NAS Kingsville March 27-28, 2010

Photography and brief by Eric Renth

1
2
3
4
5
 

  The 2010 NAS Kingsville airshow was held on March 27 and 28. Folks, this show just keeps getting better.

  The static display had a nice variety of aircraft from all the services, plus US Customs, including the EA-6B Prowler, F/A-18F Super Hornet, F-16D Viper, E-2C Hawkeye, C-2A Greyhound, T-45 Goshawk, T-38 Talon, T-6 Texan II, P-3C Orion plus a Dyess AFB based B1-B Bone. The two standouts here were a factory fresh HH-60M Blackhawk that is becoming a part of a brand new Army Reserve unit that is standing up at NAS Kingsville, plus an NAS Whidbey Island based, brand new, EA-18G Growler.

  The flying offered something for everyone. The Budweiser Clydesdales also put in an appearance. The Army Golden Knights were the first to drop in. Rob Holland, Paul Fiala, and Jack Knutson all showed great aerobatic prowness. The recyled teenager of the airshow circuit is 70 year old Jan Collmer who definitley shows us how it's done with his great flying. Of course, you need a great announcer, and Rob Reider really connects with folks as he speaks in plain English with a great flair. The CAF did their Tora, Tora, Tora Pearl Harbor renactment as a great history lesson. The F110 powered F16C of the Viper East demo unit out of Shaw AFB showed the Viper's moves with lots of nice noise.
6
7
8
9
10
 

  Finally, the C130 Fat Albert opened up for the Blue Angels with an impressive short field takeoff. No more JATO demos, but still impressive! The Blue Angel FA18 Hornets showed a change as the debut of the FA18C in Blue Angel markings was finally on hand. The Blues are flying a mix of A and C models this year. As the Cs and Ds move in, the Blues will be an all FA18C and D group in 2011. To say they were impressive just seems like an understatement for some reason. The professionalism of the entire Blue Angel organization is great, and I salute their maintenance folks.

A special thanks goes to Mr John Gagne of the NAS Kingsville Public Affairs office and his fine assistants (plus Mr. Bob Torres of the NAS Corpus Christi PAO) plus all the base folks who helped out. Take a bow, guys. You earned it.