Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Tri-Cities Water Follies Airshow, July 28, 2017

It's been awhile, but parenthood has made research, photography, and in general aviation related exploration and appreciation difficult to impossible at best.  But!  As a teacher I get the summers off and after making sure all was done at home I packed the kids up and we went to the Tri-Cities in Washington state.  I stopped at the Pasco airport and saw the F-22s parked there, but there was no public display due to security concerns, so we traveled to the venue and watched the airshow.

The F-22 is...well, it can put on a show!  The pilot put it into a spin and then recovered, then he did what looked like the F-22 version of the Su-27's Cobra and then walked it along solely on afterburner.  I was truly impressed.  Here is a flagrant display of Plane porn.  Enjoy!

Sad News in California this Week.

A US spyplane out of Beale AFB was lost this week.  you can read more here, and here, and here and here.

If the above image does not work, try this.

Lockheed P-3C Orion

 This P-3C Orion, from Whidbey Island NAS, was doing touch and goes at the Yakima Airport yesterday.

USS Louisville Still Lives.

Ok, maybe just a part of her.  This article goes into how a retired veteran went above and beyond the call to identify a mystery turret used at the Nevada Test Site for measuring atomic blasts.  Turns out it was a turret from the USS Louisville.  I think it's cool that two of my interests are in this one article.  The USN and the Atomic Test Program.

you can view the article here.

Arnold's Saucers

Today in 1947, Kenneth Arnold saw his famous "flying Saucers" flying near Mt. Rainier and then he spread his sighting with all available when he landed at the Yakima airport.

Image borrowed from http://altereddimensions.net/2012/kenneth-arnold-sighting-first-ufo-report

Four Veterans Visit

 The Collings Foundation sends some of its aircraft around the US each year.  Today four of their aircraft visited Yakima, Washington, having previously been to Pasco and Walla Walla.

 They were a B-17, a B-24, a B-25, and a P-51C!  I'd never before seen a P-51C model.

 These are just a few of the pics I shot today.  It was well worth the 12 dollar fee to tour the B-17 and the B-24.  There appeared to be no maximum number of times you could go inside.  You could also stick your head inside the B-25.

 While not the most beautifully restored aircraft, they are still lovely to behold, and the sound of thise old recips clobbering the sky with their air-paddles made beautiful counterpoint to the smooth purr of the P-51!

 Below the nose of the B-17.  So incredibly cramped!

 They will go on to Paine Field in Everett and other venues in the Pacific Northwest.  If you DO get a chance, go out and see them!  They may not be with us much longer.