US - FL - Tyndall AFB Gulf Coast Salute - Panama City - Mar 24, 2007

[MikeRiffle]

Were the Eagle and Osprey fighting over a Hornet? ...  was that third bird a Falcon, by chance?

A falcon would have been neat to see, I guess that would have turned the fight into a furball. But it was just the eagle and the osprey battling for air supremacy.

[Bloke]

Jive,

Was that you driving or was it Big Dog?

I'm not seeing his Thunderbird Cranium Cover..

"Bloke"

[rhinolover]

Do any of you guys know the name/rank of the F-22 demo pilot this year? It was a 43rd FS jet, right?

[JivePhantom]

Bloke,

That was me flying.  Big Dog has entrusted me with his machine.  I am honored and hope to do him proud.

Cheers,
Jive

[BillF]

Do any of you guys know the name/rank of the F-22 demo pilot this year? It was a 43rd FS jet, right?

This weekend's jet was a Tyndall jet. Different bases will support different shows. Minnesota's Major Max Moga is the demo pilot for the next two years; pictured on the left. Major James Bondo Costello is the temp safety officer and SSgt Jason Schmidty Schmidt is a Crew Chief.

[rhinolover]

Thanks for the info Bill! Sorry you couldn't make it to Saturday's show...sunburn sucks!!!

[MikeRiffle]

Did anybody happen to get the tail number of the F-16 City of Auburn from the 160th Fighter Squadron? It was my first time seeing that Falcon and somehow it was the only tail number out of the 60 static displays that I missed

[BillF]

Thanks for the info Bill! Sorry you couldn't make it to Saturday's show...sunburn sucks!!!

True, true. You'd think that living here and under the care of a doctor for skin cancer I would know better. Nobody is that dumb, are they?

I've enjoyed the show through your photographs and the few others that have posted. Rhino, so far you've produced the best vapor shots that I have seen from a Raptor. Too, you seem to have come away from the show with new respect for the F22. Previous to the show, your posts indicated a rather lukewarm feeling for the aircraft.

I'm surprised that ShowLine hasn't posted more. He had something like a 16GB card.

[MikeRiffle]

I'm surprised that ShowLine hasn't posted more. He had something like a 16GB card.

Wow, 16GB, I wish! I only have a total of 8GB. I'm trying to save some shots for my website but, since you asked, here's the Raptor climb on takeoff. I wish we would have had the clear skies you had for the practice.

Speaking of Raptors, the one on static display (#02-4040) had a name - Pride of Bay County. That's the first named Raptor I have seen.

[Roger]

That jet looks just damn fine 

[Ghostrider]

I love the F-86/T-33 Heritage Flight. Snort and Big Dog have nice looking jets!

[Djack]

The tail number you are looking for is 87-218, I have a pic of the tail only if you need it.  Also, thanks for the info for the off base spotting site, I was there three days straight!

Did anybody happen to get the tail number of the F-16 City of Auburn from the 160th Fighter Squadron? It was my first time seeing that Falcon and somehow it was the only tail number out of the 60 static displays that I missed

[MikeRiffle]

The tail number you are looking for is 87-218, I have a pic of the tail only if you need it.  Also, thanks for the info for the off base spotting site, I was there three days straight!

Thank you Djack

[rhinolover]

Thanks Bill! I'd like to think that I can get some pretty good shots from time to time! My first vapor shot was F-14B (103) of VF-103 during the Hour of Power that they used to have up in London! What an amazing airplane! I had a sunburn experience a few years back at Quad Cities; was actually bleeding the day after the show; not good! Since then I don't take any chances; I really don't even want a tan! I guess I was kind of skeptical of the F-22 only because they had never really shown it off before this year. Also, being a Navy guy I'd like to think  we have the best with our Rhinos (and formerly our Tomcats ), but I was proven wrong this past weekend....the F-22 is absolutely astonishing. I can't believe we have people smart enough to engineer something like that!

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

Great shots by all!  A pleasure to meet you Bill, catch up with you and your mate from GA Mike and meet a few other Fencecheckers over the weekend.

Splendid weather supported what was a very good show.   In typical Schultz Airshow fashion the flying display flowed smoothly and without a hitch.  With a ton of civilian acts military presence in the flying display was bit lacking compared to last years show.  It was ashame with the loss of the F-117's and V-22's as they would have really balanced out the show well.  It was nice to see the always enjoyable Patty Wagstaff again as well as the Aerostars for the first time.  I guess one of their aircraft went technical along with Snort's smoke system.  Only one pass by each of the resident F-15's was a bit of a let down as it seemed like they flew forever last year.  The flyby's by the the European camo QF-4 were a surprise treat though.  The Heritage Flight was ace along with the F-16 solo display.  But the real star of the show was that beast, the F-22!  It did not disappoint and I'm sure the Raptor Demo Team will only build on what was a spectacular inaugural show.  I can't wait to see them at Columbus in September after all the tricks are worked into the routine.   The static displays were quite good as well.  My only complaint about the layout is that I would have liked to see more of the fighters out from under the canopies to be a bit more photogenic.  I've said my peace so let the floggings begin... 

A few of the F-22 display to get me started