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I have mixed feeling about this attempt.  When Joe Kittinger jumped, it was all part of the research being done for the space program.  They wanted to determine if it was feasible for astronauts to bail out of a crippled spacecraft at high altitudes.

I can't help thinking the only reason Red Bull is doing this is as a publicity stunt...

The rest of my pictures from the recovery are at:  http://johnwright.smugmug.com/Military/Aircraft/SB2C-4-Helldiver-Recovery

I believe so...  I think there's something like five SB2Cs of all dash numbers left in existence and only one is flying.

I know this is not Arizona news, but I thought, as aviation aficionados, the members here would be interested in this...

A rare SB2C-4 Helldiver was recovered from the waters of Lower Otay Reservoir yesterday.   Below is the link to my gallery of images of the recovery, more of which will be posted as I process them.

http://johnwright.smugmug.com/Military/Aircraft/SB2C-4-Helldiver-Recovery/13430546_QZ4m5#977403831_9q9Wd

I'm on the base at Miramar at least once a week, but I don't go there with the intention of taking pictures.  Even among the members of our local club here in San Diego, I've only heard of one incident where someone trying to shoot from off base was approached by the Marines.

Something you have to remember is that all the vacant land to the East, West and South of the base still belongs to the Marines.  Anywhere you might want to go to shoot is going to be on their property. 

Miramar took a lot of flak over the crash of an F/A-18 in a residential neighborhood in December 2008, yet there was no change in their media procedures at the air show last year. 

By the way, there are Ospreys at Miramar.  I saw one making an approach a couple of weeks ago.

My beef is with the Public Affairs Office and the command structure at D-M for their media treatment.  I spoke to a colleague that lives in Phoenix and he told me that the D-M PAO is chronically difficult to work with.   

I, too, attended the show at Luke last year and their handling of the media was very different.  I was mailed a parking pass that allowed me to park on the base a short walk from the flight line and I was allowed free run of the show area and access to the shooting platform.  When I covered the show at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside in 2008, we had a covered area right at the show line to shoot from and water was privided.  Again, we had the run of the show area.

In my experience, by far the best treatment of media by the military is provided by the Marines at Miramar.  They provide a designated parking lot, rides from the lot to the media chalet, food, water, a covered area and a raised shooting platform.

After the debacle with my media credential leading to my skipping the show altogether, and what's been said here about the bag hassles, I doubt I will think about attending a show here again...  It's not worth a 400 mile trip for that kind of hassle.

Nice stuff here, everyone!

I bailed on the show, even though I was in the area.  There was a principle at stake and I chose to not attend the show because of it.  When the policy is to allow the general public admission and the freedom to roam the show area at will, but require that legitimate credentialed media have an escort in the same area, something is wrong.

So now we get to the universal question:

Will DM enforce the policies as written or will they be like Nellis and Luke over the last couple of years and actually allow camera bags (even huge ones)?

Photo Vest FTW!

Expect them to enforce the policies strictly.

I just got a call from the PAO and they're saying if you want to be credentialed and have access to the media shooting area, then you have to stay there or be escorted if you want to leave the shooting area. 

If they're getting this restrictive with the media, then expect them to rigidly enforce the rules for the general public.

My media credential for the show has been approved so I'll be attending both days.

I've decided that I don't want to do a two-hour drive down and back from Florence each day so I'm staying over Saturday night.  I'm not going to go down for the arrivals on Friday.

So now we get to the universal question:

Will DM enforce the policies as written or will they be like Nellis and Luke over the last couple of years and actually allow camera bags (even huge ones)?

Photo Vest FTW!

I like the bit about military uniforms being worn by non-military members...

[F-35]

Does anyone plan on carpooling down to Tucson for the show?  How about El Centro and returning that night?  Would like to get in a couple shows with one T-Birds and one Blue Angels before I move back east.  Don't think my wife would be up for these and I don't want to drive solo to them.  I sure more will happen as it gets closer.  By the way I'm out in San Tan Valley (Queen Creek), Ironwood and Ocotillo.

John

I'm coming out for the show and my wife and I will be staying with her parents who live about 15 miles south of Queen Creek just off the E Hunt Highway.  Maybe we can work out something.  We'll be coming into town on the 18th.

Static or flying?

D-M's website has it on the static list:

On Static Display...
The following aircraft will be also available for public viewing: A-10C, HH60G, HC-130P, EC-130H, F-16 Block 60, F-15C, F-15E, F-35, F-22, F/A-18, E-3, RC-135, P-3C, C-12, T-38, T-1, T-6, T-45, CH-46, HH-1, AH-64, OH-58, MH-65, F-14, Starship, MiG-19, P-51, A-1, Mig-17, Nanchang Haiyan, CJ-6, L-29, L-39, T-28, T-34, AT-6, T-33, C-45, hot air balloons, Glider, Super Decathlon, OH-6, UH-60, A Star.

There is an F-35 mock-up floating around.  I remember seeing it at Miramar several years ago.  I hope that isn't what they are going to have on display at DM...

Jason, that is indeed Sagar...  In fact, he took this shot of me with my camera.



Mitch, definitely no in-flight service.  Does the picture answer your question about comfort?  

Inside a C-2 in flight...

E-2 prepped for launch on USS Ronald Reagan...



Launch...



Climbing out...