World Through My Eyes: 2023.09.29 Pacific Airshow at Huntington Beach

I like to watch airplanes flying in the sky, it gives me a feeling of freedom and unrestrainedness. Watching the air show added some excitement and thrill. We went to Huntington Beach on September 29, 2023 to see the air show. Older planes are with cute shapes. The new advanced streamlined fighter jets sometimes appear silently, then suddenly accelerate and rush out from behind, startling everyone. I don't know much about airplanes. The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II or EA-18G Growler and F/-18 Super Hornet are very similar in appearance. I can only use Google Lens to search for the information so please bear with me if the airplanes are not recognized correctly. Occasionally, a few seabirds, not wanting to be left out, want to show off their skills and join the performance. The fast fighter often tests my reaction speed when pressing the shutter. Photos with missing heads, missing wings, or nothing at all can happen. Sometimes the pilot deliberately slows down the flight speed so that we can capture the handsome figure of the aircraft, but the smoke that follows is mixed with the thick smell of gas and oil, making us dumbfounded. Although the flight performance can be seen on video, it is more fun and exciting to watch it live.
我很喜歡看飛機翱翔在天空，給我一種自由奔放的感覺，看飛行表演更加添了一些興奮及刺激。我們2023年9月29日到亨廷頓海灘 (Huntington Beach) 看飛行表演。古老一點的飛機，有著可愛的造型。新型先進的流線型戰鬥機，有時無聲無息悄然出現，然後突然加速轟然從背後衝出，把大家嚇一大跳。我平常對飛機沒有研究，F-22 "猛禽" 戰鬥機 (Raptor) 及 F35 "閃電II" (Lightning II) 或者 EA-18G “咆哮者” 及 F/A-18 “大黄蜂” 外型很像，我只能用Google Lens 來搜尋資料，如果飛機辨識錯誤，只好請包涵了。在飛行表演當中，偶爾也會看到幾隻海鳥不甘寂寞，想大展身手加入表演的行列。神速的戰鬥機，常是檢測我按快門的反應速度，缺頭、缺翼、或全不見身影的照片都是會發生的。有時飛行員還故意放慢飛行速度，讓我們能捕捉飛機俊美的身影，只是跟著而來的煙霧夾雜著濃濃的氣油味，讓我們哭笑不得。雖然在影片上可以看到飛行表演，現場看還是更有趣、更刺激。

Image Gallery-Click to enlarge 圖片庫-點擊放大

Parachute Team 降落傘隊

U.S. Army Golden Knights and the Leap Frogs Navy Parachute Team were seen in the jump. The Leap Frogs Navy Parachute Team is made up of active-duty Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) and support personnel.

Aerobatics 特技飛行

Bird(s) wanting to be a part of the action 也想參一腳的鳥

Ace Maker Aviation T–33 Shooting Star

The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. It was used by the U.S. Navy initially as TO-2, then TV-2, and after 1962, T-33B. The last operator of the T-33, the Bolivian Air Force, retired the type in July 2017, after 44 years of service.

Tom Larkin - SubSonex Mini Jet

MINI JET AIRSHOWS is a lifelong dream of the pilot Tom “Lark” Larkin. Having watched the BD-5J perform as a child at a local airshow, and then later becoming a fighter pilot, airline pilot, and aerobatic pilot; it was always his dream to do airshows in a “mini” jet. SubSonex Mini Jet is a light-weight jet perfect for high energy acrobatic flying. Tom “Lark” Larkin is an Air Force Veteran, served in Northern Iraq in support of Operation Northern Watch and Provide Comfort. He was later selected as an Instructor for the Air Force Fighter Lead-In School in the AT-38.

U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler and/or U.S. Navy F/-18 Super Hornet

The EA-18G Growler is a variant in the F/A-18 family of aircraft that combines the proven F/A-18F Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. Built to replace the EA-6B Prowler, the Growler is the first newly-designed electronic warfare aircraft produced in more than 35 years. The aircraft also retains all of the F/A-18E/F's multi-mission capabilities with its validated design and the capability to perform a wide range of enemy defense suppression missions. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entered fleet service in 1999, as the replacement for the F-14 Tomcat. The Super Hornet is the second major model upgrade since the inception of the F/A-18 aircraft program highly capable across the full mission spectrum: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and day/night precision strike. The single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F are high performance, twin-engine, mid-wing, and multi-mission tactical aircraft designed to replace the F/A-18C (single-seat) and F/A-18D (two-seat) aircraft as they reach the end of their service lives and retire.

U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules

The C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. The C-130 operates throughout the U.S. Air Force, serving with Air Mobility Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Pacific Air Forces, Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve Command, fulfilling a wide range of operational missions in both peace and war situations. Basic and specialized versions of the aircraft airframe perform a diverse number of roles, including airlift support, Antarctic ice resupply, aeromedical missions, weather reconnaissance, aerial spray missions, firefighting duties for the U.S. Forest Service and natural disaster relief missions.

Lyon Air Museum C-47 "Willa Dean"

Known as the “Willa Dean,” the Lyon Air Museum’s C-47 is one of the most complete and original C-47s currently in operation and has been flying since 1941. The Lyon Air Museum was founded by Major General William Lyon and is located in Orange County, CA. On exhibit at the museum are authentic aircraft, rare vehicles and related memorabilia with an emphasis on the defining event of the 20th Century – World War II.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

The Snowbirds, officially known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Snowbirds' official purpose is to "demonstrate the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel". The team also provides a public relations and recruiting role, and serves as an aerial ambassador for the Canadian Armed Forces. The Snowbirds are the first Canadian air demonstration team to be designated as a squadron.

Opener BlackFly

The Opener BlackFly is an American electric-powered VTOL personal air vehicle designed by Canadian engineer Marcus Leng. It was publicly revealed in 2018, after nine years of development. The aircraft is intended to be supplied complete and ready-to-fly and Opener are in the process of starting production at their Palo Alto, California site. The manufacturer claims that the design is the world's first ultralight fixed-wing, all-electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Investors in the company include Google co-founder Larry Page.

Helicopters 直升機

Red Bull - Bo-105 Helicopter

In 1963, the company MBB (known today as Eurocopter) began thinking about building 2-ton-class helicopters. The Federal Republic of Germany indicated its willingness to provide financial support, and extensive project studies were begun at what was then known as Bölkow-Entwicklungen KG. The essential concept was not the helicopter, however, but rather a new type of rotor system around which a helicopter was to be developed. In 1966, promising tests began on a hingeless rotor system. The BO-105 was the first light helicopter in the world to be equipped with twin engines, fully redundant hydraulics, fully redundant electronics and its fuel and oil supplies built into the engines. Aaron Fitzgerald is an ATP-rated helicopter pilot with more than 9,000 flight hours and is an active member of The Flying Bulls and Red Bull Air Force in the U.S.

U.S. Air Force KC-135

The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years. This unique asset enhances the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary mission of global reach. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. The KC-135 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor is combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force.

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight - P-51D Mustang

The F-35A is the U.S. Air Force’s latest fifth-generation fighter. It will replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, which have been the primary fighter aircraft for more than 20 years, and bring with it an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which it was designed to operate. With its aerodynamic performance and advanced integrated avionics, the F-35A will provide next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940. The aircraft was first flown operationally by the RAF as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I).

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron ("Thunderbirds") is the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force (USAF). The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 57th Wing, and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Created 70 years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team (under the same name) in the world, after the French Air Force Patrouille de France formed in 1931 and the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946. The Thunderbirds Squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked aircraft. The squadron's name is taken from the legendary creature that appears in the mythologies of several indigenous North American cultures.