Earlier this spring, we took our RV to Montgomery, Alabama to see an air show at Maxwell Air Force Base which featured the USAF Thunderbirds. Three weeks later we made a day trip to the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina for their air show featuring the United States Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels.
This was my first time on a Marine Corps station and my first time seeing the Blue Angels perform. It was a thrilling day from beginning to end.
Before the performances began we wandered around the static displays featuring historic and modern aircraft from the Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.
USMC OspreySpirit of America used in Berlin AirliftHistoric USAF PlaneUSMC HelicopterWe were able to get up close to this USAF Thunderbird on display
We were able to snag front row seats beside the runway. That meant some of the planes went right in front of us as they taxied to their position for takeoff. The USMC AV-88 Harrier II and the F-16 Viper were just two of the military aircraft that performed impressive demonstrations.
The pilot waves to the crowd as he taxis down the runway before take offThe Wild WeaselHovering in front of the crowdRefueling DemonstrationUS Marine Corps Helicopter Demonstration
The Geico Skytypers and other performers kept us entertained for several hours.
Geico Skytypers at MACS Beaufort Air ShowGeico Skytypers at MACS Beaufort Air ShowLove when the planes fly upside downThese historic military planes put on a great show
The US Navy Blue Angels put on a fantastic show that wowed the crowd with each new formation. They flew by so fast it wasn’t until I got home and looked closely at my photos that I realized how really close together they fly. Their precision is just amazing.
U. S. Navy Blue Angels
I am so grateful we had the opportunity to see both the US Air Force Thunderbirds and US Navy Blue Angels this year. Both teams will be performing at more air shows around the United States this year. If you have a chance to see a show near you, it will be a day you always remember.
“Heritage to Horizons: A Century of Airpower since WWI.” – Maxwell Air Force Base Air Show April 8-9, 2017
From the moment we decided to travel somewhere to see an air show I was like a little kid waiting for Christmas. We studied the schedules of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and the United States Navy Blue Angels to determine when and where would be the best place to see them. Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama was an easy choice. We could get there easily from Georgia, there was a great campground close to the base, and it would be nostalgic for me to return to a base where I lived for a year when my father was stationed there.
We arrived at Gunter Hill Campground two days before the air show. Both days we heard the planes as they were practicing and I kept looking in the sky to see what kind of planes they were. Both days I was rewarded when I searched the skies and saw four of the Thunderbirds pass right by the campground.
On the day of the show we arrived early so we could find a good spot to set up our folding chairs to catch all the action. We parked ourselves right in front of where the Thunderbirds were lined up. We could also see the French planes of the Patrouille de France.
United States Air Force ThunderbirdPatrouille de France at Maxwell A.F.B. Air Show
The air show was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United States Air Force and commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United States involvement in World War I. There were also historic planes on display.
Maxwell A.F.B. Air Show 2017
Maxwell A.F.B. Air Show 2017
Maxwell A.F.B. Air Show 2017
Maxwell A.F.B. Air Show 2017
After the opening ceremonies the show began with the Wings of Blue Parachute Team. Once the performers began it was non stop action all afternoon. From bi-planes performing stunts to the fabulous French team Patrouille de France to a reenactment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Tora Tora Tora group there was never a dull moment.
Wings of Blue at Maxwell A.F.B. Air ShowRed Tails at Maxwell A.F.B. Air ShowMaxwell Air ShowRe-enactment of bombing of Pearl Harbor at Maxwell Air ShowWing Walker waving at the crowd at Maxwell Air Show
The French team Patrouille de France (The Patrol of France) were performing to honor the special relationship between the air forces of U. S. and France since World War I.
Patrouille de France at Maxwell Air ShowPatrouille de FrancePatrouille de FrancePatrouille de FrancePatrouille de FrancePatrouille de France Pilots on their way to sign autographs and pose for pictures
The final act was the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds. Before they began, a group of Air Force recruits were sworn in with their families watching them take their oath in front of the Thunderbird planes.
U.S. Air Force recruits being sworn in
Before the pilots climbed into the cockpits their crews performed their pre-flight inspections as the pilots faced the crowd.
U.S.A.F. Thunderbird PilotsThunderbird Pilot waved an American Flag as he taxied down the runwayTakeoff!!Maxwell Air Show U.S.A.F. ThunderbirdsU.S. Air Force ThunderbirdsU.S. Air Force ThunderbirdsU.S. Air Force ThunderbirdsU.S. Air Force ThunderbirdsU.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
Just in case you didn’t get enough of the Thunderbirds, here’s a video of one of their signature formations.
Spending the day enjoying this amazing air show was one of the coolest things we’ve done in a long, long time. If the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels are performing any where near you get out there and go to an air show!
While we slept, four cruise ships arrived in the harbor. Skagway was bustling with activity early in the morning as the trains, sightseeing buses, and stores prepared for the onslaught of cruise ship passengers.
The streets were still fairly quiet as I took my early morning stroll through town. I passed by two trains filled with passengers waiting to depart. Later in the day the streets were filled with people strolling along, taking pictures, and hitting the shops.
Pullen Creek RV Park, Skagway, AlaskaThe White Pass train waiting to departThe train across from the cruise ship dockThis train is waiting to hitch up more carsHistorical buildings in downtown SkagwayDowntown SkagwayTotems in downtown SkagwayDowntown SkagwayAn advertisement painted on the side of the cliffDowntown SkagwayThis building is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Inside is a replica of a saloon.Strolling on the boardwalk is part of the fun
After another delicious breakfast at the Sweet Tooth we joined the throngs of shoppers browsing the shops. You can find anything from the typical made in China souvenirs to beautiful handcrafted, made in Alaska items. After drooling over all the beautifully crafted items I finally decided on a pair of jade whale tail earrings.
At 10:30 we went to the Days of ’98 Show at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. The musical play tells the tale of Soapy Smith, Alaska’s most notorious outlaw. The show was entertaining and so much fun. The piano player, dance hall girls, ragtime music, and Soapy himself were all great. I highly recommend attending the show if you ever go to Skagway.
At the Days of 98 show at the Fraternal Order of EaglesSoapy Smith and the three dance all girlsBeth with the Soapy SmithHenry with the dance hall girls
Here is a video of the girls performing the can-can. If you are reading an email update and can’t watch the video, click Wandering Dawgs to go to the web page and scroll to the video to watch.
When we came out of the show the streets were filled with people. A drive along the Taiya Inlet to the former town of Dyea sounded perfect. Thousands of prospectors hoping to strike it rich during the Klondike Gold rush followed the Chilkoot trail which began in Dyea. The narrow, winding gravel road to the site of the once booming town of Dyea was beautiful. The trail to the town site takes you through woods and neither of us was prepared for the hike so we didn’t actually see where the town once was. At the end of the road were the Dyea Flats with wild iris and other wildflowers adding splashes of purple to the green.
Wild Iris in the Dyea FlatsField of wildflowers at DyeaSkagway Harbor from overlook on Dyea RaodDyea Flats
Henry spent the rest of the afternoon washing the truck while I did some cleaning inside. Watching the cruise ship passengers pass by on their way back to their ship was a great way to relax after a hard day of being a tourist.
Dinner at the Red Onion Saloon was really fun. As I was enjoying my pizza and Henry his Reuben, we were pleasantly surprised to see a band setting up to play. With two fiddles, a bass, a mandolin, a guitar, and English Concertina we knew the Windy Valley Boys would be fun to listen to. Their first song was a foot tapping, buck dancing kind of song that reminded me of the jam session at the Floyd Country Store in Virginia. We ordered another beer and stayed for the entire first set. What a great ending to our day!
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