Wings Over Wayne 2011

A couple of weeks ago, we drove to Goldsboro and experienced Wings Over Wayne.  Last year we went to the Winston Salem Airshow. By comparison, Wings Over Wayne was bigger, cheaper, and a closer drive - though aspects of the air show were markedly different  (i.e. no Harrier Jet).  The weather was perfect for sitting in the sun and watching the show.

Jonah saluting in front of a P-40 Warhawk from WWII

Side view of P-40 Warhawk

The P-40 is significant to us, because Kelly's grandfather, George Herbert Davis, flew one of these during WWII in the South Pacific theatre. Kelly has transcribed a journal of his grandfather's on another blog called Love Found Down Under, so named, because George met his future wife (Kelly's grandmother), Elisabeth Newton, while stationed in Australia during WWII.

Winston Salem Air Show

On Saturday we went to the Winston Salem Air Show. Kelly kept saying, "Jonah will love it," but in fact Dad was excited about it. I have always thought it would be cool to go to something like that but have never been. Despite a couple of runny noses, we packed up the kids and drove 2 hours to Winston Salem. We had to park a half mile away from the airport but the shuttles ended up being great. The show was spectacular. There were stunt planes and old war planes and a few scheduled flyby's from current military planes. It was so exciting just watching; I can't imagine flying those things. Jonah does love airplanes but I think he was a bit overwhelmed with the circus like atmosphere. Elisabeth cried every time a loud plane flew by which was frequent - poor thing! I hope she's not traumatized for life. Kelly claims he remembers being scared of the noise when he was little but loves it now. So there's hope I suppose. At one point, Jonah and I went around to tour some of the private planes and left Daddy and Elisabeth watching planes from a camp chair.



Here is Jonah checking out he cockpit of a Piper Cub.


He also got to go inside this plane:



The F-15 flyby - probably my favorite.


Here is video of the Harrier Jet. It is a jet plane that can take off and land like a helicopter.


I can't remember the name of this one. It was one of the loudest and one that Kelly got the most excited about and also the one that scared Elisabeth the most. The only thing I remember him saying about it is that it's a generation before the Stealth Bomber.


At the end, we went in the huge Helicopter:



Lots more pics here.