HECK OF AN OPEN HOUSE EDWARDS LETS NEIGHBORS IN FOR A RECORD-BREAKING DAY.Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer Aerial demonstrations by the Thunderbirds and the Air Force's F/A-22 fighter jet kept the nearly 300,000 spectators at the Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. 2003 Open House and Air Show in awe on Saturday. Enthusiasts were able to watch tests from the B-1B bomber as it conducted a run dropping 84 inert bombs. ``I've never seen anything like this,'' said John Barring, who drove from Bakersfield to attend the first day of the two-day show. ``They're dropping bombs Dropping bombs is a bebop drumming technique developed and popularized by jazz drummer Kenny Clarke in the 1940s in which a drummer plays spontaneous, accented hits on the snare drum or the bass drum. and flying really low right near us. It's just awesome. I definitely have a newfound respect for what these guys do.'' The gates opened at 7 a.m., and the base was quickly flooded with eager spectators. For two hours before the flights began, attendants were able to inspect planes dating back to World War II and the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. , as well as the newest unmanned aircraft Unmanned Aircraft (UA) is a term used in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) definition of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). UA refers to the aircraft portion of the system required to operate it, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. . There was also a replica of the Wright brothers' first powered airplane on display. The crowd favorite, however, appeared to be the first public aerial demonstration by the Air Force's newest jet, Lockheed Martin's F/A-22 Raptor, which created more than half a dozen sonic booms as it soared just above the flight line and angled toward the sky. `It's amazing,'' said Palmdale resident Jennifer Winn, who is attending her fourth air show, of the also-popular Thunderbirds aerial feats. ``I love this. I can't believe they can fly like that. They're so close, you keep expecting them to hit each other. They keep adding neat stuff See interesting stuff. every year.'' The Thunderbirds are performing again after a crash during an Idaho air show in August destroyed a jet. The show also added a cockpit video that was displayed on Jumbotron screens on the flight line for enthusiasts to view. During Saturday's show, the B-1B set several world records. It will attempt to break more today. Also flying at the show are the B-2 and B-52 bombers, a 60-year-old N-9M flying wing, the C-17 cargo aircraft A cargo aircraft is an airplane designed and used for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. This role demands a number of features that makes a cargo aircraft instantly identifiable; a "fat" looking fuselage, a high-wing to allow the cargo area to sit near the ground, a and the A-10 attack aircraft. Aircraft on display include the F/A-22, the Global Hawk robot reconnaissance aircraft, the F-117 stealth fighter, the B-1B bomber, the CH-46 and CH-53 Marine Corps helicopters and NASA's 747 shuttle carrier aircraft The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) are two extensively modified Boeing 747 jetliners that NASA uses to transport a space shuttle orbiter. One is a 747-100 model, while the other is a short range 747-100SR. . The replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer The Wright Flyer (often retrospectively referred to as Flyer I and occasionally Kitty Hawk) was the first powered aircraft designed and built by the Wright brothers. , built by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of four earlier societies: the American Rocket Society (ARS), founded in 1930 as the , is touring the country in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight. Gates will open today at 7 a.m. with flights scheduled until about 3 p.m. CAPTION(S): 6 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour AV edition only -- ran in AV and Valley editions only) Enthusiasts mill about the tail section of a B-52 bomber Saturday at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show. (2 -- 3 -- color in AV edition only -- ran in AV and Valley editions only) Below, an A-10 Thunderbolt flies alongside a World War II P-51 during a heritage flight at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show. At right, Jacob Hutchinson, 8, of Hemet tries a toy airplane on for size. (4 -- ran in SAC edition only) The Thunderbirds take to the skies over Edwards Air Force Base Saturday during the air show. (5 -- 6 -- ran in AV edition only) Two air-show visitors, above, check their schedules with a B-1B Lancer in the background. A view through a helicopter window, below, shows planes on display. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer Box: (ran in AV edition only) AIR SHOW SCHEDULE |
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