Day 4 - Kingsville Texas

Rest day today, so we attended the Wings Over South Texas air show, featuring the United Sates Navy Blue Angels.  This air show is held at Kingsville, Texas every second year.

So only photos of aircraft today - other than a picture of a jet-powered school bus - but more on that later.

First up were some stunt pilots and a world aerobatic champion giving very impressive displays of what a light aircraft shouldn't be able to do.  Some of it - a lot of it, really, was very impressive indeed.

Then the Air Force B1 supersonic Lancer bomber made an appearance.  This guy is huge and has a top speed of 1500kph+ and a 'swing-wing' configuration.

...and in wings-back mode with after-burners lit...

Here's another one on the ground:

That's enough of the B1.  Next up was a demonstration of an F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.  These aircraft are impressive in their sheer power and speed.  Here, an F18 has just taken off behind the twin tail fin of a Blue Angels Hornet.

There were some interesting static displays, including a bunch of fighter jets, military helicopters and tankers.

Here's an A-10 Thunderbolt, or 'Warthog' an interesting looking aircraft with two large rear-mounted jets.  Its main role is knocking out tanks with its particularly nasty nose-mounted machine gun.

It was another windy day  - these winds are warm and moist ex Gulf of Mexico and are feeding the tornadoes further inland.  (The Weather Channel makes for interesting viewing at the moment, commenting just now that 60 tornadoes have been sighted today - well to the north of us).    The winds were strong enough to stop the US Navy Leapfrogs parachuting demonstration team from performing - but the jet-powered school bus (yes, that's right) still managed to put a show on.  This bus is fitted with a Phantom F4 jet engine and with strong cross-winds still managed a run of 314mph (505kph).  Here he is, preparing for the run...

Crazy eh?
A Russian-made MiG17 put a great after-burning display on after lunch.

The last show of the day was the Blue Angels.  Military precision and showmanship in massive doses resulted in a very spectacular (and noisy) display.

Had a Chicken Fried Steak for dinner - a Texan favourite.  Really enjoying chatting to the locals at restaurants here.  They are so friendly, and actively engage in conversation when they hear our accents.  Tonight we were Australians and English.  No one has picked us as Kiwis yet.  One of the couples we chatted to tonight offered to take us to a range to see Texas Long Horn bulls and the like.  But it's an early night tonight - we are packing up and getting back on the road tomorrow, bound for San Antonio.

See you,
PF