Melbourne Air Show - Practice

When I first moved to this area, Patrick Air Force Base (PAFB) use to hold the annual Air Shows. Of course, the government was showing off their power and strength, and the world was a different place. PAFB had no gates when I moved here, anyone could drive onto the base. hell, you could drive on to the runways if you were a daredevil. My first picnic with ENSCO was held at the survival area located on the Banana River. You had to drive acorss the end of the runway to get to the park. Times have changed.

A big change was that the Air Force stopped holding the air shows. I guess they said it was to save money, but I also think it was because of security. Why invite 10,000 people to come onto your property? (I think that was a rhetorical question....)

So the air show moved around. It was in Cocoa Beach a few times and then over the beach in Melbourne. Now they hold it at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport, a six minute drive from my house. This year they had the Thunderbirds again. Last year they had the Blue Angels. I have included some of the photos I took from my house on their first practice day. It allows me to see where they are doing stunts and when the planes cross near my house.
Bottom of a Thunderbird


The Air Force fly General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon in the Thunderbirds. For my own benefit, I found a comparison of US fighter jets. The man is located on theright of the left-most plane...


Enjoy the photos. I have more I want to share and will in a future post...
Three Thunderbirds start rounding toward my house
Wire is power line over my house

 Thank you Thunderbirds for the free show....

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