BMCAS Air Show

It was hot.  Even spring in coastal Carolina can be hot. The heat seemed to radiate from the asphalt where the flying machines were resting. We were at the Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, for their 2015 edition of their air show. It is a great family oriented event. There would be several thousand people on hand.  One of the most interesting things we saw all day we saw as we entered the spectator area. As you would expect on a military base security was enforced.  At the entrance to the exhibition area the marines searched backpack and hand bags.  They also used a metal detection wand to scan each person.   We were asked to extend our arms out from our sides for this.  Just in front of us a young boy of about seven or eight years of age was to be scanned by the Marine. However, when the marine demonstrated how the boy was to extend his arms the boy ran to him and hugged him! He had thought the marine wanted a hug! It was what they once called a "Kodak Moment". (I don't know what they call that now. A YouTube moment?)  After passing through security we set up our chairs in front of an orange plastic barrier with a full view of the airstrip.

There was a large exhibit of various airplanes. These airplanes were not to fly in the air show. Almost all of the aircraft were of the military variety. On previous occasions there had been many more civilian airplanes. One of the more interesting was the Rockwell OV-10 Bronco.  Broncos were used primarily as forward observation aircraft in warfare.  Pilots of these planes would report enemy positions to ground forces.  All the Broncos I had seen before had been the military olive drab color. But this plane was painted blue and white NASA  color scheme.  There were several F-16 "Fighting Falcons" on hand as well.  These fighter aircraft had "Viper" and "Swamp Fox" emblazoned on their tails. I think that one of the interesting features of the combat jet is the position of the control stick in the cockpit. In most aircraft it is positioned between the pilot's legs but in the F-16 it is  positioned on the right hand side. Incidentally, the "Fighting Falcon" is referred to as the "Viper" by the pilots because of its resemblance to the "Viper" fighters in the television show Battlestar Galactica. There

were several helicopters of different types and a C-130 "Hercules" cargo plane. I had flown in one of those in the 1960s.  Two of the newest American aircraft were also there.  The F-35 "Lightning II" and the V-22 "Osprey".  The F-35 is the most technologically advanced fighter plane today. It can be used by the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. It has the ability to take off from short runways, hover and land vertically. The V-22 can take off like a helicopter then rotate its engines ninety degrees and fly like an airplane.  Also on display was a B-25 bomber of WWII fame. The polished aluminum really shined brightly in the Carolina sun.  Surrounding the aircraft were booths selling food and drink as well as souvenirs.

The flying part of the air show started shortly after eleven with skydivers landing with a huge American flag. We stood and sang the national anthem with hundreds and then it was show time.
Each show has its announcer. Sometimes a performer has their own announcer. Aerobatic stunt planes are airplanes designed for that specific purpose. They are relatively small and powerful.  The pilots of these aircraft subject themselves to tremendous "G" forces during their acrobatic manoeuvres.  We watched as they performed barrel rolls, loops, figure-eights and other stunts which defy description all to the sound of screaming engines and blaring music from the loudspeakers.  This type of flying is descendant from the flying circuses f the 1920s.  I does make ones pulse quicken to watch an airplane seemingly tumble out of the sky.  A ribbon was stretched across the runway less that twenty feet off the ground and an airplane, flying inverted, cut the ribbon with its tail.

The military aircraft put on a show as well. And the Marine Corps presented a mock pilot rescue.  This involved paratroopers, helicopters, and jet aircraft. It was exciting with lots of smoke and fire and noise from the aircraft.

The last event of the day was an exhibition by the U. S.  Navy's Blue Angels. They thrilled the crowd with their flying skills in their F/A-18 "Hornets".  See my video here.

But No Santa Maria

It was one of those beautiful spring afternoons when we sped across the Cooper River to the Patriots Point Marina to see reproductions of Christopher Columbus' ships, the Nina and the Pinta. They were not visible as we followed the signs out on the pier of the marina. Under a canopy was a woman and a man  sitting behind a table with a large sign saying: "Buy Tickets Here". Tickets were seven dollars each for senior citizens. We received a flyer with some information about the ships with our tickers. The young man gave us directions to the ships berths. I glanced at the literature and noticed that construction of the reproductions had begun in 1988.

"I'm sure I went aboard a reproduction of the Santa Maria in the tidal basin at Washington, D.C. in 1968," I said to the ticket seller. "And the Nina and Pinta were there too" I added.

"Those were the Spanish reproductions,"  he said, "they're now in Corpus Christi, Texas".


We made our way along the pier to where the two sailing ships were tied up. The water was fairly smooth in Charleston harbor and across the water we could see the giant Carnival cruise ship getting ready to disembark.  White sails of the College of Charleston Sailing Club's small boats were moving briskly in the warm breeze. The sailing vessels were black.  I was surprised because the reproductions I had seen before had been the color of natural wood.  These were black, painted with tar. Tar is waterproof and this has the effect of preserving the wood on the sailing vessels.  These ships were built in Brazil by Portuguese shipwrights using the construction techniques of the 15th century.

As we climbed aboard we noticed a small list of the ship. It seems most top heavy ships don't sit level in the water. Aboard the Nina we investigated fore and aft, that is the front and back. "This is the Nina, Christopher Columbus, favorite ship," I said to Claudette.

"Apparently your historical knowledge did not teach you the correct pronunciation of the ship's name," she said.

"What do you mean? It's the Nina!"

"Nina is pronounced Neenya! It's the Spanish pronunciation," I was informed.

"Okay, okay!  Now I realize that Zane Gray did know how to spell canyon.  All through his books he spelled canyon, canon.  Now I understand," I answered.

Looking up to the rigging, I said, "I wonder how many miles of rope are on this vessel?"

"I don't know," she said, "but saw the method by which it was made at Mystic Seaport."

The ships have lateen rigged as well as square rigged sails. This combination was efficient for sailing into the wind as well as sailing with the wind. The design of the ships are called a caravelle.

At the back of the ship which sailors call aft I grabbed the tiller.  This sturdy piece of hardwood was attached to the rudder at the end of its ten foot length which steered the ship. A

crewman told me that it only required one sailor to steer the ship. The Nina would have had a crew of twenty-four. They would have slept on the deck exposed to the elements. The cargo hold held provisions. The ship carried an assortment of live stock too. It was quite crowded. We were not allowed to go below decks.  I  can understand how the seven man crew of the reproduction needed its privacy. Top speed under sail was only 5-8 knots, slower than the average man can run.  Each of the reproductions has auxiliary diesel engine. The Pinta two and the Nina one.

We left the 65 foot Nina and boarded  the larger Pinta.  The Pinta reproduction is longer and wider than the original. Otherwise it is much the same. The additional space on the main deck is filled with saleable merchandise for the tourist. As I looked at both these watercraft I could not help but be reminded of the many splendid ship models and artifacts we had seen in the Spanish Naval Museum in Madrid.

Claudette and I enjoyed our visit to the replicant ships which were almost dwarfed by a huge Pershing yacht nearby. I think it could have been better if we could have gone below decks and if we had had a docent. The crew members knowledgeable but they did not share their knowledge unless asked.