Wings Over Houston Air Show this weekend!!

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:26 am

This weekend I am off for the Wings Over Houston air show. I attend every year and it is the closest "big" air show in my area. The Thunderbirds will be performing there this year and it will be my first opportunity to catch the demo this year. I will try to get some decent pics and post them when I get back but I have to confess that I am no photographer and my still equipment isn't the greatest. I'll do what I can though...lol.

JonTex, I know that's your home show, maybe we can hook up there this year? I'll shoot you a PM and an email just in case you don't see this post.

Next weekend I will be attending "AirFest, Where the Blue Begins" at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. It is Lackland's annual free show and open house, I haven't actually attended that show in about fifteen years, give or take. Oddly enough, the Blue Angels will be performing there this year and I am really looking forwad to catching their show because I haven't had the opportunity to see them in ages.

If any of our forum members are planning to attend WOH this year shoot me a PM or an email. I'll be at the Eagle Squadron chalet for the Saturday and Sunday show.

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:45 pm

I had a great time at WOH this year. One of the highlights of the weekend was getting to spend an afternoon with JonTex from the VBA. Johnny, I had a blast and I want to thank you again for showing me around and allowing me to hang out! You da man!! Hopefully we can do it again next year!

Here are some pictures I took at Wings Over Houston '08. I apologize for the quality of some of the images, they are stills taken from video that I shot on Saturday.

Enjoy!!

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=61927

Sawamura · Post by **Sawamura** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:50 pm

Very nice shots Thumper.

The picture with some planes and an explosion (smoke of it) looks interesting. A demonstration of an airbase attack during WW2?

Joker · Post by **Joker** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:13 pm

No Smoke on the High-Low Hit? Odd, do you know the reason for that?

Btw, Love the pictures, a lot of nice ones there, especially the frame by frame. Those are some really cool pictures. Looking froward to seeing more Thumper!

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:24 pm

No smoke on the Hi-Lo Hit is usually a by-product of the solo being late for the show-center hit. When that happens, they need to plug in full blower to make the hit and the smoke oil is vaporized and no smoke trail is seen. You'll notice that in the last frame you can see the smoke coming from the tailpipe after the throttle has been pulled out of burner...

Knox · Post by **Knox** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:37 pm

Awesome Pictures Thumper! Thanks for sharing!

Post by **Gunner** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:42 pm

Very nice Thump!!

No need to apologize for quality - that was a great way to capture the show.

TexVBA#6 · Post by **TexVBA#6** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:15 pm

Hey,

Thump nice pics dude I'm glad you had a good time viewing our old beat up aircraft ... lol. Anyway it was a good show the T-Birds put on and thanx to you I looked like I knew what I was talking about when my family asked me what was coming next .... like the sneak pass hehe. Not sure if I''ll make it to the San Antonio show, but it just might be possible. I have an aunt living in San Antonio so maybe she will allow me to crash at her pad. Anyway it was nice meeting ya and be sure to let me know when you come down for the next one.

Tex

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:53 pm

Hey Tex! I'm not sure if I'm going to make it to the San Antonio show myself. I really want to, but due to some personal issues that have come up I don't think it's in the cards. I will definitely be back in Houston next year, though.

I'm glad you got to show off your show knowledge over the weekend! If I had family at a Blue Angels show I would be clueless about the demo unless I spent a week with the VBA VFAT track from last year!!

As far as the getting together for the show last weekend goes, to quote Office Space, "The pleasure was all on this side of the table"! I only hope I was as good a guest as you were a host.

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 7:00 pm

Sawamura wrote:The picture with some planes and an explosion (smoke of it) looks interesting. A demonstration of an airbase attack during WW2?

Sawamura...sorry for not responding to your post earlier.

The Commemorative Air Force, who put the WOH show on, do re-enactments of WWII air battles. It's fairly common at most Warbird oriented shows and I think they do a good job of doing it tastefully and without glorifying warfare. I know that going to air shows from the time I was a small child to now has given me a far greater appreciation for history and for the sacrifices that fighting men and women on all sides made for their countries during WWII as well as the wars that preceded and have followed.

Sawamura · Post by **Sawamura** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:44 am

Ah ok thank you.