Star Spangled Sail - Air Show

Hi, As part of Star Spangled Sail air shows in Baltimore were held on June 16 and June 17.  Friend Jim Beck and I viewed the air show on June 16 from Fort McHenry.  Our passes were good until 10:00 AM, even though the show would not begin until 1:30 PM, so we arrived about 9:30 AM.  We occupied ourselved by walking around the grounds and checking out the food and merchant areas.

On the second of our 2 walks we wandered down to the water taxi dock.  The boat pictured below had just unloaded a group and was leaving the dock.

Shortly after the boat above departed 2 of these Navy training patrol craft headed out.

The airshow began with a Navy Seal demonstration of a water borne extraction.  The Zodiac carries the extraction team and their prisoner(s) out from land and runs right up on the transom of the larger boat.  As soon as the people are transferred to the larger boat and the Zodiac is secured the larger boat takes off.

The smaller boat provides inshore covering fire, if necessary, and leaves after the larger boat.

Then aircraft began to fly.  First up was a Sea Dragon helicopter.

Next, in quick succession, were 3 training planes: an elementary trainer,

a more advanced trainer for instrument flight rules and multi engine flight, and finally

a jet trainer.

Next up was an GRumman E-2 Airborne Warning and Control Ship aircraft.  It made 2 passes.

An F-18E made multiple passes demonstrating its amazing maneuverability and other capabilities.  Here it is flying at about a 45 degree angle to the ground.

The Coast Guard provided a Bell Ranger (civilian name) with a team that demonstrated water rescue.

And then, at last, it was time for the Blue Angels.  The first of their aircraft to appear was their support C-130.  This is a 1951 design that is still in daily use by the armed forces.

It too has amazing climbing capabilities.

After a number of passes by C-130 the Blue Angels performed their show.  They too use the f-18E.  Presented below are a few of the many photos I took during their performance.

This is the first air show I have been to since the late 1950s and I am glad I had the opportunity.  I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed attending the show and taking them.