The Blue Angles are practicing for the air show tomorrow and Sunday at NAS Jax. Windows rattle from the sound of those jet engines. Reminds me of being near Langley in the 60's and 70's. Sonic booms there on occasion too. Damn I love jet noise! That's all.
My dads good friend flew an F100 Super Sabre for the Air Guard back in the 60's. I thought he was the coolest guy ever. I was geeking out on his jet to him and he says that he has duty the next weekend and to listen for him. Sure enough if he didn't sonic boom our area that weekend.
I learned from my Mom in the months before she passed that we are related to Major General Jones E. Bolt, one of the originators of the Thunderbirds. I never met him, but I thought that was kinda cool family trivia.
I went to school near Langley. We were under one of the final approaches. It was a small private school with about 15% of the kids having military officer parents. Two of their fathers were F15 pilots. During sports practice we would wave frantically from the fields at the planes. When it was one of their fathers he would always waggle wings for us. His daughter also brought in pictures he would take of Bear bombers they would intercept. One was cool as hell with the tail gunner flashing the peace sign at him. He said that they would just make the turn around signal with their hands then the Bear pilots would signal OK and head back.
I grew up in the middle of a cornfield about 40 miles west of Springfield Il. There was an air national guard base in Springfield that they would practice maneuvers right over the farm a couple of times a week. Sonic booms were the norm and just an unbelievable sight for a youngster. The topper to the whole thing was the kart shop we used to buy parts from in Springfield was right across the road from the base. When they took off and hit the afterburners was just plain awesome. Don't really have a bucket list but have always wondered how long I could go in one without passing out.
There was a spot on Armstead Ave that was very close to the approach of a runway. Used to park on the side of the road and watch them land - and watch the strobe lights