Wings Over Pittsburgh ... Mother's Day

Legacy Flight, F-22 Raptor and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

F4U Corsair and F/A-18 Hornet fly together. WWII Meets modern era

Raptor, Knife Edge Flyby

Raptor Burns for the Sky

F-16 in Vapor

When I Grow Up

(Click on static images to Enlarge)

Today is Mother’s Day. A day that is very wet back here in western Pennsylvania. Yesterday was not as such, and was a wonderful day to spend at the air show, “Wings Over Pittsburgh” at the Air Force Reserve field at the old airport. It was a wonderful day filled with happy smiles, and kids running from display to display amongst the roar of scary Jet engines going overhead. There was so much to do and see; from the many static aircraft displays to the aerobatic aircraft teams, be it civilian or military … to the actual dazzling air maneuvers that defied the laws of physics right before your eyes!

My favorite was the F-22 Raptor. This aircraft is as capable of a flying machine of any that I have ever envisioned. It can do things that I thought not possible until yesterday. The vintage World War Two era aircraft were a real treat as well. Seeing the F4U Corsair that took on the Japanese Zero, flying next to the F-16 Fighting Falcon was quite the contrast in technology, but not in the heart that it took to fly either in combat. The next step was seeing the F-16 next to the fifth generation fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor, in flight together. It was quite the show.

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The soldier over there can find Mother’s Day especially lonely, I know. It is no easier for Mom either as both go through the separation of war. There are no words that can take this empty feeling away, so I will not try. I only wish that you over there, and mom over here, can make something positive out of the day.

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Sports Update:

The Pittsburgh Penguins have defeated the Philadelphia Flyers for the second game in a row. They are now only two wins from going to the Stanley Cup Final! Our home ice boys are 10-1 in the playoffs so far. Well done, Penguins!

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Photos:
1. A legacy flight of two fighers side by side, the F4U Corsair--WWII, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
2. A World War Two F-4U flying side by side with a modern F-16 fighter.
3. The Raptor doing a Knife Edge flyby.
4. Looking up through the after-burner as the Raptor climbs for the sky.
5. The F-16 is pulling vapor across its wings.
6. The old man is showing the boy his first F-14, “When I grow up” is all over the boy’s face.
7. Kelly Frey, the WTAE news anchor is enjoying her jump with the Golden Knights. This is an embedded slide show. Please click on the arrow symbol to activate.

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WTAE News Anchor Kelly Frey jumps with the U.S. ARMY GOLDEN KNIGHTS PARACHUTE TEAM!