I had buddies that had boats and we’d head down to the lake for the air show. We weren’t tied up to the flotilla so they made everyone idle and no anchor. I don’t get sea sick, but that exhaust made me nauseous.

The first year, I didn’t know about the two solos that buzz the boats. They have either the diamond in a slow pattern or the single doing that “almost stall” move to get your attention, then wham! One of the solos buzzes us from the opposite direction. After that, knew what was coming and was more fun to watch reaction of others. 

When I did a lot of work at Andersen, we’d be on the flight line often. Andersen is mostly a transient base, but there were times when we’d see an amazing variety of airframes come through. I still like seeing the older planes like U-2 and P-3, but always amazed at the new(er) ones like the 22 and 35. Those suckers are amazing!

"I don’t get sea sick".
You haven't been out sailing with me.
I generally didn't bother going out unless Small craft
warnings were issued.
I'm a sailor "that feels the need for speed".

The Thunderbirds' "Bomb Burst" was always a favorite formation.

While the crowd is watching 4 planes do a vertical climb, start their smoke trails, then at the top arc away from each other into 4 "corners", the fifth plane comes from behind the crowd at twice the speed of the others, climb sthrough the smoke trails straight up to where the others arced, the does a corkscrew for another few seconds above where the other planes stopped their climb.  I always said it looked like a peeled banana, but bomb burst sounds better.   

The fifth plane sneaking up on the crowd at relatively low altitude and like a bat out of hell caught those who didn't know what was coming by surprise.   

"I don’t get sea sick".
You haven't been out sailing with me.
I generally didn't bother going out unless Small craft
warnings were issued.
I'm a sailor "that feels the need for speed".

First, you are THE baddest man and/or woman that ever walked the planet. Evar!

I’ve been out on some rough seas. Been out deep sea for halibut a few times. Couple of those were pretty hairy until we got out in the open ocean. About an hour of Deadliest Catch stuff, well, except maybe 30 degrees warmer. Felt fine. Even a couple of my normal fishing buddies were chumming the water on that 1 hour or so of rough water.

I worked at Boeing field for over twenty years so saw the Blue Angels every year.
I could stand on the taxiway and see the start and end of the show in person just yards away.

When I worked at Pt Mugu, had a 2nd floor office in one of the old hangars that looked out onto an apron.   One airshow they were using is for static displays.  An F-16 from a NG outfit taxied in right below my window.   That plane is small.   He came in and did a tight turn to get into his spot.  Looked like a guy driving a sports car around.

While the crowd is watching 4 planes do a vertical climb, start their smoke trails, then at the top arc away from each other into 4 "corners", the fifth plane can from behind the crowd at twice the speed of the others, climb through the smoke trails straight up to where the others arced, the do a corkscrew for another few seconds above where the other planes stopped their climb.  I always said it looked like a peeled banana, but bomb burst sounds better.   

The fifth plane sneaking up on the crowd at relatively low altitude and like a bat out of hell caught those who didn't know what was coming off guard.   

Used to take two scanners with me to the shows, to monitor two different frequencies.   Fun to track what the solos were up to while the diamond did thier thing.   Very little chatter, just the boss calling out tasks like boards, smoke, etc.

First, you are THE baddest man and/or woman that ever walked the planet. Evar!

I’ve been out on some rough seas. Been out deep sea for halibut a few times. Couple of those were pretty hairy until we got out in the open ocean. About an hour of Deadliest Catch stuff, well, except maybe 30 degrees warmer. Felt fine. Even a couple of my normal fishing buddies were chumming the water on that 1 hour or so of rough water.

Not really, Thanks for the compliment, but it took me a few years to find out how to
not get seasick. In my case don't drink any coffee or OJ.
Halibut fishing, Columbia bar on a bad day, or Juan deFuca
and Georgia straights in Gale winds,  that was the trick.
I never kept Coffee, tea, or OJ on my boats, once I figured it out.
Beer was OK, as was water.  But any thing acidic or Caffeinated NO!

Not really, Thanks for the compliment, but it took me a few years to find out how to
not get seasick. In my case don't drink any coffee or OJ.
Halibut fishing, Columbia bar on a bad day, or Juan deFuca
and Georgia straights in Gale winds,  that was the trick.
I never kept Coffee, tea, or OJ on my boats, once I figured it out.
Beer was OK, as was water.  But any thing acidic or Caffeinated NO!

My brother is 2 1/2 years older.  When I was about 10, the family went to Carolina Beach for a weekend.  My grandfather got a goot deal to go deep sea fishing with my brother and me.  My brother was asking the whole time we were waiting to board if they HAVE TO take me.  He was saying things like, "He's just going to get sea sick and not catch any fish."

When we came back, my grandfather had about 10, I had 13, and my brother caught zero!  He spent the entire time lying down in the cabin or bent over the railing wrenching his guts out!   

He didn't talk to me much after that ..... ever.      

I've been in the co-pilot seat of a T-37 "Tweety Bird" training jet doing alleron rolls, barrel rolls and steep dives to lower altitude.  No problems.  We only had one cadet barf on the orientation flight, and he was one of our pilot candidates!     At least he got to keep his mask as a souvenir.   

My brother is 2 1/2 years older.  When I was about 10, the family went to Carolina Beach for a weekend.  My grandfather got a goot deal to go deep sea fishing with my brother and me.  My brother was asking the whole time we were waiting to board if they HAVE TO take me.  He was saying things like, "He's just going to get sea sick and not catch any fish."

When we came back, my grandfather had about 10, I had 13, and my brother caught zero!  He spent the entire time lying down in the cabin or bent over the railing wrenching his guts out!   

He didn't talk to me much after that ..... ever.      

I've been in the co-pilot seat of a T-37 "Tweety Bird" training jet doing alleron rolls, barrel rolls and steep dives to lower altitude.  No problems.  We only had one cadet barf on the orientation flight, and he was one of our pilot candidates!     At least he got to keep his mask as a souvenir.   

I got to fly on an airplane now known as Airforce 1.
The USAF colonel flying that day was having fun.
You cannot believe what a 747 can do.
I went weightless and then seconds later a few G's while watching
cattle roam, we were that low!
Air sickness is way different than sea sickness.
You can level out an aircraft, the ocean doesn't stop.

I got to fly on an airplane now known as Airforce 1.
The USAF colonel flying that day was having fun.
You cannot believe what a 747 can do.
I went weightless and then seconds later a few G's while watching
cattle roam, we were that low!
Air sickness is way different than sea sickness.
You can level out an aircraft, the ocean doesn't stop.

True about differences in motion sickness.  Some are more affected than others.  Sometimes it's just about having a bad day!

In high school, a classmate and I were asked by our JROTC colonel to compete in a state-wide navigation contest.

I had been the newbie competing for our unit the year before, so I was tagged as the 2-man team lead.  My partner wanted to be a pilot, but at that point had zero experience other than the navigation lessons we went though in ROTC class.

Anyway, my partner stayed up all night drinking.  I was up with him and a couple of his friends the night before, too, but I didn't drink.  I think he was still feeling it when we arrived at 8AM to start the pre-brief.

We were given a triangular course to navigate.  We sat down as teams and planned the course using weather info provided to us.  Then we were assigned a pilot who took us up in a small aircraft to actually perform our flight plan.

Being the lead, I sat up front with the pilot.  The aircraft was a twin engine Beechcraft.  My partner sat behind the pilot.

The winds were stronger than the speeds we were provided, so we were blown a little off course.  We spotted the first checkpoint city off to the left, but we weren't 100% sure that was really it.  After another minute, the pilot asked, "So, I  guess that was the checkpoint.  What now?"

From the rear, we hear, "Do a 180 and go back!!"  So, the pilot says, "okay," and does a banking turn heading back. 

That's when we heard something else from the back ..... "Oh, shit!"

The pilot looked at my buddy and could tell he was about to barf.  She tells me, "Take the wheel!"  So, I'm keeping the plane steady as she hands a barf bag from her purse to my partner in the nick of time.     She opened the air vents to give him some fresh air (and to try to get rid of the smell in the cockpit!   ).  I think that's when he finally realized having that big breakfast on the way to the airport to try and sober up was a major error.   

My partner's one job was to write down the time of takeoff and keep track of the times we reach each checkpoint.  Part of the grade was seeing how close our predicted times matched actual flight time.  Without a starting time, nothing could be compared or calculated inflight.  Needless to say, we didn't win.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I got to fly a plane my first time ever!