If you were fortunate enough to have made it in early, you really only had to share the static space with a limited number of people. This was at least good for a few more shots that would have normally been tough with all the people around, but I am sure it was frustrating to be waiting in that massive line.

The show had been billed as the “Parade of Flight” and boasted it was to include the largest formation of aircraft to fly since World War II. Well, the actual event really didn’t turn out quite as billed but was a great event nonetheless. We and others we spoke to in attendance really expected that the airplanes would be flying over as an extremely large formation or formations of aircraft, when in fact they flew over alone or in small groups, often spread out by several minutes or more.

The flyovers also included airplanes from the carrier air wing of CVN 74, the USS John C. Stennis. Even while the aircraft was flying over, the show announcer was telling fans they were looking at the entire air wing of 80 plus aircraft, when in fact there were 35 airplanes overhead. I guess I just don’t understand the need to try to hype this event up to try to make it more than it turned out to be, especially when what it turned out to be was really pretty terrific!

It isn’t often that we get to go to an air show and get a close-up look at an aircraft carrier, let alone many of the rare aircraft that were there. This was the first time we had seen the A-1 Triad close up and they even took off from the bay for a very brief flight. There was a great collection of aircraft representing the many eras of Naval flight and while there were a few key planes missing, like the F-14 or the F-4, the event was very enjoyable and did a good job building reverence for the history of Naval Aviation, we had a great time and would go again if ever fortunate enough to get a similar opportunity.

AIRCRAFT INCLUDED:
A-1 Triad, TD2C-1 Culver, TBM Avenger, P-3 Orion, EA-6B Prowler, F/A-18 E & F Super Hornets, F/A-18G Growler, F/A-18C & D Hornet, C-40 Clipper, T-28 Trojan, T-38 Talon, T-34 Mentor, PV-2 Harpoon, AV-8B Harrier, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, FJ-4B Fury, HU-25 Guardian, PB4Y-2 Privateer, PT-22 Recruit, OV-10 Bronco, MH-60, MV-22 Osprey, LCAC Hovercraft, JN-4H Jenny, Texan II, HU-16 Albatross, T-33 Shooting Star, Stearman Kaydet, S3-B Viking, T-2 Buckeye, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, CH-46 Sea Knight, CH-53E Super Stallion, UH-1 Huey, AH-1 Cobra, LCAC Hovercraft, E-2C Hawkeye and many many more!