One of Those Days

 I looked at Marine Traffic last night and I saw that I had a chance to catch a few ships today.   What I didn't count on was that I was still not quite 100% and that the weather outside was miserable.  I was thinking about heading down to Detroit to catch those ships and I looked outside and saw the thick fog.  I figured it would be worse on the river and there would be no point, so I ended up staying home.  It didn't help that there was rain mixed in.  Either way, I ended up watching the Lions and that didn't really help.

Anyway, I try to get myself to do at least one picture and again I chose one of my diecast models.  This particular one is the F-35B version of the Lightning II.  It was the one that was meant to replace the Harrier and can theoretically take off vertically.  It can also hover like the Harrier, but it also sucks fuel like the Harrier when it does that.  While it looks like it uses two engines, It really uses one.  The nozzle can turn down and there is an opening in the bottom that provides the vertical thrust.  I think the vents can be adjusted so that the thrust can be angled for short take off or when you need slow speeds.

After some issues getting it launched, it seems like they are working out the bugs and it is finally seeing service.

Thunder Over Michigan - 2023 Part I

 It was the day of the air show.  I couldn't wait to get there.

An F-35 taking off.  More about that later.

First up was a demonstration of the KC-135.  

The Air Force had a need to replace the KC-97 aerial tanker.  The KC-97 was a propellor driven plane that was sort of based on the B-29.  The Air Force was looking for a jet.

The KC-135 was based on the Boeing 707 airframe.  And it first flew on August 31, 1956.

The plane entered operational service the next year.

This version of the KC-135 is nothing like the original version.  This one has more powerful engines and improved avionics.  Given the issues they are having with the replacement tanker,  this could end up flying a few more years.

Apparently this is the 100th Anniversary of aerial refueling.  And this plane has flown for almost 70% of it.

Next up was a P-51 Mustang.

The P-51 Mustang is almost the perfect plane.  The wings are designed with maximum lift with minimal drag.

The engine was originally developed by the British because it was originally going to be a British plane.

The Americans took the design and improved it.

A heritage flight with the the T-33.  More on that plane later.

The P-51 Mustang was an earlier model without the bubble canopy.

They could almost do a heritage flight of mustangs.

The P-51 doing a fly by.

Next up was a demonstration of the T-33.

The T-33 was developed from the P-80 Shooting Star.

The P-80 Shooting Star was developed in part by famed aircraft designer Kelly Johnson.

The P-80 first flew on Junuary 8, 1944.  It would become operational the next year.

The P-80 remained in service for 5 years and 1,715 were built in that time.

The T-33 was a trainer based on the P-80.  The fuselage was lengthened to accommodate two spots.

It first entered service in 1948.  It served many allied nations and was finally retired in 2017.

A C-47 coming in for a landing.  The C-47 is the military version of the DC-3.

A pair of P-51s.  The top plane is an older model.  The bottom plane is a newer model with a bubble canopy.

Another picture of the two planes.

A B-17 Flying Fortress coming in for a landing.

Next up was the Canadian CF-118 Hornet.

It is based on the American F/A-18 and has many of the same characteristics.

It was pretty cool to see.

One more shot.

The F-35s came back.

These are the F-35B variants which are used by the Marines and RAF.

It can take off and land vertically, although we didn't get to see that.

Next up was the F-22 Raptor.

This was pretty cool to see.

It is amazing what this plane can do.

I like this shot.

A pass with afterburners and it was loud.

Nice vapor trails.

Making a quick climp.

A pass.

The weapons bay open.

I love this.  It looks like it is engaging a cloaking device.

The vapor trails very evident.

A nice climb.

Another pass.

The FF is for First Fighter and it is based at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.  This squadron used to be based at Selfridge.

I love this shot.

Vapors coming out of the intake.

ONe more.

Then it was used to do a heritage flight with the P-51 Mustang.

I believe this represents the beginning and current point of the US Air Force.

The P-51 Mustang was one of the first planes that the Air Force used.

The F-22 is used by the current Air Force.

Both planes are feared in their respective eras.

ONe more pass before the break off.