Saturday, July 20, 2024

JULY 19

 Family Day at JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf Air Base and Fort Richardson) Annual Air Show. We had the Thunderbirds, 



a slew of other planes (all very fast, loud, and maneuverable) including the F22 which may very well be the last piloted fighter plane. In the near future Top Gun will be replaced with a computer nerd operating in climate controlled bunker in Colorado Springs. 



lots of parachutes 


of course, most importantly, a helicopter refueling demo 

featuring our very own Major Jesse Ashmore from the Alaska  Air National Guard as the helicopter pilot. 


The helicopter is not allowed to actually connect the probe to the refilling tube at the air show for safety reasons so that final bit of drama is left to the imagination, but chasing a flexible tube with rotors spinning was enough for me. Especially when I added the idea of doing it at night in nasty weather when rescue operations are most likely to occur. 

All in all it was a great day of flag waving, red, white, and blue smoke, roaring engines, deliciously daring flight behavior - and friendship.