Photos

Twin Bee Splash & Dash, originally uploaded by hubristicexpat.

"Say, Ben, have you uploaded any photos of the Sun N Fun this year?"

"Why yes I have. In fact, I have uploaded 170+ shots as of this moment with potentially another hundred coming. Why so many, you ask? Why, that's simple, my dear fellow! It's because I'm an airplane geek!"

Yeah. It's true. I went to the Sun N Fun all day on Wednesday, then to the Splash-In at Fantasy of Flight on Thursday. Friday and Saturday were sadly workdays for me, but I did go today for the closing of the airshow.

It was a bit rainy and damp here in central Florida, but I and a few hundred other die-hard aviation fans were at the airport regardless, watching the show. The Aeroshell aerobatics team performed, as well as a vintage TF-51 Mustang from the Air Force and the Red Eagles flying team. The U.S. Navy showed up and showed off two newer F/A-18 Super Hornets, incredibly capable and mean machines that fly remarkably well. The Air Force demonstrated the short-field capability of the C-117 Globemaster heavy lift plane, which despite being absolutely massive (325,000 pounds or so when loaded for the airshow) managed to make a takeoff in maybe 1500 feet.

The headliners this year were the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, who put on a completely ass-kicking show of speed and precision.

All that, AND I got to walk around and look at neat old airplanes. What a colossally excellent show!