150 plane fly-over San Diago

JohnH · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:29 am

RandolphB wrote:

What a frekin' nightmare!

We drove two hours down to see the event, hit the ramp to the 5 South at 8:13 am....and sat there, going no more than 100 yards in the next hour and a half! Traffic is a diaster, CHP is doing nothing to help (Except, of course, when they sent a bevy of motorcycle officers to clear the way for one of their own trucks and tarilers to get through traffic....). We were still over a mile away from the exit to the bridge at this point.

We finaly left and drove all the way back home. Traffic was backed up at least five miles on all freeways leading towards the bridge to the island. Had we stayed, the ships would have already been closed to the public- IF they even had enough parking once we got there. My wife had to go to great lengths to get time off of work, and now she is upset probably more than me (Her father spent his life in the Navy and she was really looking forward to the event).

I know a lot of people worked hard to make this happen, but whoever was supposed to handle traffic really fell down on the job.

Those who didn't go are far ahead of those who did at this point......

Oh come on man, you can't give up like that???????!!!!!!!!!!!!

Left Whittier at 930 or so...(we are east of LA) Got to the Coronado bridge by 1137 and was on the base by 200. Sure, the WWII stuff I watched from the car, but I still saw a lot of stuff and got to see all the modern military stuff and the multi plane fly by. If I felt like getting up just an hour earlier I would have been in better shape, but I didn't feel like it. Day went exactly as planned. Had a great dinner with my friends afterwards.

RandolphB · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:26 am

Oh come on man, you can't give up like that???????!!!!!!!!!!!!

Left Whittier at 930 or so...(we are east of LA)....... Day went exactly as planned. Had a great dinner with my friends afterwards.[/quote]

The drive from Redlands (East of where Whitter is...) down was a breeze. Sitting for an hour and a half on a bridge with angry locals trying to run over me, fighting with the clutch in the Vette and seeing only another 3 hours of this didn't seem worth it (my knees can't take 4 hours of bumper to bumper traffic with the clutch.We had no idea it was going to be this bad). My wife badly wanted to board the ships, but the schedule said they were all closed to the public at noon....and it looks like it would have taken until 200 to get there based on what you went through. It sounds like you left later and missed the mess we were in.

Oh well, it looks like Fleet Week has now been scheduled in this year to replace what we missed....

Bill Kistler · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:20 am

Got on the island at 5:00 AM, I am from TX so getting up early was easy. In the gate at exactly 8:00, parked at 8:05AM.

I do think the Marines stole the show, they certainly had variety. Why doesn't the Navy embrace their helo's.

Plus Side
Great weather, got there early so no problem parking.
Marine displays, it was actually a mini airshow.
Nice statics.
Got to ride the deck elevator on Stennis.

Negative Side
Organization (no you can't walk to the carrier, ok now you can because we don't have enough buses).
No A4 flyby (in fact no F4, or A7, or A6, or F8, or P2, or S2, or A3, or F14 (did anyone ask Iran, just kidding))
Change of direction of the mass flyby, came out of the sun.

Photos later.

Bill.

me109g4 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:12 am

so who's got pics????

JohnH · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:48 pm

RandolphB wrote:

Oh come on man, you can't give up like that???????!!!!!!!!!!!!

Left Whittier at 930 or so...(we are east of LA)....... Day went exactly as planned. Had a great dinner with my friends afterwards.

The drive from Redlands (East of where Whitter is...) down was a breeze. Sitting for an hour and a half on a bridge with angry locals trying to run over me, fighting with the clutch in the Vette and seeing only another 3 hours of this didn't seem worth it (my knees can't take 4 hours of bumper to bumper traffic with the clutch.We had no idea it was going to be this bad). My wife badly wanted to board the ships, but the schedule said they were all closed to the public at noon....and it looks like it would have taken until 200 to get there based on what you went through. It sounds like you left later and missed the mess we were in.

Oh well, it looks like Fleet Week has now been scheduled in this year to replace what we missed....[/quote]

I'm sorry and I understand everybody has different circumstances also...that sucks. An alternative would have been to go across the harbor as you would have still seen the flybys.

seabee1526 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:18 pm **Posts:** 459

...PICS?...

BK · **Joined:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:23 pm **Posts:** 594

seabee1526 wrote:

...PICS?...

There are many pics over on Fencecheck.

I posted some youtube links of varying quality on the base theatre thread. This guy is my hero. He shot video of the entire event and did it well. The only thing he missed was the Triad demo done early. Check base theatre thread to see it.

Blue Angels opening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxIbGZq6XaQ

Fixed wing flybys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nHM1piLies

Helos, Harriers and Ospreys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D74TbAeBMGI

LCAC Hovercraft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_jjI2yQ4M0

Stennis Air Wing flyover:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZfobnk5xE

Bill Kistler · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:07 pm

Didn't think the helo's were getting enough press,

Is it me or does the jeep look small?

Bill

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:16 pm

It was a wonderful show. The military folks that put it together did a great job. The turn out was a bit overwhelming for Coronado Island. I think the island was sinking into San Diego bay with the attending hoards of people so they had to shut the traffic down over the bridge to stop the flow of people coming in.

Here are a few quick and dirty photos I took while walking around yesterday:

OOOhhhh...50...

Ztex · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:20 pm

That MA-Duce looks awesome hanging off of a Seahawk!

Looks like a grand time!

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:28 pm

Ztex wrote:

That MA-Duce looks awesome hanging off of a Seahawk!

Looks like a grand time!

Heck yeah it does! And there was one on the other side too!

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:25 am

Taigh, you forgot to add the pics of your PV and C-45!!! It was great to finally meet you and your awsome crew!!!
I'll tell you, it was quite a site flying in AW over the crowd on Coronado....The person that said the island was sinking because of the amount of people on it looked to be correct...The aircraft carrier Midway, well you couldn't see the deck from the air there were so many people on it. My first time flying over the Pacific Coast, utterly breathtaking! And you Navy guys 'n gals....I don't care what the Airforce folks say, Ya'll some pretty cool people!
Got a treat Sunday morning from Brown Field...I saw the PB4Y heading east, trailed by Taigh's Harpoon and C-45...Pooner said that ya'll had some problems with aircraft speeds and didn't formate toward Chino....As you were leaving my field of view, it looked like you were doing ok...Too bad that Dave didn't get AW in the mix, but sometimes things happen....there's always the future...I'll see two Harpoons in formation yet!!
I left SD in my truck, and beat AW to Chino....Dave and crew got here about 5PM (Sunday)...AW is setting in front of Aero Trader for the next couple of days if ya'll want to come and get some up-close pictures.
Again, Taigh, great job on yer PV!!!
Thanks for the T-shirt!!
G

RickH · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:25 am

Quote:

Is it me or does the jeep look small?

There's a jeep ?

PJ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:53 am

Any pictures, Gary? Glad you were able to go to this.

PJ
PV-2 Harpoon "Hot Stuff"
www.amhf.org

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:31 am

GARY HILTON wrote:

Taigh, you forgot to add the pics of your PV and C-45!!! It was great to finally meet you and your awesome crew!!!
G

It was great to meet you in person too gary! I am sorry that We didn't get time to sit around and talk Harpoon with you and Dave for a while. I was able to do that with Pooner which was wonderful. I love talking Harpoon with you all and getting to do it inside one is even better.

I am going to do an update on the 84062 Harpoon thread with photos of what we have been doing to her soon. I have a lot of catching up to do. The short story is the Harpoon crew of volunteers here did a wonderful job, she ran great and it was an honor to go to the CONA NASNI event. Those guys did an awesome job of putting that show together especially for their first time. Well done.

Too bad about getting two Harpoons and a Privateer up for a photo flight together. The best laid plans... I am sure we can pull it off another time though.

Warbird Information Exchange

150 plane fly-over San Diago

Who is online