Flights delayed at Brownsville Airshow

March 10, 2007
If you took out the gasoline explosions from the ground, the 4-team kites and the dirtbike jumping, there was not much to the air show. And we have seen better formations at Boca Chica watching the pelicans. That said, the Commenorative Air Force annual air show was an airshow and it was neat seeing the military planes of old and new. That big cargo B-25, like the ones Kathy saw restored in Kissame, FL, in the air just defies gravity! Seeing the F-15 is one thing, but hearing it thunder by is another. Seven fast colorful planes in the sky flying wingtip to wingtip and changing formations high above was a thrill; it could have been great if it were done a little closer to spectators. The stunt flights of the bi-plane reminded us of friends Pat and Barbara who fly their bi-plane in Florida. We recalled flying in a bi-plane over Key West with JMe! Other planes in the show included a Bearcat, C-47, AT-6 and some Japanese planes.



We arrived at the airport after sitting in traffic a while. We walked through the trade show building and along the stationary displays of military planes. We walked through the FedEx cargo plane thinking of the movie Castaway. We brought along folding chairs and set up near the flightline. Mary and Bob arrived; we connected via our cell phones. What did we use to do before them?! The show started at noon and ended about five with lots of dead air time in between. But that was okay as it gave us time to rest our necks and chat a bit. We sat a few rows back from the flightline and it never seeses to amaze us how unaware people are of themselves. People would stand blocking the view for everyone sitting, move to right in front of those of us sitting and walk right in front of us and stop, stand talk.


There was a large speaker about 100 yards from us. We had purposely not sat near it. Some guy in a flight suit would walke up and turn that speaker to face us. A man sitting several yards from the speaker would wait til the guy in the flight suit left, then he would turn the speaker back away. We were glad he did it so we didn't have to walk over and turn it. The two did this several times and finally the flightsuit guy did not return.


Kathy decided to go for funnel cake. She walked over to the funnel cake stand and found you had to get tickets to pay for the food and drinks so off she went to the ticket stand. She had to stand in the ticket line with lots of others so watched the planes as she waited. When she got to the window the lady sent her to a tiny sign on the side of the stand to decide what she wanted and how many tickets it would be. She decided on a turkey leg and a funnel cake, that was 10 tickets at $1 each. Then she had to get back in the line to get the tickets. Tickets in hand she went to the turkey leg booth and stood in that line for about 10 minutes. The line never moved and she asked the guys in front of her if there were any turkey legs. The guys laughed and said maybe they had to go kill some turkeys. Kathy walked to the front of the line and asked the kid behind the counter if they would be more turkey legs today. He said they were on the grill and would be out in about ten or fifteen minutes. She went to the funnel cake stand and stood in that line. A short wait of about ten minutes brought her to the front of the line. She ordered funnel cake and tornato potato gave the man her tickets. He said to wait on the side of the booth for the order so she got into another line. Another short wait of ten minutes of so and she had her salty potato dripping with hot oil and a funnel cake smothered with powdered sugar. Yum.

We watched the last planes taxie and tie down for the evening. Mary and Bob had headed out. We doddled watching children getting autographs from the pilots. Kathy walked up and got one too, memories of aerospace days in her head. We worked our way back across the runway where a little guy was in his own little plane peddling along. The trade booths were closing us as we walked by. Outside we met up with Mary and Bob waiting out the traffic. We decided to "tailgate" at our place. Spending time sharing thoughts brings us closer. We like your company! And those cherry filled chocolate kisses are yummy! Vehicales lined up and slowly moved along, a few planes flew high overhead, a large balloon drifted into the clouds and we sat talking. Soon we were the only ones in the grass fields and decided to go our separate ways. Mary and Bob headed back to Harlingen and we headed to Boca Chica beach.


Two other motor homes were parked along the road. We parked in our usual spot at the end of the road and walked out along the shore. Piles of seaweed hold the ocean waves from coming in, a few vehicles drive past and pelicans soar in formation dipping down to the water for a good look. Inside the roadtrek we had a salad for dinner and watched the some West Wing. To get caught up we watched the last episode of season 5 and then the first few of season 6.

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