California International Airshow, Salinas, California – 9/27/2014

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 (Saturday)

It was cold last night. Feeling like fall, but usually here on the Monterey Peninsula – this is our best weather. We’ve been getting a little rain (which we need) and more cold and overcast. We’ll see if the September/October warming trend comes through like it usually does.

Cooler, little wet, need much much more.

We got up and were out of the house by 9:30 AM. We headed for McDonald’s in the PruneTree Shopping Center for their breakfast and coffee; then over to Safeway to get some cash. Once we were done we headed into Salinas to the California International Airshow.

We drove onto a runway and parked fairly close to the activities.

Michael has been wanting to go. It’s been around for a long time and I used to go sit outside the airport to view it but never went inside. It was never on my bucket list but sounded like something fun to do so he got the tickets and we went. I hadn’t been to the old Salinas airport in years and the area has changed a lot. We got right in and the parking was really quite close.

Fun walking on the runway and seeing all the landing skid marks.

There was a very small security check as you enter; and then all sorts of booths selling hats, airplane related items, food, military recruiting booths, etc. We walked around for awhile to look and I was quite surprised that the vendors didn’t seem to be charging an obscene amount for items. In fact, a very cute hat that I was tempted to buy was only $10.00. Good prices. (I still hated paying $3.00 for a coke and $2.00 for water, however.)

Vendors, recruiters, and food sellers doing their best.

Air Force Thunderbirds were the big draw today. — Air Force Thunderbirds were the big draw today, The Presidents Club is a high dollar way to see the show.

Marines were well represented at the show.

WWII bomber, a now dead friend called his, "Ole Shakey" — WWII bomber – a now dead friend called his, “Ole Shakey”

The show started around 11:00 AM. Michael had purchased us box seats, which I was glad because of the wait between shows and things to see and do.

First up were the monster trucks. Why anyone would want to own one is beyond me, as they are in constant need of money and work. All three broke down during their performances. It was okay but I kept thinking of all the gas and money involved in keeping them going. (One was driven by a teenage girl who has been on Ellen Degeneres and Good Morning America. She’s a local.) After that it was the motorcycles that do flips and things. They had to go to a different area because the wind could have caused problems for them and it was too dangerous.

They went to a different area out of the wind to do their demonstration.

Once the planes started, it was fascinating to me. Jim Vanderzwaan (a local weatherman from KSBW) did the announcing along with another man. They would tell about the different engines, the builders, the history, and nice stories of the past. They were also honoring the 70^th anniversary of D-Day and had an old C47 plane with eight parachutists jump out like they did in Normandy, with the old type parachutes. They had Mustang P51’s, Sean D. Tucker (a local guy) in his special Oracle sponsored biplane doing all sorts of thrilling (and terrifying) tricks. There was a female (Vicky Benzing) doing some aerial stunts in a specially modified 1940 Boeing Stearman. They had a special swearing-in ceremony for a large group of people joining the Air Force. Touching and nice.

Specialty jumpers and WWII demonstration jumpers.

There is a relationship between the acrobats and the RC airplanes. They compete to outperform each other.

Taking off with the WWII demonstration jumpers.

A scene from the early 1940's. — A scene from the early 1940’s.

No tip toe landings for them, hit and roll, then capture the chute.

Mustangs. — There were three flying Mustangs and other fighters there today.

Ahh, to hear the oath again, brought back memories for Edie and I.

The highlight (and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them) were the US Airforce Thunderbirds. You just felt such pride knowing our Country has such a wonderful team flying around and showing what they can do. They were really good. I think I enjoyed it more than Michael (and he was the one who really wanted to go). They did some amazing things in their large and heavy machines. It was funny when one would swoop by at over 500 MPH to join the others, as it would scare everyone at how fast and loud it was.

1 meter drone, with a Canon 7D attached, about $14,000. Way cool.

Traffic leaving (around 4:00 PM) was pretty bad and the area had so changed we weren’t sure how to get back on 101. Michael figured it out and then it was fine the rest of the way home.

We are home now, pretty tired. That was our day. Hope yours was great!