Novemeber 8 and 9, 2008, NASA celebrated its 50th anniversary with a spectacular airshow at
the Kennedy Space Center outside of Cocoa, Florida. It was a beautiful day with a light breeze,
temperatures in the low 80s, as several thousand people gathered on the causeway at Kennedy. We
were treated to amazing feats of aerobatics. Below are a few photos from that day. Hope you enjoy.
Welcome to NASA
The Stars and Stripes being flown in by a parachutist from the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles" jump team.
101st Airborne Screaming Eagle Parachute Canopy
Air Force Reserve Bi-Plane
An Air Rescue team conducted a demonstration of a rescue. This is the C-130 cargo plane they use.
An Air Rescue HH-60 helicopter swoops in to the rescue...
...an retrieves the stranded pilot.
HH-60 helicopter in flight.
The Air Rescue C-130 cargo plane can refuel two HH-60 helicopters in flight, dramatically extending their flight time.
B-25J Bomber - Belly View
B-25J Bomber - Belly View
The Castrol Aviator stunt plane performed incredible aerobatic acts!
The F-16 Falcon is so fast I had a difficult time catching it with the camera!
Air Force history: A modern F-16 and a Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom in a side-by-side flyby.
F-4 Phantom making a "dirty" pass (wheels, flaps, and tailhook extended).
Navy F-18 Super Hornet.
Naval history: An F-18 Super Hornet and a WWII Corsair in a side-by-side flyby. Both were carrier-launched fighters.
Corsair in dirty pass.
The amazingly fast F-104 Starfighter in a close flyby.
The United States Navy's Blue Angels flies with a large support team transported by their C-130 cargo plane
affectionately called "Fat Albert". It has impressive short-takeoff capabilities.
"Fat Albert" banking through a turn.
The Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team currently flies F-18 Hornets.
Two Blue Angels make a dirty flyby, one of which is inverted.
Navy Blue Angels in a diamond formation.
Blue Angels in a diamond formation making a staggered roll.
Blue Angels in a diamond formation making a knife-edge pass.
The Blue Angels fly within 18" of each other!
Blue Angels in formation
The United State Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team - 2008