If you’ve ever seen video of the Air Force Thunderbirds or the Navy Blue Angels, you may have heard the “Air Boss”, the lead plane in demonstration teams, coaxing one of his pilots to give it “a little more pull”. That is, nose up just a bit to stay tight in formation.
Some things must be seen live to be appreciated in full, and a demonstration by either of these teams is one of those things.
The television screen just doesn’t do it justice, and as more and more military bases close, what used to be rather common and readily available each summer…significant air shows…are becoming far and few between. It’s been seven or eight years for me, the last one I attended was at Barnes in Springfield, MA. A long drive home after a long day in the sun looking at and watching, airplanes of every breed.
One need not be a military buff, or even an aviation enthusiast, to appreciate one of these shows. They are known most as a family event with plenty to do for the kids, typical fair ground food, and lots of airplanes to sit in and see up close. Aviation is one of the cornerstones of America’s history and at these large shows one is likely to see everything from a true replica of the Wright Brothers flyer, to the most technically advanced military and civilian aircraft.
For those in the vicinity, the opportunity will present itself on August 28th and 29th at the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH. You can learn more at www.newenglandairshow.com and it is well worth the price of admission. I’ve seen the Blue Angles a handful of times, and it is an awe inspiring experience. These are the best pilots, male and female, that the country has to offer. They are flying the most advanced aircraft in the world, and every second, from the initial ceremony as the pilots approach their planes with brisk, military execution, and then throughout the entire flight demonstration, is sure to get your patriotic blood pumping. Witnessing up close what these planes and pilots are capable of is simply astonishing.
As though a demonstration by the Blues wasn’t enough, this show will also feature a performance by Sean Tucker, former World Aerobatic Champion, who is simply stunning in an airplane. Also, New Hampshire’s own Rob Holland who is the current World Aerobatic Champion, will perform as well. Rob has a style all his own, has flown all over the world, and is based at Nashua Airport. New Hampshire is fortunate to have him.
I remind people often that aviation sometimes seems reserved for “motorheads”, kind of like Nascar with wings, but the world of General Aviation holds a lot more than that. For most pilots, myself included, though we are inclined to like things that go fast and have motors, it was the beauty of flying that got me into flight school over twenty years ago. Some of the most beautiful sights I have seen have been from a small airplane. Even now, every flight is it’s own in every way. I have memories of sights that are embedded in my memory bank. Early morning flights with fog laying just above the rivers. A night flight back from Portland, Maine under a full moon with Boston clearly visible at the end of a string of lights, doting the coastline like spilled diamonds. The kids were young and snoozing in the back seat, the air was like glass, and the flight like a magic carpet ride. I could go on and on, but the point is, there is a reason that people are drawn to the air, and the gorgeous New England countryside is one of them.
It’s a secret pilots kind of keep among themselves because we’re not anxious for everyone to know that we all have a “touchy-feely” side. When you talk to someone who flies, and you talk about flying, you’ll see it in their eyes. Go to Pease at the end of August and you may well leave with a bit of a flying twinkle in your own eye.