Took some great video of the AF Reserve Jet Car and driver Bill Braack starting a race with a biplane. Great stuff. Look for the afterburner coming and going! I’ve got a tons more I’m compiling into a short feature. Stay tuned!
A few snapshots with my Olympus Stylus 710 (which is dying) of Anchorage, the Elmendorf Air Show (Arctic Thunder) and more. The include the bear Fred and I stumbled upon, a Can Am Spyder and the bald eagle. Video is forthcoming. Enjoy.
Fred and I wrapped up our stay by driving up the side of mountain. On the way up, we stopped to shoot a few photos — and met up with a bear. He was eating some flowers and grass just off the side of the stop. We shot gobs of photos. It stayed and the we drove upward. When we reached the top of the Arctic Valley Ski Area, just off Fort Richardson, the temperature dropped about 11 degrees and there were patches of snow on the groud. A few more photos and we headed back down. We checked for our bear friend but he had split. The bear and the snow capped off the trip.
Flight leaves in 4 hours. Keep up to date with me on Twitter and here.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
The air show is over. The T-Birds flew their low show, which is never that exciting. The comparisons between the T-Birds and the Blue Angels get muttered amongst patrons. Everyone seems to think the Blues fly a more aggressive show. I’d agree, and they have Fat Albert.
As people cleared out, we got innundated with people. Last gasps to get a last glimpse of something before they walked out. Now all that’s left is the sound of aircraft generators and a lot of military airframes eager to go home.
I’d call the weekend a success. The recruiters think they got some good leads (I helped with 3) and both shows drew large crowds.
We won’t fly home until late Monday evening. Another 8 hours on the airplane. I’ll wrap up as I wait in the airport.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Still grey and hazy here. The day started out at about 58 but has dropped about 10 degrees in about 4 hours.
I managed a ride on the Segway. I got it going too fast, forgot how to slow down and had to jump off. Then I remembered how to slow down. No problems after that. The Segway is a good eyeball draw, too.
The WWII warbirds just flew. The jet car rollls out at 1:45. Looks like some fog is rolling in. Could halt the show. But we’re told there are some leftover pyrotechics. Make runway go boom!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
My favorite new vehicle (aside from my new truck) is the Can-Am Spyder. It’s a three-wheeled motorcycle and it’s incredible. A pair were on display at the Elemendorf Air Show here. Also of note today was a Canadian jet car, driven by Bruce Andrew of Alberta, and an incredible model collection. My dad would love it.
Once again got to see the F-22 demo. Incredible. So was the demonstration by all the aircraft assigned to Alaska military units. We had good crowds for the jet car while on display. The recruiters here are top notch.
By the end of the day, the wing picked up and the temperature dropped. Lots more people here have facial hair. There’s a lot of talk about halibut and salmon fishing. Fred is surprised at how lax security is for the air show.
Talk to you Sunday.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I rode out and filmed our jet car today. It raced an acrobatic plane. The jet car does that fairly often. The jet car is power by L-O-U-D J-34 engine. When he fires the afterburner, it’s like dragon’s breath.
On this run, he waited for the prop plane to streak by and pass him. Then he revved up the engine, a colonel waved the ‘go’ flag as if motioning James Dean in ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ and …
Let me say this. There is just something carnal, reptilian and macho about roaring flames and 400 mph. The Air Force Reserve Jet Car is all that. And in about 8 seconds, it was over.
The jet car is cool. Video to prove it coming when I return.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
The scenery here is stunning. It reminds me of Colorado smashed into Ireland and settled very nicely on some lakes. There are grey skies today with patches of ice blue. Slivers and columns of white light punch through and settle on the puffed clouds slowly rolling through the canyon. The air is crisp, cool and dry. It’s about 55 degrees.
We’ve toured the flight, a L-shaped tarmac that stretches about a quarter mile. People are streaming in. We’ve already grabbed our share of goodies. Now we’re looking for the Canadian jet car. I’m betting it’s a Geo Storm.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
We managed to get to the flightline. There’s a concert with Wynona Judd going on right now. She just finished a duet with Naomi Judd. We’ll get to meet Wynona’s children soon. They’ll be getting a chance to ride out to the jet car tomorrow. The sun is finally setting. And I’m having my first beer.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
People are funny. They stare out the windows as we descend. It’s like they expect flying polar bears to escort us in. And no Rob Morrow or Janine Turner here to greet us. The airport here is packed.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
![\"Airman Andy\" greets patrons on the beach.](http://www.jasontudor.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/080525-jones-beach/rsa_1245.jpg "\\"Airman Andy\\" greets patrons on the beach.")