My Air Show

First T-6 pass was offset about a quarter mile to the west from Chez Sarge

Those of you who keep track of such things may remember my second Sunday post, it was a simply glorious day weather-wise. Sunday night was very cool, as a matter of fact one of the vehicles in the Sarge's motor pool actually had what I call proto-frost on the windshield. (Sort of "almost but not quite frost", it feels frozen but you can't decide if it really is. Too thick to be dew, too thin to be ice.)

Just realized that I digressed due to a brief discussion of the weather. Sort of a blog version of a weather divert, but we're back on track now. You are free to move about the cabin. But when you're in your seat, keep your seatbelt on. Our flight attendants will be serving drinks shortly.

What?

Oh yeah. Sunday, cutting the grass which also sometimes turns into a beer post as Buck (and others) have noted. This past Sunday was different though. Here at Chez Sarge at "lawn mowing halftime" (wherein I take a break between doing the front yard and then the back, in olden times I would have a smoke, as this is the New Age I don't do that anymore. What? Oh yeah, digressed again, didn't I?)

Okay, "lawn mowing halftime," Sunday, we're taking a break and what do my finely tuned ears acquire in the distance? Why, it's the drone of a military piston engine. There's nothing like it to those who know what to listen for.

Shortly, yup there it is, our local T-6 Texan, off to the west. Well let me tell you, the cell phone camera was out and deployed in right quick fashion. Locked on and ready to capture aerial goodness. The first and next three photos are of that first pass.

Texan in the sun.

Circling around for another pass...
What's that? Can't see him?

He's in that circle. Which is NOT a gunsight pipper.

I kind of felt like an anti-aircraft emplacement, tracking this guy around the sky. But I think he was on to me, his second pass was nearly directly overhead. Had I been a AAA site (pronounced triple-A, acronym for Anti-Aircraft Artillery) and had the Texan been "carrying," I would have been toast.

T-6 Texan, rolling in "hot"

Again the T-6 is circled as my tracking software re-acquires the "target"

This is gonna be close!

Tracking... tracking... tracking...

TAKE COVER! He's right on top of my position...

Definitely a T-6 as you can see in this zoomed in picture.
(If you look carefully, you can see the star on the underside of the right wing.)

Headed south, RTB.
(RTB = Return to Base...)

Another zoomed in view.

Headed home no doubt.

Still tracking...

Now he's too far for good cell phone pics.
(Not an oxymoron anymore, I like my cell phone's camera.)

After the airshow and after finishing the lawn, it's time for a brew.
Or two.
Had the Honey Crisp Apple Wheat first (to cut the dust) and then indulged myself with a Pumpkinhead Ale.

Hi-Yo Shipyard, Away!

Later on in the afternoon, I saw a pair of hawks circling nearby. Tried to get them on video, they kept circling away, keeping the house between my camera and themselves.

Hhmm, perhaps they had RHAW* gear on board. Who knows?





*RHAW = Radar Homing and Warning