Air Power Expo-NAS Ft. Worth JRB

I really like going to air shows...less for the crazy trick planes whippin around in the sky...and more for demonstrations of the air power that gives America air superiority in any fight she may get into. So the Air Power Expo at Naval Air Station Ft. Worth Joint Reserve Base seemed like the logical place for me to be yesterday. Especially after missing the Blue Angels last week. So Chrissy, Charlie, and I headed up to Ft. Worth...it was well worth it.

My favorite plane is the A-10 Thunderbolt II...aka the Warthog. They literally built the plane around that 30 mm gun in the front.

The famed Blue Angels. The U.S. Navy's flight demonstration team. I highly recommend that you see them if you get the chance. They'll be in San Antonio October 29-30 (I believe at Randolph AFB). Naval aviation holds a certain mystique in my heart...(thank you Top Gun)...and these guys are awesome to watch.

The paracommandos brought in the colors with a stirring rendition of the national anthem.

The VFA-204 River Rattlers finished off the national anthem with a fly over in their F/A-18s. (that middle one is actually an F-5 in case you were wondering)

I have never seen a Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier in person. It was awesome. They demonstrated its vertical take off and landing capability. It can literally just hover in the air, and spin around, then really blast its engines and take off whippin around like a fighter jet. Chrissy's favorite demonstration of the day.

A big reason we went was to see the A-10 demonstration team. I love this plane, and I love how it swoops around in the sky, and then wreaks havoc on the enemy...providing close air support for our troops on the ground. I hope these guys watch over FOB Bostick from the skies over Afghanistan.

The heritage flight of the P-51 Mustang and the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

We were treated to a fly over by a USAF B-52 Stratofortress. These bombers have been in service for almost 60 years!

Threat eliminated.

The Blue Angels demonstration begins with a USMC C-130T Hercules...aka Fat Albert.

Usually the Blue Angels have four F/A-18s flying in a diamond formation, and #5 and #6 birds provide the solo and opposing demonstrations. For some reason, they towed #4 away in the morning and flew without her.

#5 Lt Ben Walborn flies inverted crossing paths with #6 Lt C.J. Simonsen. You'll notice the landing gear is down and the tail hooks are out. Those hooks grab on to a wire on the landing surface of an aircraft carrier to land the aircraft and prevent the plane from going into the drink.

Everything the Blue Angels do is done with exact, military precision. From the way the maintenance crews prepare the aircraft for flight in unison, to the way #8 reads the narration to #7, who then delivers it to the crowd...all while standing at attention. It really is spectacular to watch.

Good times.
(a big thanks to my dear wife Chrissy...she takes awesome pics)

100 Years of Naval Aviation--NAS Corpus Christi

Well this past weekend we had a great family trip down to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. They were having an air show to celebrate 100 years of Naval aviation. Dad hooked up some sweet rooms at the Navy Lodge...waterfront on the bay. We went out for a walk on the jetty and saw a bunch of dadgum dolphins swimming around. It was crazy. We had a delightful round of fish-n-chips from Snoopy's, followed by some ice cream from Scoopy's next door. The next day at the air show was fun...but the low clouds ended up preventing the Army Golden Knight parachute team from jumping, and eventually grounded the Blue Angels. It was a bit of a disappointment, but in the end, a good time was had by all.
My future employer.
CH-47 Chinook...these are some serious heavy lift birds.
My first time seeing an AH-64 Apache attack bird...it was awesome.
We were well positioned to watch the Blue Angels...dadgum clouds.
This is the Navy F/A-18 Hornet...it's what the Blue Angels fly.
Metal under tension, beggin' me to touch and go...highway to the danger zone!!!

The anticipation builds as each pilot salutes his crew chief, gets in the cockpit, and fires up their two General Electric turbofan engines.

The Blue Angels will be at NAS Ft. Worth JRB next weekend, along with the A-10 demonstration team. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this time. Good times.

Tim is oscar mike

I have been very passionate about all things military since I can remember...my earliest days were spent running around an Army base in camouflage and dog tags-waking up at the crack of dawn to go out and salute the soldiers running by doing their morning PT. I have always been very proud of my Dad Col. Forrest W. Oliverson. I now have a few brothers in law who are in the military and I'm proud and honored of my association with them. I've always looked up to my big brother, Spc. Tim Oliverson. He is a humble man of great faith and I respect and love him a great deal. I know he's a fine soldier. Within a matter of hours he will be stepping into harm's way in the defense of our great nation. We said goodbye to him via video chat tonight...and it was my honor to salute my big brother. May Heavenly Father watch over, protect, and be with Tim, and all the troops as they sacrifice and serve. I also pray for Amy, Clara, and the Little Colonel...as a deployment is a huge challenge for the family staying behind as well. Every day I pray for the troops and their families...but those prayers will take on a whole other meaning now. I'm reminded of one of my favorite passages of scripture, about a humble soldier Captain Moroni. It has inspired me each of the numerous times that I've read and thought about it...it means a great deal to me and brought me great comfort as I read and pondered it tonight.

And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it--In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children--and he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land--

I am proud of my family's devotion and sacrifice for a chosen land, and am honored at the thought of someday calling myself an American soldier. God bless the troops and God bless America.

Para siempre Dios esté con vos.

Burn me up a thick one.

Today I made the greatest meal that I have ever single-handedly made. I whipped up twice-baked potatoes...with sour cream, cream cheese w/chives, cheddar cheese, and bacon bits...they were phenomenal. Then I burnt up a top sirloin to perfection...I'm diggin the cowboy rub. Clearly it was all washed down with a diet Dr. Pepper. Good times.