4 Second video of the M134 GE Minigun Rapid Fire

Must See Flashy Blue Angels and Thunderbirds Jet Pilot Cockpit Hand Signals!

Check out these cool hand signals from the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds as part of their daily ritual before taking off for their aerial demonstrations. This is one of the coolest parts of the show that many people miss!

Blue Angels and Thunderbirds Hand Signals

Touring the WWII bunkers of the D-Day Invasion at Normandy's Omaha Beach

This is quick tour of some of the bunkers and pillboxes Nazi Germany built to protect the French coast against an Allied invasion in Normandy.  These videos were taken around the vicinity of Omaha Beach's Fox Red Sector neat St Laurent.

War Memorials and existing Maginot Line sites around France's Colmar Pocket

If you visit the border of France and Germany, there are an amazing number of war memorials dedicated to the various fighting that took place in the region. Maginot Line bunkers line the countryside and tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces serve as memorials to those who died before us on the battlefields to preserve our freedom. Watch this video for a tour of some of the best spots to see in the Colmar Pocket region of France.

War Memorials and Maginot Line of the Colmar Pocket in France

Video of classic Vietnam War-era A-1D Skyraider Search and Rescue Mission with pyro

Video of shooting the M3 Grease Gun Sub Machine Gun

This is a video of shooting the M3 Grease Gun at the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot in April 2013.

Video: 30 Seconds Over Tokyo was alive again during the Doolittle Raiders 2012 Reunion

With the final surviving Doolittle Raiders traveling to Dayton, Ohio one more time in November to open their bottle of Hennessey and toast those who have gone before them, I thought I would break out the 2012 Doolittle Raiders Reunion video where over a dozen B-25's gathered in Urbana, Ohio and then eventually flew over to Dayton to commemorate the reunion.  Click below for the video:

2012 Doolittle Raiders Reunion with B-25's

Video of Gee Bee R2 1930's Racer flown by Delmar Benjamin: (Disney Planes El Chupacabra)

Ok... ok, this isn't military related, but it's hard to pass up. Ever seen the Gee Bee R2 air racer fly in person?  Well, if you have seen the original fly, then you are probably at least 100 years old. So, you probably haven't. However, a guy named Delmar Benjamin woooed air show crowds for years flying his exact replica of the Gee Bee R2.  Now, mind you, this is the same aircraft that killed a number of air race pilots in the early 1930's but also motored a younger Jimmy Doolittle to first place at the finish line at the Cleveland Air Races too. It's an amazing aircraft and even more amazing to keep airborne according to a number of pilots, including Delmar.

Enjoy this clip from an air show in the Phoenix, Arizona area, which also includes shots from a tail mounted camera.  It gives you a real neat perspective of this unique bird, which even Disney Planes used to model their El Chupacabra character after.

Watch the Gee Bee R2

Great Video of the USAF's F-15 Eagle Tactical Fighter demonstration: Raw power!

Video: Six Million Dollar Man Episode featuring the United States Air Force Thunderbirds

All Lee Majors fans take note!  Remember the all-time best episode of the Six Million Dollar Man?  No!  Not the Bigfoot episode.  NO!!  Not the bionic dog and bionic hot chick episode either. "The Thunderbird Connection," episode!

In The Thunderbird Connection, Steve Austin poses as a clandestine member of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Jet Demonstration team to save a Prince in a made-up Middle Eastern country that is being overrun by an evil dictator. Geez... sounds a little like today, without the poisonous gas!

Anyway, my friend John Lapointe (Thunderbird #2 during the 1976 and 1977 seasons) is in this episode.  This, I guess, would be one of the many perks of being a Thunderbird. I didn't know John at the time of the airing, but he later helped us all produce an air show by managing the jet teams (like VIPs) when they visited our air show each year. What a great resource and God Bless his soul.

This clip is a collection of random scenes including John and the rest of the crew.  It looks like three of the five pilots are "real" members, as Steve Austin "covertly" slips into #3 position (with his shaggy 1970's haircut and all). I know "Jinx" and "Fig" Newton (who eventually raised to the rank of General) are the real deal for sure. I'm unsure about the rest. Enjoy this classic!

Video of Shooting the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) at Knob Creek

If you enjoyed watching the Thompson shoot at Knob Creek, you will LOVE hearing the BAR rattle off a few rounds. It was a great opportunity to shoot this classic, but not cheap, as you can imagine.  Nevertheless, every gun and history enthusiast, especially those who study World War II should experience this sometime in their lives. It gives you an excellent perspective of what it was like for an 18-year old squad machine gunner to haul that thing on his back, or his shoulder or even over his head for miles and miles and then set it up to stop an enemy advance cold in its tracks. There is lots of power in this weapon.  Enjoy.

Shooting the BAR at Knob Creek

Video of Shooting the Thompson Machine Gun at Knob Creek's Annual Machine Gun Shoot

Have you ever wanted to experience the thrill of shooting the Thompson Machine Gun?  Do you think you could hit anything at all from 25-30 yards with this thing?  After shooting about 150 rounds through it, I am not entirely sure if I ever hit a damn thing.  Nevertheless, I still think about it every day. It was a great experience and the gun shot surprisingly smooth.  It seemed to jam a lot, but it was also hot and dirty from being constantly shot by most of the men and women in attendance, because of it's popularity.  If you ever get a chance to visit the Louisville, KY area in April or October, the Knob Creek show is a must stop. But get there early, you don't want to have to park too far from the action, as the parking lot can get pretty messy if there is significant rain.   Enjoy this footage:

Shooting the Thompson Machine Gun at Knob Creek

Video of the AH-64D Apache Longbow

I never get tired of the AH-64D Apache Longbow.  What a great attack helicopter.  If you are lucky enough to live in Mesa, Arizona, you can see dozens a day heading in and out of the Boeing Apache plant located in the heart of town, near Falcon Field. I'm sure the "locals" eventually get a little sick of seeing them fly over, but I sure never did.

This video was taken at the Cox Communications Air & Motor Spectacular at the old Williams Air Force Base, which has changed names a couple times since the facility's de-MIL.  It was Williams Gateway Airport at the time, but now it is Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport now.

Enjoy the action!  Just be glad you are not on the business end of this monster!

Watch the AH-64D Apache Longbow Tactical Demonstration

Great video of a C-130 dumping 3,000 gallons of water on Fire!

I love sharing this video. This is Woody Grantham's International Air Response C-130 dropping 3,000 gallons of water on pre-set pyrotechnics that we burned at our air show each year in Mesa, Arizona. Woody's operation, based at a semi-abandoned airfield in Chandler, Arizona includes the C-130 as well as a few other large aircraft he has converted for fire fighting.  It was a blast having them around to do this performance at the air show each year.  If you want to see more of the air show performances including the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, individual fighter aircraft demonstrations and aerobatic demonstrations, visit the Military History and Aviation Channel on YouTube.  Enjoy the video:

Doolittle Raiders Plan their Final Meeting ever in Dayton Nov 9, 2013

It looks like from the attached article that the Doolittle Raiders will be attending their final reunion ever November 9, 2013 in Dayton at the Air Force Museum. You don't want to miss this -- if the public is welcome!  Here's the article that ran in the Columbus Dispatch:

Doolittle Raiders Meeting For The Last Time

Check out a video of the most recent gathering of B-25's in honor of the Doolittle Raiders from the last reunion:  Video of B-25 Gathering to Honor Doolittle Raiders


Jimmy was flat out BAD ASS. They don't make men like him anymore.

  

I Love Great Air Show Videos

How much do you love military air shows?  Unfortunately, these days, they're a dying breed. With military cuts, the consolidation of aircraft into only a few aircraft type no longer provide the variety that old air shows used to provide. Unfortunately, static displays are dwindling because of funding and simple lack of aircraft, and less funds for air show producers.  However, we can still enjoy the videos, right?

Here is a great YouTube channel with hundreds of air show videos from 1997 to 2002, including the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the Air Force Thunderbirds Jet demonstration teams, The AH-64D Apache, A-10, F-15, F-16, and F-18 single ship demonstrations, as well as a host of ex-military aircraft and civilian aerobatic performers that will keep your thirst for world-class aviation quenched.

Great Air Show Videos

Enjoy and Keep 'Em Flying -

Captain Denim