Sunday, March 18, 2012

That Darned Osprey

 We were at the park yesterday.  While there, twice we heard and felt a rhythmic-dynamic-rumbling helicopteresqe sound that, had it been closer, surely would have rattled windows.  That sound was from an Osprey. Because of it's two prop/rotors it sounds like two large helicopters.  The way the sound traveled I kept looking low for whatever it was.  Instead of finding anything low, I looked up higher and saw what looked like a private plane traveling slowly across the sky.  I did not have binoculars, but there was no other possible source for the sound visible.  I snapped a picture and then looked at it on my screen and lo-and-behold it was an Osprey.  I can't wait to see one up close.  These things sound so awesome.
We saw one fly over Yakima, Washington twice, within about 20 minutes of each other.  It's seems possible that they were the same one in an orbit.  This was the first time I've seen them fly at a respectable altitude, before I've only seen them flying at considerably LESS than five hundred feet!  Does anyone else have Osprey sightings they'd like to share?

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

A Very Interesting Story

Imagine being a fighter pilot flying a P-51 and then being shot down behind enemy lines.  Then imagine, as you find yourself near hunger, deciding to surrender to the German Air Base.  As evening rolls in you have second thoughts, and then in the morning steal a German Focke Wulf and fly home...Sounds like a lovely made up story, doesn't it?  Well, read the real thing here!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Last Deployment of the Big E

The USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier will begin her final deployment in the next few days.  I have always been a fan of the old girl, and her predecessor.

You can read more here: USS ENTERPRISE.