Three-thousand-and-something kilometres ...

[Dorsland]

Really awesome pix WF.  :thumleft:  I'm liking this fred.  A lot.  Excepting when you yawn in the presence of a Huey.  That's just not done, no sir.

 

[Dorsland]

So, did that P51 fly?  Did you get to hear it?

 

[woody1]

WOW !!! :thumleft:

 

[westfrogger]

Being an active airport some other aircraft landed and departed throughout the day.

Nigel Hopkins flew a few displays or rare genius (ever seen a real piloted non-RC aircraft hover?).

These kids had never seen an air show before. The previous air show in Namibia was in 1995.

makes polishing a Harley look amateur ...

We had hoped to see some interesting aircraft from the Namibia Air Force. We expected the K-8 trainer and perhaps a transport and a helicopter. Seeing the F-7s taxi out was a treat. To put the F-7 into perspective: it's a Chinese-built MiG-21. Now the Mig is an impressive relic of the Cold War. It first flew in the late 50s. So it's metal, fast and %$# noisy. It has a turning radius of Australia and that they put to good effect with many very high-speed passes, half of them with the afterburner on full tap.

That's a vulture in the background. Ready to pick on anything that faints from the noise these things make.

 

[westfrogger]

Really awesome pix WF.  :thumleft:  I'm liking this fred.  A lot.  Excepting when you yawn in the presence of a Huey.  That's just not done, no sir.

Trust me, no disrespect intended to the Huey. When I grow up I want a Huey and an Alouette II or III. But compared to all the other stuff there I had never clapped eyes on the Huey was, I am ashamed to say, a little on the boring side (besides it was the little Huey).

Ohhellyessir! I saw the Stang fly.  :thumleft:

 

[westfrogger]

He got into the spirit of things.

Nigel Hopkins just after we placed bets on wether he'd plant himself in the runway (he didn't).

The trio of Pitts (darn good display actually).

The Namibians are somewhat out of practice with air shows, and when the Pitts team did their we-are-going-to-crash-head-on-and-die-in-flames pass the crowd literally shrieked in horror. They genuinely believed that was going to end in tears. Quaint.

And they found the end of the show very endearing. Goddamned greenhorns.

 

[Dorsland]

Looks like he really got into the spirit of things and got airsick too  :imaposer:

 

[westfrogger]

Airbus (with on-board computer going: Merde ... you want to land or not? Why you fly so slow you piece of sh...) and Harvards going Harry Flatters to keep up.

The Harvards got bored with straight-and-level and started doing tricks.

It was time for more warbirds ... faster warbirds ...

When last did any of you see a Blackburn Buccaneer flying? The entire solar system has only two rated and current Buccaneer pilots in it. And they were both strapped to this very one.

Mike (Beachy Head) was not shy with his gas mileage ... the Bucc spent most of it's flight putting the two Rolls Royce turbofans to good use propelling the 28-ton beast to a little beneath Mach 1. Note the shockwave trailing the aircraft ...

 

[westfrogger]

Looks like he really got into the spirit of things and got airsick too  :imaposer:

:spit coffee:

And from some distance away the unmistakable tune of a V12 engine ...

I'd heard big bore engines many times before, but what did surprise me of the Mustang was the 'blue note' from the gun barrels. You can stick your Italian superbike up your kazoo. I want a P-51 (and a bottomless PetroCard).

As the day wore on the light got worse, or better, depending on which way you look at it.

Oh look! A Huey! Wow!

Them again (where was #3?)

 

[westfrogger]

All too soon the show started drawing to a close. Many had left (the fools!) and the crowd line was starting to look deserted. The sound of 3000 horses approached from the east ...

That was just spectacular. The T-28 and P-51 took turns buzzing the crowd line at moerse speed. The sight alone was spectacular. Now add sound to that ... (sorry ... this transmission has to be interrupted because I was far too dumb to even consider shooting video – and sound – and instead watched the protracted aerial display while wiping copious amounts of drool ejecting from my mouth).

 

[westfrogger]

Two Flying Lions taking off for their dusk display ... this was going to be good (and fecking difficult to photograph).

They light up the smoke, and the effect is quite magical.

 

[westfrogger]

And for Dorsland a little more Sally.

(For the photographers: I had 5 seconds to get the shot. I really was on the wrong side of the fence and stood a real chance of getting into trouble. ISO 2000 and 1/6th of a second at 2.8 ... handheld (and none of this amateur image stabilisation rubbish).

One more ...

 

[woody1]

Jy kan sie die errie is oud.... ek het al vrouens gesien met sulke dimpels op hulle boude wat kom met ouderdom.  :imaposer:

 

[Dorsland]

Da-yum! These 3 are the money shots for me.  Holleeeee smoke those are great shots.  All of your pix are awesome but these 3, just beautiful  :drif:

 

[Dorsland]

Jy kan sie die errie is oud.... ek het al vrouens gesien met sulke dimpels op hulle boude wat kom met ouderdom.  :imaposer:

Ek skuif nou my S10 plan op die langebaan, P51 is my volgende speelding  :drif:

 

[RrP]

Awsome pics well done

 

[Malibu]

Your pics are absolutely stunning!  Mark Hardy, D and I have just spent a chunk of time admiring them!

 

[Chrisl]

don't expect anything between Keetmanshoop and Marienthal. There. Is. Nothing

You lie sir, there is Tses, Asab and Gibeon. :deal:
Tses and Gibeon just off the B1 and the mighty Asab just next to it.

If one drives that road regularly you need a strong mind :deal:

 

[wooly bugger]

Hey Bernard, that was just too much awesomeness! Well done, Sir!
What mix of lenses did you use?
Was this with that monster Nikon of yours, or did you steal a MF camera?

 

[westfrogger]

don't expect anything between Keetmanshoop and Marienthal. There. Is. Nothing

You lie sir, there is Tses, Asab and Gibeon. :deal:
Tses and Gibeon just off the B1 and the mighty Asab just next to it.

If one drives that road regularly you need a strong mind :deal:

On the plus side I'd like to see that stretch in summer after some rain. When the rivers have more to show than sand. Would hate to be a courier on that route ... or worse, a cyclist.