Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: dsndata!mlewis@unocss.unomaha.edu (mlewis)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Offutt AFB Open House
Keywords: AIRPLANES
Message-ID: <1990Aug12.214249.2092@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 12 Aug 90 21:42:49 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: U. of Nebraska at Omaha
Lines: 48
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: dsndata!mlewis@unocss.unomaha.edu (mlewis)


I'm BEAT!  Just got back from the Offutt AFB Air Show, which was something
of a disappointment.  The Thunderbirds fly tomorrow, when I can't go, and
there was a problem when the first A/C flight demo landed, an RF-4 blew
a tire and caught fire in the main gear. This blocked flight ops for over
three hours.  The Warbirds went up, about 30 A/C in the air at once, but
only two P-51's. 

The Golden Knights did their thing (impressively), then the B-1 that took off
while we were entering at 10 this morning did a demo, recovering elsewhere.

Almost last was a  US Navy F-18 which is always impressive.  Oh, yeah
the NEACP E-4B did a high-performance takeoff, which, impressive as it
is, was a bit anticlimactic.  

Yes, the F-117A.  I talked to the pilot, who was not the one whose name 
was on the aircraft.  He didn't express an opinion on the looks of the 
beast.  I think it's the UGLIEST thing I ever saw.  Details:
Assigned to the 37th Tactical Fighter Group, 460th TFS.
>From the stat sheet for the airshow: 2 GE F-404 engines, Max gross
weight 52,000 pounds, weapons carried internally in a single bay,
wingspan 43'4", length 65'11", height 12'5".  The rest is the usual
"we aren't releasing details, but it's good" stuff.  The pilot said they
are a "static display wing these days".   The engines are behind grills
and you can't see the exhaust slot from ground level.  
The rear control surfaces, whatever you call them, are solid, and they 
pivot about 6" above the surface of the plane.  Something that doesn't
show in the photos.  Gawd that thing is ugly.

Notably missing today were the C-5, C-141, and KC-10 usually on display.
Wonder where they were?

The Navy Adversary pilot was "Mad Dog", and seemed to really enjoy being
there.  He said the regulary switches between the F-5, the A-4, and the
F-16, and enjoys them all.  When I mentioned "playing", in context of 
dogfighting, he grinned hugely and agred it's the only way to fly.

Sorry this wasn't more  detailed, but there really wasn't much going on.

-- 
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