I got to see the Blue Angels last Saturday! Yes, it was awesome.



(Download full 18000x3046 pixel panorama here if you want it.)

Eh, looks like a bunch of valk-jocking smurfs to me.

This is what the US does with outdated planes. meh

cool, i got to see them a few years ago.

Um.. yes, Starpwn, if by outdated you mean awesome and best suited for this sort of show, then yes, this is what the US does with "outdated" planes. We also do this with antique planes.

Leave it, Chaos... some people have no appreciation for top-of-the-line engineering once it's not newest and best anymore.

Haha, so true, toshiro. And yeah... that was all I was going to say on the matter.

Hah! The lengths that some people go to to legitimately flip someone off ;)

Hey, I recognize this flight.. it's the Delta shuttle from Atlanta to Ft Walton...

Really? Cool! Now I suddenly want to take a trip from Atlanta to Ft. Walton for some reason!

Looks like Jet Blue to me

http://www.touch-and-go-site.fr/photos/photo12.gif

http://www.touch-and-go-site.fr/photos/photo15.gif

http://www.touch-and-go-site.fr/photos/photo10.gif

and the patrouille de France
http://hpbimg.pevra.net/TourdeFrance103modifiee%20par%20jl%20a%20500.jpg

Here's a link to a bunch of different photos from the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

http://www.airventure.org/photos/

Enjoy

Haha, thanks guys. Also, I finally put the best of my own up:

http://manbearpig82.deviantart.com/gallery/#Airplanes

Patrouille Suisse
(This is the reason why I got all defensive, they use the F-5E Tigers.)

Very cool. Nice lines on those planes! You didn't sound too terribly offended, toshiro, but yeah. The F/A-18s aren't obsolete, but what if they were? What a great use for them, for any out-of-date plane! If they won't do on the front lines, show 'em off for a crowd! I drove 500 miles round trip just for that show, and I'd do it again. :)

Switzerland still uses the F/A-18 as a service plane (air space control, mostly). Getting good mileage out of them, too! :D

They're negotiating for new ones, though.

I don't think you understand. I live next to a military base. I see this all of the time. I hear the planes. Every. Day. I talked to one of the Blue Angels pilots about planes, and got a "We don't use any of those. They are too new."

[EDIT]: I guess I lack a sense of wonder

Yes, Starpwn, you do lack a sense of wonder. I'd say there's a difference between a plane not being "too new" and a plane being outdated. Of course they don't use the really really super extra still soft because they just came out of the oven planes. They use the ones that have been in service a few years and have been proven, that they've flown for more than just a couple weeks. They know what these can do, and they meet their needs. Now if it was a plane actually retired from the military, you'd have a point; and I still wouldn't care because they're awesome. Hell, the main reason I go to air shows is to see the antiques! World War II era planes are by far my favorite, and it's a stretch but I suppose you could maybe call those outdated...

About old engineering, revamped:
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/06/retro-cars-gallery/

Might be interesting for you, too, Lecter.