Oceana Is My Favorite Air Show
It was once home for me and it feels like that every year when I return. I honestly can't remember missing a show at Oceana. For us east-coasters it is one of the largest shows of the year. This year's show looked to be incredible. The lineup was stellar. The United States Navy Blue Angles and The Canadian Snowbirds were set to thrill the massive crowds. Other performers included, The F15E Strike Eagle, The F16 Viper Demo, the FA18F Super hornet and a host of other Military demons
trations. What I always look forward to is the Flee Flyby. Watching an entire squadron show their colors is an awe-inspiring sight. Civilian performers included, Dale "Snort" Snodgrass, John Mohr, Kent and Warren Pietsh and many more. It looked to be a thrilling weekend. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate.
Saturday was COLD. A 15-knot wind and occasional showers made watching the show tough. Ceilings that ranged from 600 to 1700 feet made the Air Boss' job that much harder. Some acts did fly. Kent Pietsch in his 1942 Interstate Cadet, did his Johnny Dramamine routine. It reminds me of the flying farmer act, absolutely hilarious and thrilling at the same time. Dale Snodgrass made some incredible passes in a P51 Mustang. I swear that man flies lower every year. Pretty soon he'll have to explain the grass stains on the wing tips. The F15E demo team couldn't be held back by Mother Nature either. Captain Phil "Ritz" Smith put on an amazing flat demo. There were times when the Eagle was totally obscured by the vapor it created.
It was an amazing sight. The Navy's Fa18C "Legacy Hornet" looked fabulous with its 30th anniversary paint job. The E2C Hawkeye performed a flat show as well. The Snow Birds attempted to fly. Three Snow Birds launched but the ceilings dropped below their requirements. Fat Albert performed the last JATO shot at Oceana. With the supply of JATO bottles nearly exhausted there just won't be any more JATO shots. It is thrilling to watch a plane that large jump into the sky. I will miss Fat Albert's leaps.
The Blue Angels managed to perform a flat show. I personally love the flat show. It is LOUD and that's what I love. It is a real shame the weather was so bad this year. There was a lot of work put into this show and it showed. Mother Nature just didn't want to cooperate. I guess it could have been worse. As I always say, a bad day at an air show is better than a good day at work.
By Mike Sherba
