Awoke early. Couldn’t go back to sleep. Spent a bit more time reading and writing while enjoying toast and coffee. Took a walk this afternoon to Fisher Nature Area, even put in some extra steps. Needed to burn off the jelly I put on the toast.
I heard the jets coming as I stepped outside to take the camera for a walk when. They were on top of me so quickly. I didn’t even look, just raised the camera and fired away.
I had heard earlier this morning that the US Air Force Thunderbirds were planning a flyover across communities in Colorado to honor “healthcare workers, first responders, military members and other essential personnel who are working on the front lines to combat the coronavirus.” The flight path was to take them over more than 40 medical facilities.
I find it a contradiction that military aircraft, designed to kill thousands of people, would plan a flyover in tribute to healthcare workers, first responders whose purpose is to keep people alive and include military members. I’m confused!
4 Comments
Joe
The military needs to do self-promotion regularly in displays like this so we don’t see only the destruction for which they’re designed. I was stationed on Navy air bases my whole career and have seen many of the Blue Angel shows and they never fail to impress. I’m not the type to get a lump in my throat whenever I see a flyover like this but I do appreciate the amount of talent, engineering, stamina, money and determined will it takes to build and keep these machines flying. Nevertheless, these displays are not the intended purpose of war machines. Would we be equally inspired if they rolled tanks down a main boulevard as a tribute? It would seem very awkward to the point of being vulgar. Yet, soaring aircraft in precise formations seem to do the trick. Yeah, confusing.
Monte Stevens
Yes, the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds are very impressive and there is something they seem to stir within me, it could be the amount of power they have. And, I am impressed with the precision and talent of these pilots. I was in the Air Force and stationed at a SAC base in Arkansas. We would go through exercises where B-52 and KC-135’s would be lifting off the ground in short intervals every few minutes. It was constant noise until they were all airborn. Impressive, to say the least. And, thanks for your service, Joe!
Tom Dills
That’s really awesome, Monte. And quite fortuitous that you had the fortune of good timing to be able to see the flyover. Even though the F-16 was designed as a machine of war, the Thunderbird’s mission is one of demonstrating the high level of skill and precision required to operate one. We regularly see C-17s on approach to the Air Reserve base at CLT. They are a different kind of impressive, but fun to watch just the same.
Monte Stevens
I saw people who had stepped outside in anticipation of the flyover. I hope it was uplifting to all those who are healthcare workers and first responders! They need to know they are appreciated.