Hi tyketto,
If you are interested in airshows, I can tell you what ever you need to know about the Wings Over Houston Airshow which is held at Ellington Field (KEFD) in October. The 2005 show was excellent. It had a wonderful static aircraft display which included a C-5A Galaxy, a KC-10 Extender, a T-38 Talon (from 87FTS Laughlin AFB, TX), a F-117 Nighthawk (probably from Holloman AFB, NM), a F-16 Falcon (from the 147FW ANG based at EFD), and a F/A-18 Hornet. They also had a HUGE static warbird display. They flying demos were great too. They had the Canadian Armed Forces Snowbirds Flight Demonstration Team (they fly the CT-114), numerous aerobatic displays from single props, Tora Tora Tora (a Pearl Harbor re-enactment with pyrotechnics), and the BEST F/A-18F Super Hornet demo. They also (supposedly) had a A-10 Warthog demo and a B-1B fly-by. However, I cannot say if either of these two demos took place because I didn't go to the show on Sunday. Anyway, this year, for WOH 2006, the USAF Thunderbirds Flight Demostration Team based at Nellis AFB, Nevada will be performing, as they did two years ago at WOH 2004.
In reference to the USN Blue Angels, I absolutely love them. I try to learn everything about them that I can. I watched a 4 hour, 4 part series on the Blues on the Military channel, and I've read up a lot about them. I've also visited Pensacola, FL, the town where the Blues are based during the show season. During the Winter training season, the Blues are based out of NAS El Campo. In ref to Fat Albert, the JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) preformance is awesome. The C-130's crew pulls negative G's while pulling up into a 45 degree climb. If you have any questions about the Blues, including when and where they will be putting on shows or any other question for that matter, just ask me, and I'll try to help you out.
In sum, whenever you get a chance to attend an airshow, jump at it!!
Cessna172
Home Airport: West Houston Airport (KIWS)
www.westhoustonairport.com