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Cool topic. I just got back from a trip to the Florida panhandle last week.
Flew out of Flint MI, which is a great little airport; very new, and similar in size to London. Flew out the Saturday of the big blizzard here, which fortunately didn't reach Flint. Had to make a stop in Atlanta. Now there is one busy airport! Had a 4 hour wait there, so watched a lot of aircraft coming and going. Must be a take-off and landing about every 20 seconds or so. Really is amazing to watch. Anyway, from there flew to Pensacola, FL, and stayed a week in Destin FL. Pensacola airport is also quite small; about the same as Flint. Lots of US Navy servicemen on the flight...I wonder why??
One of the best things about Destin is the proximity to Okaloosa Regional Airport, which happens to be shared with Eglin AFB. All week, there were F-15's coming and going out of there, it was like watching an airshow everyday! Lots of other aircraft around too, including F-18's (presumably from Pensacola), A-10's, C-130's, lots of different choppers, and even a few KC-135's (thought of you Gerry when I saw these). Quite often they would fly right along the beach...I think they were showing off a bit. One day, we also heard 2 sonic booms coming from out over the ocean. That is quite the sensation...you can really feel the shock wave! I had read that Eglin was one of very few AFB that allowed sonic booms.
We took a trip to the National Armament Museum at Eglin, but it was unfortunately closed for repairs. Lots of cool aircraft outside though, including an SR-71 Blackbird.
We also spent a day at the Pensacola NAS Naval Aviation museum. That is an incredible place. Must have just about every Navy aircraft ever made there, and looking like they just came out of the factory. Saw an Imax flick on aviation (mostly the Blues), and tried out the flight simulator as well. Too bad the Blues weren't back from out west yet. Did see a lot trainers flying around...mostly Texan II's and T-39 Sabreliners, as well as a couple of T-2's.
On the way back, saw quite a few USAF Texan II's flying in and out of Pensacola airport. I wish I had my binoculars with me though. Across the airfield, where the GA aircraft were sitting, were about 4 or 5 red tailed aircraft. Couldn't tell what they were, but I'm thinking maybe T-6's. Guess I'll never know.
Anyway, a fun trip, and lots of aircraft to boot!
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