The Cocoa Beach Air Show was a delight to watch. It was a warm April Saturday and we, my wife and I, were geared up to watch the 2nd Florida 2023 Air Show in Cocoa Beach, FL. The Remax skydiving team was first up as they flew in our national colors.

Our seats were in the “Drop Zone” area so the divers landed just a few feet in front of us. Watching that flag streaming down was quite inspiring and patriotic.

A vintage bi-plane stormed in and demonstrated how the old “Barn Stormers” performed for audiences since the end of WWII.

It was a thrill to watch the pilot, John Black, enjoy his performance as he swirled through the air leaving a white smoke streak to show his progress. This pilot has performed before excited audiences several thousand times over the decades.

Up and over, loop, stall, swirl, dive, just a few fast maneuvers made by this pilot.

A massive Globemaster C-17 made a flyby. It was so big it blocked out the sun. This giant cargo and troop carrier is like a carrier in the sky, it’s huge and capable of global flight. It was designed to replace the C-130.

A pair of F-18 Growlers were on hand to excite the senses as they roared into the sky exhibiting many high speed maneuvers that produced a lot of jet engine noise as the fired up their afterburners and shot straight up into the air. It was great watching their synchronization and flight tactics.

During the show several local troupes of brown pelicans flew in almost perfect synchronization at a low altitude which excited all the viewers on the beach. They won several rounds of applause with their pass-byes.

Following the F-18 routines an F4U-4 Corsair met up with the 2 supersonic F-18 Growlers to make a few “Navy Legacy Flight Foundation” laps around the sky together. The Legacy program matches today’s front line aircraft like the F-18 Growler with the Corsair in close flight maneuvers at air shows nationwide to keep the memory of time-honored sacrifice and service of those who have flown in defense of our nation. These images, like the one I captured below leaves a lasting impression on memories of our Naval pilots.

I love to capture a straight up shot of the Heritage and Legacy flights. I like the B&W, high contract look. It brings out the character of the clouds.

The B-52 Stratofortress is turning 70 years old in 2024. It’s America’s first long-range bomber and has been used in many Military Campaigns around the world. This 390 thousand pound giant began it’s mission as an intercontinental, high altitude, nuclear bomber. Over time it’s operational capabilities have been adapted for low flight. It’s capable of deploying nuclear warheads and cruise missiles hundreds of miles from from their targets.

When I first moved to Orlando in the ’70s these jets were stationed at the AFB and I remember watching them takeoff and land. What I remember most is the dark smoke that billowed from those 8 jet engines as they lifted off the ground.

Before I get to the Thunderbirds I need to show the A-10 Thunderbolt II, Worthog. It’s a very cool aircraft and designed for close air support of ground forces. It’s designed to be simple, quiet, effective and deadly. The nose mounted 30mm cannon is capable of firing 3,900 rounds per minute. Think about that for a minute. It has a titanium shell over most of the body, has night vision sighting, and has a bullet proof large bubble canopy.

During the show Captain Johnson demonstrates examples of using the 30mm cannon and dropping ordnance on the enemy by using flares .

This aircraft is like having flying tanks. Armor is thick to protect the aircraft and pilot. You can also see the air-to-air refueling pipe, called the probe, in the front of the aircraft.