Today was Flightline Fest, an airshow without the flying. Braving 110+° F heat, a buddy (Jeremy) and I caught a ride to check out the displays. What was great about the aircraft is they’re all being used to whack the bad guys…these aren’t ramp queens but fighting aircraft, every one of them. Clicking on an image will give you a larger version.
As you can see it wasn’t as crowded as a normal airshow, and since we’re all military we were allowed to climb on the aircraft more than is usually allowed.
All the planes, lined up and waiting in the heat. Yes, Patriot batteries too.
Take this C-130J. The crew was in the cargo area, or outside trying to start the ground air conditioner. We were free to go up to the cockpit and hang out by ourselves.
Flying an RAAF C-130J...by instruments, obviously.
I’d never been in a C-17 before. Jeremy is a C-17 pilot so he was able to give me all the details on the aircraft.
Now I'm flying a C-17!
The avionics were on, including the HUD. It doesn’t photograph well but it looks great in person, just suspended out there focused at infinity. It didn’t look like it was right in front of me but hanging around the Tornado.
The view through the C-17 HUD.
We got to climb up into a B-1…I haven’t done that before either.
B-1, with bombs. Note the ladder up into the flight deck.
Since the ejection seats were armed we could only go to the top of the stairs, but that was far enough to see into the cramped cockpit.
The cockpit of a B-1.
Another aircraft putting the hurt on the bad guys is the A-10. I’ve seen the targeting pod footage; it’s pretty impressive.
The business end of an A-10.
Want to climb up and take a look? No problem…the ground crew was hanging out in the shade under the wing.
Trying not to touch the side of the A-10...it's really hot!
The last tour of the British Tornados is coming to an end in a few days.
A Tornado, just days from leaving here for the final time.
The squadrons get creative and some paint barricades to commemorate their tours. These are probably the only pictures I have where I’m not standing in front of the subject (I was taking the photos for my family, not for an aircraft documentary).
Squadron artwork
More squadron artwork
Even more squadron artwork.
Purely awesome stuff there… thanks for sharing all the photos!
Between you getting to climb all over the aircraft, and Canarina getting to fly out to the Ike, I’m VERY envious! Hell, I had SPs confiscate my camera and delete the photos I had taken of B1s!!!
Then again, you can keep your heat over there — AUAB had wonderful weather while I was there!
Thanks for sharing, great post!
Hey, looks like that A-10 had a bird strike. Cool pics. Thanks.