Буревестниците

Бях на първото им авиошоу преди повече от 10 години. Тогава го провеждаха на летище Крумово. Всяка година ходихме, беше страхотно. Особено на Буревестниците и Сините Ангели.

За последно бях на авиошоуто преди повече от 3 години, вече го прожедаха на Граф Игнатиево. Бяхме се уговорили с братовчед ми, но на авиобазата имаше толкова много народ, че така и не се намерихме.

Тази година бях решен да не го пропускам, особено след като разбрах че ескадрилата Буревестници отново ще е тук! Баща ми също реши да дойде, а брат ми беше на село, но се разбрахме да хване влака и аз да го посрещна на гарата в Граф Игнатиево. За него това щеше да е първото авиошоу.

А от дясно, в сянката под крилото се е скътал Андрей :P

Единственото, за което наистина съжалявам много, е че предния ден не отидох на концерта на Джаз Оркестъра на Американските ВВС - те свиреха и на летището, и как само свиреха!

Иначе за самото шоу... нямам думи. С изключение на една лека засечка (единия от самолетите ударил птица и го приземиха, провериха и смениха с резервен F-16) всичко беше просто върха! Има нещо невероятно вдъхновяващо в гледката на прелитащите във формация изтребители, ревът на двигателите, блестящите под слънчевите лъчи крила...

Преживяването е неповторимо. Пускам част от снимките, както и сканираната книжка с автографи (успях да събера подписи от всички пилоти и всички или почти всички от екипа). Поствам и всички клипчета, които заснех с фотоапарата. Респект към екипа на Буревестниците и особено към пилотите! (като от филм са, все едно са ги извадили от "Топ Гън" или "Железен Орел")

А докато в небето не се виждат самолети, снимам каквото се вижда до пистата ;) - в случая Kristi Machado

Днес, неделя, 08.07.2007 от 18:30 - bTV Репортерите - предаването ще е посветено на авиошоуто на Буревестниците в Граф Игнатиево

Thunderbirds and Me

TSgt Justin Pyle, Aerial Photojournalist, signs my Thunderbirds Poster

with Kristi Machado, Aerial Photographer, who looks like an Aerial Photo Model

with TSgt Rob Thompson, NCOIC, Communications

with Lt Col Kevin J. Robbins, Commander/Leader, Thunderbird #1

with Maj Scott Poteet, Slot, Thunderbird #4

with SSgt Michael Patterson, Asst Crew Chief #7

And if you think that there are sexy pilot babes only in "Top Gun" this one will prove you wrong ;)

with Maj Nicole Malachowski, Right Wing, Thunderbird #3

with SSgt Gavin Douglas , Asst Crew Chief #2

with Maj Chris Austin, Left Wing, Thunderbird #2

with SSgt Dan Hampton, Asst Crew Chief #6

with Maj Rob Skelton, Operations Officer, Thunderbird #7

with Maj Samantha Weeks, Opposing Solo, Thunderbird #6
we had a little chat and I told her that this is my second Thunderbirds Air Show - I've seen their first demonstrations in Krumovo when they visited Bulgaria more than a decade ago.

with Maj. Ed Casey, Lead Solo, Thunderbird #5

"Hey, why's your number upside-down?"

"I'm the one who flies upside down :)"

The Web #16

More about the Thunderbirds:

http://thunderbirds.airforce.com/ - Official Web Site
http://www.sky-flash.com/thun.htm - Great gallery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Air_Force_Thunderbirds - Info
http://www.aero-web.org/events/perform/tb/tb.htm

Thunderbirds Booklet and Autographs

Part of my autographed "Thunderbirds" poster - signed by SSgt Kristi Machado (Aerial Photographer and a hot chick!), TSgt Justin Pyle (Aerial Photojournalist) and TSgt Rob Thompson (NCOIC, Communications)

Queen - One Vision (Iron Eagle OST)

I post this video just to make you feel the spirit of the Thunderbirds Air Show. For me this captures the spirit of the whole experience - energizing and inspiring! A great song by the best band in the world... and F-16 jets! :)

Iron Eagle is a cult 1986 action film about a teenage boy named Doug Masters (Jason Gedrick) who steals an American F-16 fighter jet to rescue his father (Tim Thomerson), a prisoner of war being held in an unidentified rogue Middle Eastern country. The film also stars Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr. as Col. Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair and features the hit songs "One Vision" and "We're Not Gonna Take It" as part of its great 80s rock soundtrack.

For more of the Iron Eagle soundtrack you can also ckeck out the video of King Kobra - Never Say Die

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #1)

Clip #1 - Part of the celebration - the Jazz Orchestra of the US Air Force performing LIVE for the audience of the Air Show.

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #2)

Clip #2 - Enjoy the music! THe Jazz Orchestra of the US Air Force playing live. You can see the flasg of Bulgaria and USA.

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #3)

Clip #3 - And again a glimpse of the concert. The Jazz Orchestra of the US Air Force playing live for the people at the Graf Ignatievo Air Show. I wonder if these guys have some albums out, cause I loved their performance.

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #4)

Clip #4 - While the Thunderbirds are getting ready the paratroopers of the Bulgarian Air Force bring us a demonstration of target landing and some smoke-drawing in the skies.

Thunderbirds Air Show (clip #5)

Clip #5 - The Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcon jets passing by before take-off :)

Thunderbirds Air Show (clip #6)

Clip#6 - Take off!
5...4...3...2...1 - THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! :)))

Thunderbirds Air Show (clip #7)

Clip #7 - Flying in formation high in the sky

Thunderbirds Air Show (clip #8)

Clip #8 - Diving in formation

Thunderbirds Air Show (clip #9)

Clip #9 - Falcons passing by

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #10)

Clip #10 - Up, up, and away! After one of the Thunderbirds hit a bird and landed for maintenance this "reserve" takes off to join the team in the skies.

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #11)

Clip #11 - Did I press the record button? Or maybe not? Shall I press it again?! ... here is the result. Damn, this one could have been a great video :(

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #12)

Clip #12 - Two of the Thunderbirds passing by. See how close to one another they are! And take a close look to the one above! This is Maj. Ed Casey, Lead Solo of the team, performing his specialty - flying upside down!

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #13)

Clip #13 - The Thunderbirds are flying in a perfect formation, very close to each other, leaving a trail of coloured smoke behind them, and just as they pass by they spin their F-16 jets all at the same time! Spectacular!!!

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #14)

Clip #14 - Going High!

Thunderbirds Air Show (Clip #15)

Clip #15 - Going back with a trail of smoke behind.