Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review 4-1-16

LA County Air Show more than entertainment
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staff writer
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lesson were all part of the third an-
nual Los Angeles County Air Show,
March 19-20 at the Gen. William
- )R[ $LU¿HOG LQ /DQFDVWHU &DOLI public didn’t take advantage of the
where 137,000 guests came to ob-
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of the people who fought to keep
America free.
Throwing the date back to Dec.
6, 1941, guests were encouraged to
dress in 1940s or Hawaiian attire for
the event kickoff at the “JetHawk’s
Hanger” where U.S. Marine Corps
Capt. Skye Martin of Tehachapi, Ca-
lif., started the festivities on the 18th
by singing the National Anthem.
“Beautiful! That is exactly how it
should be sung,” said an announcer.
Martin has also sung for the Pro
Bowl in Hawaii and at the Padres
Memorial Day game via satellite from
Afghanistan.
“She has been singing since she
was in diapers,” said her father, Cam
Martin. Currently stationed in San
Diego, Captain Martin has a Master’s
Degree in environmental science poli-
cy and oceanography, and is currently
working in public affairs.
Commemorating the 75th anniver-
sary of the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor that launched the U.S. into
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over the stadium before the Blue An-
gels crew members and students from
Edwards Test Pilot School played
three innings of softball.
Not seeing the Blue Angels’ team
moments before game time, “maybe
they won’t show up, they probably
got scared, we are pretty intimidating
you know,” joked Steve Kennedy, a
flight test engineer studying at Ed-
wards Test Pilot School.
After crushing the Angels in a
quick, entertaining game, The Danc-
ing Fire Entertainment Company
wowed the crowd with beautiful hula
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ers got autographs from Blue Angel
pilots, crew members and air show
performers.
“It was such a wonderful, profes-
sional show, I’m sorry more of the
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels take to the sky at the third annual Los Angeles Roberta and Art Thompson of Sage Cheshire share their world famous Red Bull Stratos with guests during the Los
County Air Show March 19-20.
April 1, 2016
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels take to the sky at the third annual Los Angeles County Air Show March 19-20.
graphs,” laughed Jackson. “These are
event,” said Lily Knight who enjoyed
the free festivities with her husband, books — right here!”
Congressman Steve Knight, R-Calif.
On Saturday, the weather could not
have been more perfect.
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the sky, others learned about science,
technology, engineering and math in
many STEM tents. Students of all
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aircraft simulators, playing Frisbee
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controls and simulators.
“The L.A. County Air Show is
an excellent opportunity to inspire
children of all ages by the wonder of
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Educational Outreach for the Flight
Test Historical Foundation. “We
want to ignite interest and passion for
learning on how and why airplanes
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online at the Jr. Test Pilot School site.
“I’ve always wanted to be a pilot,
but since I was born blind in one eye,
that just wasn’t in the cards,” said
Fred Jackson, 78, from San Diego
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He was elated to get an autograph
from Art Thompson, the man behind
the Red Bull Stratus, who had the
Sage-Cheshire capsule displayed near
the front entrance. “I need two days
just to play in the tents and get auto-
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tion was a touching history lesson of
the 2,335 military personnel killed,
including 2,008 Navy, 109 Marines,
Photographs by Linda KC Reynolds 218 Army and 68 civilians during the
Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.
High Desert Medical Group hosted
The couple has visited six aircraft a tent where aerospace personnel and
the people we read about in history museums since arriving in California World War II guest speakers shared
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ers in Death Valley. WRÀ\DQH[SHULPHQWDOWRSVHFUHWMHW
Carina Eriksson and Gunnar Aker- to the horrors of using various gasses
berg came from Stockholm, Sweden, Brian Lynch passed up his favorite as a weapon.
to take part in the photo tour hosted concert event, “South by Southwest”
by Bob Driver, which quickly sold in Austin, Texas, to participate with “When you have the burden of war,
the photo tour group and says he will you will carry it for the rest of your
be back next year with friends. life — it will have some barring on
“I am an amateur so to get the same every experience you have, and ev-
access and to learn from professional With a Hollywood type pyro show ery decision you make …” said Army
Veteran, Dennis Anderson, who host-
opportunity for me,” said Eriksson. ing, the Tora! Tora! Tora! presenta- ed the veterans. “These men are the
tip of the spear. They are the ones that
Tip of the Spear — World War II veterans, Peter Altieri, George Keene and Bert were the front line.”
Torrey shared intimate stories of the attack on Pearl Harbor, hosted by High
Desert Medical Group liaison, Army veteran Dennis Anderson, during the Los World War II veterans returning
Angeles County Air Show. from the war, most in their early
twenties, were told to put their expe-
riences on the shelf and not to talk
about the horrors they faced. With
75 years of living before them, they
came home, went to work and built
America.
Charles Lindbergh instructed Bert
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aircraft was made to only be flown
for four hours on a full tank,” shared
Torrey who served in the 49th Fighter
Group.
“In combat you do what you are
told to do,” explained Torrey. A few
months ago he read about a man who
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“I used Napalm — when you drop
those bombs, it leaves a fire over
your target. You may kill a hundred
or more people at one time. We don’t
need to have that kind of a country.
People deliberately burning people to
death. I simply want to remind you
this is your United States of Ameri-
ca. When you see the demonstration
today, think of the destruction the
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it, be affected by it.”
Angeles County Air Show.