Melbourne International Air Show

When I was growing up, like a lot of kids I dreamt of joining the air force and fly jets. Top Gun was a well watched movie. I went to the interview, couldn't answer a particular question which I thought was what they were there to teach me(does the bitterness still show) and I didn't get through. That one day was a defining event in my life. If I had got in, then my whole life would be different. I wouldn't know any of my current friends, I would have a totally different career, I would more than likely be living in a totally different part of the country, I wouldn't have visited the same places, had the same experiences. Apart from family, nothing would be the same. I wish I could view the alternative universe and see where I would be if events on that particular day were different. Sort of like "Sliding Doors". I could have been on the other side of the fence at the air show. I don't think life would have been better, just different. The plane that kept the imagination alive was the FA-18 Hornet. This is the US version.


And just as "sexy" from the front.


I still have a sad tinge every time I see one of these planes or the guys who fly them. The pilots are probably the only group of people I am actually jealous of.


Definitely one of the highlights of the air show was seeing the F-15 fly. Like the Camaro, it was pure grunt. My alligence to the F-18 could change for this one.


Not as fast, but almost as impressive was the US C-17. Apparently Oz has purchased a couple of these. It is the largest plane I have seen but I swear it stopped within about 200m.


I did take some video but they didn't really come out well. I still might see what I can do with them.