Holy Smoke, literally!

[Greg Jones]

We have a Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort here and today this event was over the top! First of all, our SIL was stationed here as a radar tech in the control tower on this AS and the show was fantastic! Second, our son is a Maintenance Officer in the Air Force on F-16s, stationed in Germany, and we will see him for the first time in over three years next week. There was an event with an F-16 that ended with the pilot flying along with a P-51 Mustang, perhaps my favorite military aircraft of all time!

One of the Blue Angeles is stationed in Beaufort at MCAS so it made it all that much special. The guys and gals from the Blue Angeles went to a local dive that the wife and I go to… so special. Cannot be more proud to be an American! Do not miss an opportunity to see a show like this if it is anywhere near year you.My apologies to those that think smokin’ is limited to a pellet grill. God Bless the USA!

 

[Greg Jones]

PS, the tower in the background of the last picture is where my SIL served as a radar operator with the Corp. And a better shot of the P-51 and the F-16.

 

[Jim6820]

Now, that is a great shot! Wow! The Mustang is also one of my favorites. Beautiful aircraft!

 

[Roaniecowpony]

Great stuff Greg! Your family and others that serve are what makes our country great.

The Mustang has always been my favorite. I had a chance to fly a P-51 many years ago. It didn't disappoint.

 

[Cavite]

How slow was the jet going to stay in formation with a P-51. Oh hmm, after some googling, top speed of a Mustang is 487mph and F-16 stall speed is ~230mph so looks like not a problem (non-pilot here). Pretty cool pictures, thanks!

 

[Roaniecowpony]

A -51 can fly around 360 mph at sea level, at max continuous power. Few owners today would want to run that hard. 300 mph is more likely the top where most would fly their planes at sea level. The really fast speeds you hear about Mustangs flying are above 25,000 feet where the air is thinner and the drag is lower, yet the supercharger is keeping good power. Other race planes based on the P-51 have hopped up or larger engines (Griffon) and drag reducing modifications. In the picture, you can see the F-16 has the leading edge and trailing edge drooped. This would lower the stall speed, maybe to somewhere at or below 200 mph.

 

[Greg Jones]

Great stuff Greg! Your family and others that serve are what makes our country great.

The Mustang has always been my favorite. I had a chance to fly a P-51 many years ago. It didn't disappoint.

WOW, what an experience! Thanks for the video.

 

[Greg Jones]

How slow was the jet going to stay in formation with a P-51. Oh hmm, after some googling, top speed of a Mustang is 487mph and F-16 stall speed is ~230mph so looks like not a problem (non-pilot here). Pretty cool pictures, thanks!

I’m not even remotely knowledgeable about this stuff, but IMO the F/A 18 was the slow speed, (not counting the F-35B) fighter jet contender at the show. They gave a slow speed flyover that made you think it had to stall at some point, but no. Of course the Blue Angels were nothing but afterburners on, so you got that perspective.

Picked up our Lieutenant at the airport yesterday, in from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. It’s the first time we have seen him in over three years. Going to be spending a week with us!