I'm not usually an emotional person but for someone who loves flying as much as I, the last two days have been *exceptional*.

I live near the Rose Bowl just north of Colorado Blvd. My house is in the flight path of any flights that show up for various shows, demos, etc. I quite often see flights of T6's, and have seen the Blue Angels pass overhead. Yesterday, I heard this ear splitting roar and looked up in time top see an F-18 making a high speed pass at no more than 500ft. Usually when they make a pass they turn and come back heading for wherever they came from so I stayed outside and waited. The F-18 came back, this time even lower and rolled on his side and made a high g turn before going vertical and leaving.

I assumed he was checking the route for the Rose Parade flyby. Today, I went out about 8AM and waited -I could hear them coming and a flight of 3 F18's went roaring overhead down to the parade route. I waited for them to make their turn and come back but the sound diminished. Then, from the opposite direction I heard this rumble, turned toward the sound and waited - I can't explain the emotion I felt when the huge frame of the B2 stealth bomber came directly overhead, again at not more than 500 ft. Set off car alarms all over the neighborhood. When the pilot returned he came by just a little bit north of me but well within visual range.

Just wanted to share the experience - man what a rush!!

Happy New Year!

Vic Baron

• RE: Talk about exciting!!!,Madape, 11:13z, 01-02-02
  • RE: Talk about exciting!!!,vgbaron, 16:40z, 01-02-02
• RE: Talk about exciting!!!,Tarmack, 12:04z, 01-02-02
  • RE: Talk about exciting!!!,vgbaron, 16:46z, 01-02-02

Thanks for sharing that with us, must have been awesome, coincidentally my house is directly under a military flight path, I quite often get woken up by Tornados, Harriers, and the occasional Chinocks flying low level exercises sometimes below the 500ft legal limit, some of the neighbours complain but I love it!

Cheers

Sam

Sam -

>Thanks for sharing that with us, must have been awesome,

My heart still jumps when I think about it.

>the neighbours complain but I love it!

I know what you mean.

Happy New Year,

Vic

Vic,

Nothing beats the sound of and the smell of a turbine engine....early in the morning!!

While I was located a couple of thousand miles from the scenario as you described....I made the best of it.

Channel 199 on the DirecTV satellite system broadcasts in High Definition and the Mark Cuban group televised the Rose Bowl Parade in HD.

That means.....Digital 5.1 Dolby sound too !

When that B2 came across my screen with the stereophonic vibes.....I cranked her up a bit higher.

The early fly by set the stage for the rest of the parade...and while I have watched that parade for years and had become a bit bored with it.......NO MORE. When you can see it in HD.....it is just about as good as being there.

My only wish is that the sun shines BRIGHT next year and that the B2 comes back.....I will be more ready for her then!

Regards,

Cap'n Tarmack

Mel -

>When that B2 came across my screen with the stereophonic
>vibes.....I cranked her up a bit higher.
>

I had no idea they were that loud. They were so low I fely I could reach up and touch it.

>The early fly by set the stage for the rest of the
>parade...and while I have watched that parade for years
>and had become a bit bored with it.......NO MORE. When
>you can see it in HD.....it is just about as good as being
>there.
>

I used to live just off the actual parade route. For a couple of years I was able to walk down and see it live. Visually it's stunning but nothing can compare to the fragrance of all those flowers. Now, when they get Smellovision you can get the full shebang.

>My only wish is that the sun shines BRIGHT next year and
>that the B2 comes back.....I will be more ready for her
>then!

Ditto!

Happy New Year,

Vic