AIR TRAFFIC: FANS FLOCK TO SHOW NEARLY 150,000 CROWD VAN NUYS AVIATION EXPO.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer VAN NUYS - Hang gliders popping fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to , sky divers twirling Twirling is any of several artforms, hobbies, or sport and recreational activities accomplished by spinning or rotating the twirled object either for exercise, or in a rhythmic, or otherwise artful manner. smoke, and screaming fighter jets filled the air around Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. on Saturday. But some of the hottest action at Aviation Expo 2001 took place on the tarmac, where veteran warbirds wrested tears from sun-baked former pilots. ``I put my hands up there, and I cry. That's what all of us do. We cry,'' said Mel Gooch, 74, of Claremont, ogling one of the last remaining P-38 Lightning fighter planes he piloted in the waning days of World War II. ``It's a beautiful thing to behold. Oh my.'' One of the country's most prestigious air shows, the Aviation Expo, which continues today, is also the San Fernando Valley's biggest annual draw. More than 300,000 sky buffs were expected to see some of the finest airplanes ever built. On Saturday, roughly 150,000 visitors turned out to witness all-day flyovers, row upon row of vintage and modern aircraft, live bands, hot food, cold beer and more. ``It's a beautiful day for an air show for family and friends to enjoy the best of military and civilian aviation,'' said Expo spokeswoman Stacy Geere. ``It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'' Higher attendance is expected today at the free show at 8030 Balboa Boulevard. Doors open at 9 a.m and close at 5 p.m. For information, call (866) 869-3976, or visit www.lawa.org. The air show, half circus and half shrine to the ``triumph of flight,'' parked mammoth B1-B Lancer bomber veterans of the Gulf War next to elephantine Elephantine (ĕl'əfăntī`nē), island, SE Egypt, in the Nile below the First Cataract, near Aswan. In ancient times it was a military post guarding the southern frontier of Egypt. B-52 Stratofortress vets of the Cold War. An ominous F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter was so closely guarded by gun-toting guards that visitors were warned to keep a healthy distance. Some planes, such as the gargantuan gar·gan·tu·an adj. Of immense size, volume, or capacity; gigantic. See Synonyms at enormous. gargantuan Adjective huge or enormous [after Gargantua, a giant in Rabelais' C-17A cargo plane, offered self-guided tours. And in the shadow of every wing and fuselage clustered dozens of fans trying to escape the punishing sun. More than 50 people were treated Saturday for heat exhaustion heat exhaustion, condition caused by overexposure to sunlight or another heat source and resulting in dehydration and salt depletion, also known as heat prostration. The symptoms are severe headaches, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, and sometimes unconsciousness. and other, minor injuries, said Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. spokesman Brian Humphrey. ``Most people wished they had been better prepared by wearing lightweight clothing and (a) wide-brimmed hat,'' he said. A 22-year-old Reseda man suffered severe head trauma Saturday after he fell nearly 20 feet through a rooftop skylight near Van Nuys Airport where he had sat to watch the air show, Humphrey said. He was taken in critical condition to a nearby hospital, he said. Most fans, however, enjoyed the show, craning their necks as announcers directed gazes to 12 o'clock high to the action overhead. ``Now I direct your eyes to the heavens above,'' cried the P.T Barnumlike barker during one such spectacle, ``where you will see one of the greatest jump teams ever - the Golden Knights Parachute Team of Aviation Expo 2001.'' While fans schmoozed pilots and cajoled autographs, little boys perched on their fathers' shoulders to watch MIG-17s, F-18 Navy jets, stealth fighters and other aircraft thunder down the runway. ``Cool,'' shouted Kurtis Anderschat, 5, of Santa Clarita, perched on his father's head. ``Cool,'' added Johnny Rossi, 5, angling for a better look at nine Army sky divers trailing pink plumes of smoke. ``Daddy, Daddy, they're racing.'' What most intrigued visitors, however, was the squadron of vintage military aircraft. Planes such as ``Fifi,'' the last flying B-29 Superfortress. Or ``Diamond Lil,'' one of the last remaining B-24 Liberator bombers from World War II out of 18,000 built. And each plane - the P-38s, the TBM-Avengers, the F6-F Hellcats and other aircraft flown from dusty Army airfields and slick Navy carrier decks - lovingly restored and costing millions to keep in the air. Planes with gun turrets. Giant props. Gun sights and supercharged su·per·charge tr.v. su·per·charged, su·per·charg·ing, su·per·charg·es 1. To increase the power of (an engine, for example), as by fitting with a supercharger. 2. engines. Planes with kills on their fuselages and blood on their hands. These were the planes that attracted wistful veterans shy about battle scars. Confederate Air Force Col. Blackie black·ie n. Offensive Variant of blacky. Blackburn, whose squadron restored many of the vintage planes, recalled the day his B-29 Superfortress got caught in a ``smoke thermal'' during a bombing run over Tokyo. So much heat was generated from the incendiary INCENDIARY, crim. law. One who maliciously and willfully sets another person's house on fire; one guilty of the crime of arson. 2. This offence is punished by the statute laws of the different states according to their several provisions. attack that it rocketed the plane 5,000 feet - upside down. ``Some airplanes went right into the fire,'' said Blackburn, 78, of San Diego, and a veteran of 38 missions. In addition to combat veterans, there were also industry stalwarts that built such aircraft in Burbank, Inglewood and other Southern California cities. ``That's one of the prettiest airplanes ever made - polished by hand, from one end to the other,'' said Ewing Sharp, 90, of North Hollywood, pointing toward a venerable P-51 Mustang fighter credited with winning the air war in Europe during World War II. Ewing should know: He helped design the tail section for the North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. Co. in Inglewood and haul it over to a California Institute of Technology California Institute of Technology, at Pasadena, Calif.; originally for men, became coeducational in 1970; founded 1891 as Throop Polytechnic Institute; called Throop College of Technology, 1913–20. wind tunnel for testing, in addition to work on other WWII WWII abbr. World War II WWII World War Two planes. ``I can't stay away from these shows - I can see, well, we worked on that tail, or we worked on that landing gear ... It gives you a certain feeling.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos, map Photo: (1 -- color) Crowds walk among aircraft on exhibit on the tarmac at Van Nuys Airport on Saturday. Seth Porter, 9, of Sherman Oaks, tries on an aviator's helmet. The show continues today. (2 -- 3) David Sarabia of Northridge, above, examines the underside of a C-17A transport plane Saturday at the air show. At left, Rafael Larin of Van Nuys rests against an aircraft tire as he makes a cellphone (CELLular telePHONE) The first ubiquitous wireless telephone. Originally analog, all new cellular systems are digital, which has enabled the cellphone to turn into a smartphone that has access to the Internet. call.Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Map: VAN NUYS AIRPORT AVIATION EXPO 2001 |
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