few things I learned from that day:

1. Even if you *think* the weather won't be "that bad," wear some sunblock anyway. My face is almost done peeling from the burn I got.

2. Fully recharge ALL sets of batteries for the camera - you'll need them! I ran out of battery juice towards the finale. I could kick myself for not getting as much coverage of the Thunderbirds as I could (and should) have! And here I thought two sets of batteries were enough for an all-day thing...

3. When there are (6) F-16's flying around, and the announcer has you focused on only 4 of them in a formation, be ready for a 5th one to fly low, at full-speed, from behind, right OVER the crowd and scare everyone to death.

4. Young kids will NOT make it all day without fussing, crying, being sleepy, turning bratty, etc. There were a lot of sunburnt and unhappy kids there. And it stinks to be right next to them.

5. Get there early to get good parking spots, and have enough time to take pictures of the static displays BEFORE the main event starts.

6. Don't be in a hurry to get home right after it's done. Everyone else is doing the same thing... i.e. traffic jam in the parking lot, and a huge line of cars on the roads leading away from the Air Show.

7. Seeing those vintage AND current aircraft flying as aggressively and brilliantly as they did is very inspiring, and combined w/ the patriotic music they play over the loud speakers, will bring a tear to your eyes.

8. Definitely go next year!!!

10-08-2006, 06:57 PM	#1
dave_in_delaware XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 6,210	Dover AFB Open house - range report Well, I'm back from an awesome day. I took my fiancee on a surprise "excursion" down to the Dover Air Force Base's Open House today. The theme was "Go Big!" and it was the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Air Force. It was a beautiful day to go (it was open yesterday, too, but a little too rainy for me to stand outside): clear blue skies, bright and sunny, and warm. We got there about 10:05 and parked in a nearby field. Then buses drove us over to the Base. We then got to go through a security checkpoint (what fun). We went to the Air Command Museum first to see what was inside, then walked around outside and checked out all the planes on the ground. There were many that were open for a walk-through. I will post pictures at a later time. I won't list all the aircraft that were on display. This page http://public.dover.amc.af.mil/library/openhouse.asp gives the info better than I could. Then we headed over to the airfield to watch all the demonstrations. Again, I won't list them here since the above list will tell you what was scheduled to appear. I have a few pictures and many movies of most of the demonstrations. Once I find a decent file hosting site I'll post links to these as well. After the Air Force Thinderbirds were done (about 3:50), we packed up and made the trek back out to the bus pick-up spot, rode over to our car, and went home (well, not before going out for dinner). [quick note] While waiting in the field to leave the parking area, I asked one of the AFB guys about his sidearm. I asked if it was a .45 caliber. He snickered and said "No, it's a 9." I also asked about the manufacturer. It's a Beretta (gov't issued). I thought for sure they'd use a larger caliber, but oh well. [/quick note] As soon as we got home, I downloaded all the CompactFlash cards to my computer and went through them all to see if I got anything worthwhile. I did. So, I'll post pix and links as soon as I can, so be sure to check back here if you're interested in some of the pictures and movies from our trip to DAFB. A day surrounded by history, honor, and high technology is certainly a good day. EDITED TO ADD: I have uploaded all my pictures to the file hosting site. Please feel free to browse my folders here: http://www.putfile.com/daveindelaware ... I'll be adding videos and possibly even screen captures at a later date (I'll post it here when I do). Enjoy the pictures! __________________ Dave Daily carry = XD-9 service in a Blackhawk CQC SERPA holster, a Spyderco Native, and a Streamlight Scorpion. "Everything matters... unless it's antimatter." “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use.” [Delaware Constitution, Article I, § 20 Right to keep and bear arms] Last edited by dave_in_delaware; 10-13-2006 at 11:30 AM.

10-08-2006, 08:06 PM	#2
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,657	Sounds like a great day! I attended a few airshows at Davis-Monthan in Tucson when I lived there that had a similar lineup of displays and demonstration flights. The Thunderbirds were usually there, but one year we had the Blue Angels, and that was just amazing. I also realized first-hand that the Harrier is probably in the top three of loudest jets ever built, particularly when it's hovering about a hundred yards away. It really shows how far aviation has advanced in only a hundred years when you realize the cargo bay on a C-5 is longer than the Wright brothers' first flight. __________________ Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. Government is not the solution to our problems--government is the problem. --Ronald Reagan (both) If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. --2 Chronicles 7:14

10-13-2006, 02:13 PM	#3
dave_in_delaware XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 6,210	Yeah, it certainly was a good day. I had never been to an air show like that. At least not that large. It was awesome being inside some of those planes, then seeing them fly demonstrations right in front of us! I've finished uploading the pictures from that day so everyone can see what was there. Check them out here: http://www.putfile.com/daveindelaware/images If anyone wants a full-sized version of one of the images (they were resized on putfile), let me know. The original images are 1600x1200 pixels set at "fine" quality. A few things I learned from that day: 1. Even if you think the weather won't be "that bad," wear some sunblock anyway. My face is almost done peeling from the burn I got. 2. Fully recharge ALL sets of batteries for the camera - you'll need them! I ran out of battery juice towards the finale. I could kick myself for not getting as much coverage of the Thunderbirds as I could (and should) have! And here I thought two sets of batteries were enough for an all-day thing... 3. When there are (6) F-16's flying around, and the announcer has you focused on only 4 of them in a formation, be ready for a 5th one to fly low, at full-speed, from behind, right OVER the crowd and scare everyone to death. 4. Young kids will NOT make it all day without fussing, crying, being sleepy, turning bratty, etc. There were a lot of sunburnt and unhappy kids there. And it stinks to be right next to them. 5. Get there early to get good parking spots, and have enough time to take pictures of the static displays BEFORE the main event starts. 6. Don't be in a hurry to get home right after it's done. Everyone else is doing the same thing... i.e. traffic jam in the parking lot, and a huge line of cars on the roads leading away from the Air Show. 7. Seeing those vintage AND current aircraft flying as aggressively and brilliantly as they did is very inspiring, and combined w/ the patriotic music they play over the loud speakers, will bring a tear to your eyes. 8. Definitely go next year!!! __________________ Dave Daily carry = XD-9 service in a Blackhawk CQC SERPA holster, a Spyderco Native, and a Streamlight Scorpion. "Everything matters... unless it's antimatter." “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use.” [Delaware Constitution, Article I, § 20 Right to keep and bear arms]

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