Myrtle Beach Air Show

Growing up near Annapolis and having a grandfather who was a retired Rear Admiral in the US Navy, we went to see the Navy’s Blue Angels whenever they came to town (which was every year for Midshipment Graduation).  I was excited when I heard that they were coming to town for the Myrtle Beach Air Show, otherwise know as Wings Over Myrtle Beach.

If I didn’t have bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.  The weekend I am scheduled to go on vacation, Myrtle Beach hosts the air show. I was debating to spend the $139 for the photographers package for the entire weekend which included parking pass.  The Air Show was Saturday and Sunday but photographers package included Friday’s practice round but I needed tp save my money for my vacation which I was leaving for on Sunday. If I had thought about it, I have a press pass and could have contacted the organizes a month or two before and gone that route but I didn’t think of it in time.  I will definitely have remember for next year. 

I took Friday off and did some driving for uber, along with going to see Avengers Infinity War.  After lunch, I turned off Uber and headed to the miniature golf course across Kings Highway from the end of the runway.  I knew that the Blue Angels were going to be practicing around 3pm so I grabbed my camera and headed as close as I could get to the airport.  The police had Kings Highway shut down at the airport due to Navy Regulations.  I was set up on the northbound side of Kings Highway directly across from the end of the runway. I couldn’t have asked for a better spot (though one photographer at the 2nd Avenue Pier managed to capture a bald eagle in the shot of the Blue Angels).

While I was waiting for the Blue Angels, an Air Force F-16 Viper was practicing.  Boy it was loud, every time it flew over me, I thought it was going to burst my ear drums.  I got some great shots but since it wasn’t the subject I was most excited about, I haven’t edited them yet. 

FINALLY, the Blue Angels started their practice.  It was an amazing thing to watch and I had a great spot.  I took over 400 photos.  Fast photography isn’t my forte and I was hoping for at least one photo to turn out.  I knew I was close, I had told my stepfather John that I was close enough to read the pilot’s name on the planes (I was shooting with Tim Karas’ 80-400mm lens).  Not only did those photos turned out, most of them did.  I have only edited a few photos but the ones that I have edited were amazing.  

Next year the Air Force Thunderbirds will be the main attraction in the show and I definitely plan to attend.