Memorial Day Air Show 2010

For a variety of reasons (usually work), I've missed the Memorial Day Air Show here in Columbia for the last four years. This year, I made a determined effort not to let anything preempt my plans. The following photos (26 out of 287) are of but a few things I saw at the show. What the photos can not show is the debt of gratitude I feel toward our Veterans, for whom this air show honors.

Please visit the official site of the Salute to Veterans Memorial Day Airshow at www.salute.org/Airshow.shtm for more information.

On the tarmac looking northeast. There will be a lot of walking today!

Rotor assembly on a Sikorsky MH-53 "Sea Dragon". This helicopter comes to us from the Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapon Systems Training School (AWSTS) in Norfolk, VA.

Approaching a P-3 Orion stationed at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL.

P-3 Orion.



The business end of an A-10 Thunderbolt II. Under normal circumstances, avoid at all cost.



One of two engines on the A-10.



Folded wing of the Douglas A-1 Skyraider.

Cowling on the Skyraider.

A beautiful P-51 Mustang.

Another beautiful plane, the North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber.

Tailgunner section on the B-25.

Front of the B-25.

Boeing E-6B Mercury, with the United States Navy Strategic Communications Wing One based at Tinker Air Force Base, OK.

Rear of the E-6B.

One of the four CFM International CFM56-2A-2 engines on the E-6B.

Close in on the front of the E-6B.

One of the E-6B crew talks about the plane to air show patrons.

Engine intake on a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier. Do NOT stand here when the engine is running.

What's this? A commercial airliner? Passengers board one of several daily flights on Canadair RJ jets from Columbia to Memphis. Columbia has really moved up in the world - no more turbo-props!

Another P-51 Mustang, the "Tuskegee Airman", being towed back in after a stunning demonstration. Her pilot is the smiling gentleman in the flight suit. I'd be smiling too if I just had the chance to fly that plane.

A member of the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team, known as "The Skyhawks", returns to Earth after jumping at 6,000 feet.

Three Skyhawks trail smoke as they fly in formation.

Another Skyhawk trailing the POW-MIA flag.

A Skyhawks banner. Thank you to our Canadian allies for providing more wonderful demonstrations.

A Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules taxis after landing. Today's mission was to take the Skyhawks up to 6,000 feet for their demonstrations.

Smoke from the AeroShell Aerobatic Demonstration Team blows across the tarmac. Luckily, the smoke didn't smell as bad as I thought it might.

For more information on the aircraft featured in this post, please visit the following:

MH-53: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MH-53

P-3 Orion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P3_Orion

A-10 Thunderbolt II: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-10_Thunderbolt_II

A-1 Skyraider: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-1_Skyraider

P-51 Mustang: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-51_Mustang

B-25 Mitchell Bomber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-25_Mitchell

E-6B Mercury: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-6_Mercury

AV-8B Harrier: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV-8B_Harrier

Canadair RJ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_CRJ200#CRJ100

C-130 Hercules: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-130_Hercules

Another Successful Vacation Ends

My 2010 vacation to Sarasota has has ended, and I've just arrived back home. It was a great trip, and I'm glad I was able to see friends I hadn't seen in a long time. It was also very good to visit several of my favorite landmarks and attractions.

Many of the shots taken on this trip were 'remakes' of photos I'd made years ago on the film camera. Some of them, including the David photos, were deliberate, as I was attempting to get better quality images of the same subject matter. Others, though, were accidental, and I didn't notice how similar the shots were to previous photos until I was preparing them for posting to this blog.

At any rate, I was extremely pleased with how the photos turned out. The digital cameras I use allow me to photograph under conditions that would have been very difficult, if not impossible, using a film camera. Comparing these new photos to older ones will illustrate my point. The added benefit of not paying for film, processing and printing is also most welcome.

As a reminder, more information on places I've photographed can be found by following the links in the Landmarks I've Visited sections on the right-hand side of the blog.

Thanks for listening. And hey, why not take a vacation yourself?

Ringling Museum of Art

My last visit on this vacation is to the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, and it's another of those places I've been to many, many times.

The front of the Museum.

The main entrance.

The courtyard, taken from the west end facing east.

Facing west in the courtyard.

The famous bronze replica of the Statue of David.

Another view of the Statue.

Sculpture to the side of the statue.

A marble statue in the courtyard.

The following photos were taken inside the museum. They may be a bit grainy since they were taken with available light only.

Guptill House at Historic Spanish Point

The Guptill House at Historic Spanish Point is a destination in it's own right. More information can be found clicking the link to Historic Spanish Point in the Florida Landmarks I've Visited section.

The Guptill House with early morning sun in front of me.

The Guptill House.

Just inside the front door.

Fireplace and Piano in the front room.

Corner table in the front room.

Downstairs bedroom.

Upstairs bedroom.

Upstairs bedroom.

Upstairs bedroom 2.

Upstairs bedroom 2.

Upstairs bedroom 2.