Gold, rose, copper, rust, sand, coral, pink, maroon, gray, bone, granite, even purple and green were visible in the rock. As the earth spun, these colors in their formations were selectively revealed by the sun with a fresh scene every few minutes. Its beauty was unrivaled. Just being here in the presence of millions of years of change was worth the trip, but we were waiting for something else...the fighter pilots call this place the Jedi Transition.

Shortly after 0800, the first two KC-46As departed minutes apart from Paine Field in Everett, WA for their long-awaited delivery to the United States Air Force at McConnell AFB. A lot of planning had gone into the delivery ceremony at McConnell and Mother Nature decided to throw everyone a curveball.

That fall, father and daughter started talking and saying to each other that it would be fun to just get a plane that they could wrench themselves around in. With Caroline's desire motivating her father, that was all it took for Paul to go ahead and start looking for a new plane. He could see that she was really into it, and it helped that “She could talk me into almost anything, unfortunately”

With that said, the view as the ramp came down was breathtaking. Tony had said it'd be 'sensory overload' for a minute or two as one adjusts to the environment and he was right; floating around at 5,000 feet offered views all the way to the gorgeous Blue Ridge mountains, layered like a painting.

It was doing the best you could with the team, to see all the smiling faces, everyone was looking at you. It was the little things that occur that you never thought of before. So, my first year as part of the Synchro Pair which was 1999, I had never displayed to the public before. My first cross and as we crossed there was an explosion of light from the crowd side which was basically 50,000 flashes going off at the same time, because they all try and get the photo and it was [a remarkable thing] which I had never seen or expected. And then you see everyone smiling and happy to see you and when you taxi back, they’re all waving, it’s nice.

The idle gained momentum and I cracked my eye open, taking in our nose-high attitude and how far the ground seemed from our reclined perch. The grass started moving underneath the wings in front of me. Beyond the struts and wires holding the wings together, I could see the ailerons moving.

Fast forward to today, one year after our initial founding...the Full Disc family is humming along at high RPM, churning out incredible stories I never would have imagined we'd have the privilege of telling. They've snowballed from one another; out of each story sprouts the next opportunity.

I grew up going to airshows and flying a lot; that's what triggered my passion and when I see little kids at an airshow...[my wife] Teresa and I, we were watching the F-22 yesterday, there was a young kid, a boy, probably four years old, with his dad and just watching them watch the jet and watching the fascination on his face...I like being a part of that…..

The father and son enjoyed the experience so much that they searched and found a Taylor E2 Cub. The pair were enjoying these projects and were even winning awards with these aircraft. When two aircraft turned into five, the family asked "What are you going to do with all these airplanes"?

The first time you fly the jet it is actually shocking how easy it is to fly. Obviously, it's pretty nerve wracking being solo, but it's a very forgiving airplane and our pilot training is great preparation. The jet is very similar in handling characteristics to the T-6.

SSgt Betty Chevalier: My most noteable interaction I had with a fan was actually very emotional.  During our demonstration, I was taking photos near the back of the crowd. As we started the Heritage Flight, a gentleman walked over to me with tears streaming down his face and all he wanted to do was thank me and the team for bringing the A-10 to the show. He had served overseas and the A-10 was one of the reasons he came home from combat. Just to see the Hawg fly was everything to him. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

The best thing is probably when I receive a message from someone 6 months later, telling me they just completed their Private Pilot’s Certificate and flying with me was the catalyst.

I snapped back to reality as I looked to the right and saw the L-2 formation closing in. It was game time. I raised my camera and found the lead L-2 in the viewfinder, and fired away.

…I did what I could to see outside as the pavement began to move through my view much more quickly. All of the sudden the subtle vibration from the tires on the runway ceased. I heard one of the pilots call for “gear up” and then it hit me. I was really flying in a B-29. 

A wise man once wrote, “When a body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body”. Lynne and Carly are two of those forces that when combined, are more powerful than Ali’s one-two punch.

My own story with RIAT can be traced back to 1993 when my father won camping and show tickets for weekend. We had only been to two shows previously and far more locally in Wales, but this would set the precedent for the rest of my life, and one I have always been grateful for. IAT 93’ is ever etched in my mind as spectacular but tragic at the same time. This year would see the arrival of Russian Air Force hardware the likes of the West had never seen.

Isn't that what all this is about anyway? Love? Love for historical aircraft, love for the poetry of flight, love for one another?

Flying over the beautiful landscape of Loudoun County, Virginia as well as the Harper's Ferry area of West Virginia offered some spectacular scenery for Adam's bright red Pitts

The evening air made for a very smooth ride. Once Vic had the Stearman safely on the ground, Greg entered the traffic pattern. I set my camera on the seat and enjoyed the rest of the ride in disbelief of what had just happened.

That being said, the weather was still a factor. With dense tropical moisture in place, there would be periods of heavy rain and storms throughout the weekend along with an abundance of humidity; hardly ideal for an airshow…or is it?