NAS Jacksonville Air Show 2011
Celebrating a 100 Years of Naval Aviation, NAS Jacksonville on the Florida East Coast opened its doors to the public on November 5-6. The NAS Jax Air Show 2011 was held for the 28th time in history and welcomed back the Blue Angels to their initial birthplace. Despite the chilling temperatures of 15°C or less during the weekend, well over 200.000 people attended the air show that brought two days of exciting flying performances and static displays.
The US Navy (USN) has reached a major milestone this year with 100 years of flying operations, evidently titled the 'Centennial Of Naval Aviation' (CONA). For this occasion, various USN squadrons have painted one or more of their aircraft in typical historic paint schemes of which some were invited and parked on the show's static display.
Home based patrol squadron VP-30 also applied a special CONA paint scheme to one of their P-3C Orion aircraft. It is a tribute to a particular PBY-5A Catalina flying boat flown by VP-44 during World War II, known as 'Strawberry 5'. This Catalina was used to locate the Japanese fleet shortly before the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Marking the first P-3 demonstration flight at NAS Jacksonville in five years, VP-30 was added to the performers list and entertained the crowd with several flight passes and a short field landing demonstration.
Headliner of the show, United States Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron 'Blue Angels' had the privilege to give the show's closing performance each day. The team celebrates their 65th anniversary this year and while based at NAS Pensacola since 1954, right here at NAS Jacksonville is where it all began. The Blue Angels were formed here right after World War II in 1946, which makes performing at NAS Jacksonville always a special event for the team as well as the base and the public. "Well worth waiting for!" said spectator John Brentwick, sitting in a folding chair next to his wife Barbara. "Although it's pretty cold today, we're here to support these great performers!".
Last living member of the original Blue Angels team, 92-year-old Alfred 'Al' Taddeo was the air show's guest of honor. He and his wife Joan flew in from California to watch the Blue Angels perform at NAS Jacksonville with great pleasure. Although budget restrains prevents the naval base from opening its door to the public next year, NAS Jacksonville anticipates on organizing another Air Show in 2013.
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Phodocu would like to thank NAS Jacksonville Public Affairs for their great support | Text + photos © Phodocu