Fun day! My favorite was the C-17. Here are some pics.

What is the purpose of the cut-away center section of the engine nacelle? It is open to the outside and has a white grid covering:



This C-16 was minty new with 400 flight hours:



A HUD on a cargo plane? What will they think of next!



Here I am at the controls, preparing to take off. Always look confident in front of the troops, even if you don't know what the bleep you are doing!

Neat pics!  Thanks for sharing!  Any F-22's at the show?

Did not go.  Threw the idea around with my fiance and she would've gone if I did, but we just decided not to.  Her and I have seen plenty of jets together anyway.

The Blue Angels already flew directly over my head about 100ft off the ground in the diamond on Thursday when they were practicing.  Quite a few more passes after too, but none directly over my head after that first run.  F-18's kick ass, I love'm.  Someone I know that works at VSP (right next to Mather) said they were passing close to their building, so they'd wave at them and on the next run they'd wave back.

No, no F-22

The simulated A-10 attacks with huge pyrotecnic explosions almost made up for it though.

Americans love explosions!

OMFG why did you have to tell me about that?  I am so sad I missed it now.   *sniffle*

The A-10 was my favorite jet growing up and the Cobra my favorite chopper.  They still are.  Dang, I can't believe I missed that.

The white grid you were seeing was part of the thrust reversers.

-d