Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Tampa Tribune
May 4, 2008 By Laura Kinsler, The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - They weren't your typical snowbirds. They didn't come to Tampa to relax on a beach. And they're nowhere close to retirement.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds demonstration squadron made its first visit to Tampa on Saturday as headliners at AirFest 2008, which concludes today at MacDill Air Force Base.
Air show rookies and veterans were curious to see how the Snowbirds would compare to the American teams that traditionally appear at the air show. The verdict? Smooth as silk.
At first, Plant City resident David Williams was nonplussed. The Snowbirds fly CT-114 training jets, which don't have quite the same muscle as the F/A-18 Hornets the Blue Angels fly.
"It doesn't feel like a fighter jet, but it sure is beautiful," Williams said as he and his nephews watched the group fly in a diamond formation.
By the time the Snowbirds performed their signature rolls, loops and dives, he was applauding. When two jets soared overhead cockpit to cockpit, just 8 feet apart, he was out of his chair.
"That was cool!" he said.
Retired Navy Capt. Rowland Huss said he was looking forwarding to the headliners, too. His family was among 60,000 spectators at Saturday's show.
"We've seen the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels - lots of times," he said. "But we've never seen the Snowbirds."
Visitors also got the chance to tour military aircraft on the tarmac. Huss led his kids through a C-5 Galaxy - one of the largest military planes in the world.
"I flew in one of these to Iraq," he told his 5-year-old son, Derek. "There wasn't much room. It was full of very special equipment."
It was all very exciting, but Derek was there for the jets. He loved watching the F-18 Hornet zoom by, so loud the Earth shook.
His mom, Cindy, said they like being as close to the runway as possible. "It's a totally different experience."
John Zadorozny, who served in the Marines, and his daughter, 6-year-old Alex, found a shady spot for their beach chairs under the wing of a KC-135 refueling jet. The air show regulars from Dunedin researched the main act.
"I went on their Web site," Jennifer Zadorozny said. "It's kind of funny that they're from Canada and they're called Snowbirds. They fly in a formation of nine. The Blue Angels are usually six. So it should be pretty good."
The Snowbirds weren't the only act debuting at this year's AirFest.
Tim Chopp, former Army mechanic, flew a C-54 transport plane in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the "candy drops" over Berlin. The planes, which had bombed Germany during World War II, dropped food and coal to West Germans in the early days of the Cold War.
"When we found this plane, it was carrying auto parts in Canada in 1991," he said.
In his homage flight, Chopp dropped Hershey bars attached to miniature parachutes - just like troops did in 1948.
Tampa-born fighter pilot Phil Smith was another highlight. Smith wowed his hometown crowd with at least a half-dozen passes, dives and turns in his F-15.
Robert Kelley, 84, and his great-grandson arrived early to meet him. "He's from my squadron - the 333rd," the WWII and Korean War veteran said.
May 4, 2008 By Laura Kinsler, The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - They weren't your typical snowbirds. They didn't come to Tampa to relax on a beach. And they're nowhere close to retirement.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds demonstration squadron made its first visit to Tampa on Saturday as headliners at AirFest 2008, which concludes today at MacDill Air Force Base.
Air show rookies and veterans were curious to see how the Snowbirds would compare to the American teams that traditionally appear at the air show. The verdict? Smooth as silk.
At first, Plant City resident David Williams was nonplussed. The Snowbirds fly CT-114 training jets, which don't have quite the same muscle as the F/A-18 Hornets the Blue Angels fly.
"It doesn't feel like a fighter jet, but it sure is beautiful," Williams said as he and his nephews watched the group fly in a diamond formation.
By the time the Snowbirds performed their signature rolls, loops and dives, he was applauding. When two jets soared overhead cockpit to cockpit, just 8 feet apart, he was out of his chair.
"That was cool!" he said.
Retired Navy Capt. Rowland Huss said he was looking forwarding to the headliners, too. His family was among 60,000 spectators at Saturday's show.
"We've seen the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels - lots of times," he said. "But we've never seen the Snowbirds."
Visitors also got the chance to tour military aircraft on the tarmac. Huss led his kids through a C-5 Galaxy - one of the largest military planes in the world.
"I flew in one of these to Iraq," he told his 5-year-old son, Derek. "There wasn't much room. It was full of very special equipment."
It was all very exciting, but Derek was there for the jets. He loved watching the F-18 Hornet zoom by, so loud the Earth shook.
His mom, Cindy, said they like being as close to the runway as possible. "It's a totally different experience."
John Zadorozny, who served in the Marines, and his daughter, 6-year-old Alex, found a shady spot for their beach chairs under the wing of a KC-135 refueling jet. The air show regulars from Dunedin researched the main act.
"I went on their Web site," Jennifer Zadorozny said. "It's kind of funny that they're from Canada and they're called Snowbirds. They fly in a formation of nine. The Blue Angels are usually six. So it should be pretty good."
The Snowbirds weren't the only act debuting at this year's AirFest.
Tim Chopp, former Army mechanic, flew a C-54 transport plane in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the "candy drops" over Berlin. The planes, which had bombed Germany during World War II, dropped food and coal to West Germans in the early days of the Cold War.
"When we found this plane, it was carrying auto parts in Canada in 1991," he said.
In his homage flight, Chopp dropped Hershey bars attached to miniature parachutes - just like troops did in 1948.
Tampa-born fighter pilot Phil Smith was another highlight. Smith wowed his hometown crowd with at least a half-dozen passes, dives and turns in his F-15.
Robert Kelley, 84, and his great-grandson arrived early to meet him. "He's from my squadron - the 333rd," the WWII and Korean War veteran said.