Air Show
Guardians of Our Shores On Land/Sea and In The Air
(Elder Khomer Beaty's words)...I took in the "Air Show" at Lovell Field in Chattanooga, TN Saturday, 9 May 1988.
One of my grandsons accompanied me and it was his first.
We strolled through the areas of vintage aircraft--a WWII B-17 andDC-3's. Alex was moved by the belts of 50 Cal., and 20-mm ammunition. We viewed the "state of the art" Apache gun ship and "Dust-Off" helicopters. There was one "Chinook" and much to my disappointment, there were none of the Vietnam era "Hueys." The most impressive size-wise was the "C5-Galaxy" which appeared to be large enough to transport at least six or eight school buses and it would cover the greater part of a football field!
The static displays gave way to the "Flying" (action) part of the show. It began with a "vintage" aviator flying a twin-engine "Aero-Commander" type and really put it through its paces. The performance of acrobatic maneuvers which, IMHO, which was not in the mind(s) of the designers/engineers when he/they designed it. For those who has remembrance of the "Pitts Special" of bygone eras, a "souped" up version of a close descendant performed in an unbelievable series of aerobatics--"...turned every which way but loose."
We left what was estimated to be a gathering of 30,000 to 40,000 at the conclusion of the spectacular display of aviator and maintenance skills of the Navy's Blue Angels.
Having been associated with aviation since 1944 and through the Vietnam era, I was profoundly impressed with the ongoing technology of/in aviation of the United States of America!
As I mused in the observation of the multitudes which braved the personal discomforts to participate in the observance of the "AirShow," I reflected and was amazed at such interest in the "man-on-wings" still hold for those in this day and age. For whatever the reasons the folks gathered, I trust it was to honor those who give their all as guardians of our shores on land and at sea and in the air.
My we ever be mindful and prayerful for our young men and women who are guardians--in whatever capacity--of our great land and the cause for which it stands.