Once a year, the military base at MacDill near here opens its doors to the public with a huge airshow. Four hundred and fifty thousand people were there on Saturday, including us! Every single one of those people went through a security check, including walking through a metal detector. Think: airport security but with more guns!! The weather was hot and sunny and very, very windy! Besides the airshow going on in the sky - stunt planes, etc- there were planes all over the base that were open for the public to tour.
We toured this plane, entering from the tail. It is a virtual TV station, able to send signals down to the ground, blanketing an area up to two hundred miles. They put propaganda onto the TV stations of the enemy, signaling messages like "the war is lost" "you cannot win" "surrender now" etc. It made us think about the Enemy of our souls who likewise swirls around, unseen, but sending us signals that all is lost, give up!
Would you trust these pilots to fly you anywhere?! One of the most interesting aspects of the day was talking to the military personnel all over the base. Everyone we spoke to had been in combat at some point in their career, some in Desert Storm, others more recently. I was tremendously impressed with their politeness and poise.
Sam stands in the open tail of this huge troop carrier. It also can carry equipment such as tanks and trucks, and can be transformed into a hospital to evacuate wounded.
I am sitting in one of the seats where soldiers will sit as they are flown into the field. There are seats all around the perimeter, with space left in the center for equipment.
Having our snacks in the shade of a huge hangar, out of the sun and the wind. We had a wonderful day together. The airshow above our heads was also awesome - and very loud. I had to buy myself some ear plugs! The Americans are justifiably proud of their military and we enjoyed immersing ourselves in that culture for the day.
Would you trust these pilots to fly you anywhere?! One of the most interesting aspects of the day was talking to the military personnel all over the base. Everyone we spoke to had been in combat at some point in their career, some in Desert Storm, others more recently. I was tremendously impressed with their politeness and poise.
Sam stands in the open tail of this huge troop carrier. It also can carry equipment such as tanks and trucks, and can be transformed into a hospital to evacuate wounded.
I am sitting in one of the seats where soldiers will sit as they are flown into the field. There are seats all around the perimeter, with space left in the center for equipment.
Having our snacks in the shade of a huge hangar, out of the sun and the wind. We had a wonderful day together. The airshow above our heads was also awesome - and very loud. I had to buy myself some ear plugs! The Americans are justifiably proud of their military and we enjoyed immersing ourselves in that culture for the day.
Wow - I thought Abbotsford Airshow was big but it's less than half of the people at this one you were at. You and Sam just look like you are really enjoying yourselves in all the photos you post here - fun to see.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your happy, tanned faces and spending a few moments in Florida vicariously thorugh you. :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing myself, Rachel! Maybe we should have asked your parents to attach a web-cam for some of their events so we could REALLY experience it!! Although, I don't think the lovely smell of BBQing would come through... :-)
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