A Video for my buddy Pale

[Sitarro]

A salute to your service Pale.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPjZx8Hr8XM&feature=related
:salute: GO AIR FORCE!!!!

[Pale Rider]

Thank you brother Sitarro.

A little about the Air Force Thunderbirds. I was stationed at Nellis AFB when they were still flying the T-38's. Then they crashed four of them into the desert floor in practice killing all four pilots, so they retired the T-38's. They came to each of the three AMU's at Nellis in the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing and took two F-16's from each. As they were training the pilots to fly the new F-16's, and had no trained people to maintain them, they would come to us in the AMU's and ask us to fix their jets. They also asked all specialists over the rank of Staff Sergeant if they wanted to join the Thunderbirds. I declined. Although you get to travel the world, I didn't feel like waxing and buffing their hanger floor when they weren't doing anything. I spent enough time fixing those very jets until they got their own people. I got a letter of appreciation from the Commander of the Thunderbirds for my efforts. Overall, an impressive organization. Makes me proud to have been in the Air Force, and to be able to say I worked on those very jets.

[Pale Rider]

Here's what the Thunderbirds were flying right before the F-16 Falcon, and after the F-4 Phantom.

The T-38 Talon, which is simply a two seat F-5 Aggressor. This is a picture of one of the four jets that crashed...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2151143734_9022880b4b_o.jpg

[Sitarro]

I always loved the T-38 shows, they were able to stay in view better than a lot of the fighters...... especially the F-4. As impressive as the Phantom was it wasn't very good for airshows.

I found this shot of Ross Perot Jr.'s T-38, painted to look like a Thunderbird. The paint job on the 38 was outstanding, loved it. Damn Pale, you beat me to it!

[Pale Rider]

I always loved the T-38 shows, they were able to stay in view better than a lot of the fighters...... especially the F-4. As impressive as the Phantom was it wasn't very good for airshows.

I found this shot of Ross Perot Jr.'s T-38, painted to look like a Thunderbird. The paint job on the 38 was outstanding, loved it. Damn Pale, you beat me to it!

I watched the T-38's many times, as I did the F-16's. The Thunderbirds would put on an impromptu show every time they returned to the base. I never saw the F-4's. They must have been pre 1980. That's when I got to Nellis AFB.

I just did a quick google image search for Thunderbirds T-38. I didn't know that was Ross Perot Jr.'s jet. Is it?

It was jet number 1, and then 2, 3, and 4 followed number 1 into the ground when they crashed. They were following the leader. It was sad day at Nellis when we heard the news.

[Sitarro]

I googled it too and when I brought up images this one stuck out at me. It linked back to the photographer who shot it at a Nellis airshow. He stated that it was Ross Perot Jr.'s plane.

I saw both, the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds in the F-4s. Extremely loud and the turn rate was huge compared to the T-38, the A-4, the F-18 and the F-16. I liked the "Angels" in the A-4s a lot. The T-38 flew slow enough and could turn sharp enough to always be in view. I don't want to take anything from the F-16 and the F-18, both are beautiful and badass at the same time. The noise is great and the surprise solo always gets the adrenaline rush.

[mrg666]

sorry to jump on this thread but i have seen these guys lots of times (not the same ones )

<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/75330/red_arrows.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/75330/red_arrows/">Red Arrows</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">Watch a funny movie here</a></font>

[Pale Rider]

I saw the Blue Angels long ago, and I can't clearly recall if they were flying F-4's or not. It may have even been the Grumman F11F-1 Tiger. I don't know. I do remember that they so impressed me, that that was part of the reason I joined the Air Force years later. I loved the jets. I never stopped loving them either. I always felt very privileged to be able to walk out on the flight line, which requires a Secret Clearance, and be surrounded by BILLIONS of dollars worth of fighter air craft, and have the specialist knowledge needed to work on them.

[Pale Rider]

sorry to jump on this thread but i have seen these guys lots of times (not the same ones )

Hey, no apologies needed here for contributing. Feel free!

[Sitarro]

Here is that guy's site, he offers some great tips on shooting air shows. His shots of the Nellis show are some of the best.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2004/Highlights/T38.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2004/Highlights/&h=645&w=980&sz=47&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=4Zv7NAlWRo5UdM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bthunderbirds%2Bt-38%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafa ri%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN

:salute:

[Pale Rider]

Here is that guy's site, he offers some great tips on shooting air shows. His shots of the Nellis show are some of the best.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2004/Highlights/T38.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2004/Highlights/&h=645&w=980&sz=47&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=4Zv7NAlWRo5UdM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bthunderbirds%2Bt-38%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafa ri%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN

:salute:

I've seen those pictures by that photographer before. They are incredible pics. I was stationed at Nellis AFB and had to "WORK" at two of those air shows as security. It was no fun. A hot, long day with too many people asking too many dumb questions. "Can I see in the cockpit?" Um... NO! That's why it's SHUT! Although having to tell people to put out their cigarettes was the biggest problem.