#Wednesday Walk - Having Fun at the Virginia Air Show.

This post is for the #wednesdaywalk challenge and the #makemesmile challenge collaboration. This collaboration initially took place once a month, but due to its popularity, @tattoodjay (of the #wednesdaywalk) and @elizacheng (of #makemesmile) decided to make it a weekly thing.

If you want to know more about the rules, visit the Wednesday Walk Community, started by @tattoodjay. You will find all the rules there if you want to start posting in this great community.

This month I want to focus on activities and events in and around Durban.

Last month, on August 10 to be exact, we visited the annual Virginia Air Show.

What we normally do is to go as close to the airport as possible and watch from there. There are pros and cons staying outside the airport and watch from a distance. But there are also pros and cons to pay the entrance fee and enter the airport during the show.

Fair enough, going into the airport will be fun and gives you access to see many things up close. You can also hear the live commentary as events are happening. But at R140.00 per person I start weighing up my options and think whether it's really worth it. I see all the action in the sky and keep R280.00 in my pocket.

Okay, in all honesty, the money might not be the main obstacle...it's the crowds.

The Virginia Airport is a small airport owned by the eThekwini Municipality and is located about 10 KM north of Durban, South Africa.

Some time ago, I was out for business with our youngest daughter. Two of our grandkids were with us too and I made a pit stop at Virginia Airport to show them around.

We were lucky that morning, seeing a helicopter taking off...

DSC_1007.jpg


...and there was also a small aeroplane coming in for landing and taking off again several times. I got the impression that it was a pilot in training. The one guy (I suppose the instructor) was friendly and even waved at us.

DSC_0955_2.jpg


But let's get back to the air show of last month.

As expected, the place was crowded and roads were closed off!

As we approached the airport, cars were parked side to side from a few kilometres away from the airport already. I passed the airport and approached the airport from Umhlanga's side on a road running along the beach and coming to a dead end against the airport on the northern side. That meant we would be right at the end of the runway.

Obviously I wasn't the only one who did this. Many people were camping out to join in the fun and excitement of the air show. As you can see in this photo, a helicopter was already going through his motions with people enjoying the action from the beach.

DSC_2650.jpg


We found a nice spot to park the car. I got out and started shooting...lol.

I had so much fun, it's unbelievable...during the show as well as afterward.

You'll soon see what I'm talking about.

First, it was the Harvards of The Puma Flying Lions that came thundering over us.

I had the camera in one hand and my mobile in the other to try and get some video footage as well.

At times, while shooting video footage, I would sometimes keep the video running, while quickly looking through the camera in the other hand to get some photos too...lol!

Sometimes I would slip my mobile back in my pocket to adjust the focus on my camera. At the same time, my wife was on standby to warn me if something would be happening behind me or when some aircraft would be coming in from another angle...lol.

Today, I'll start with a series of photos of The Flying Puma Lions doing some loops over us...

The first loop started just as they passed over the airport.

DSC_2654.jpg

DSC_2657.jpg

DSC_2662.jpg

DSC_2666.jpg


Then the second loop started...coming closer to us.

DSC_2668.jpg

DSC_2675.jpg


This is where I started having fun after we got home... Creating more images from the same photo...

DSC_2675-1.jpg

I plan on sharing some more images in another post tomorrow. Keep an eye out if you want to see them.

Approaching us while completing the second loop...

DSC_2677.jpg

DSC_2679.jpg

DSC_2682.jpg


As mentioned, I was shooting a video at the same time. I took many videos, but it was mostly a disaster (as can be expected...lol), but this one wasn't too bad, so I'll share it here so you can get an idea of what it was like standing here... When you watch this video, you'll see the sequence of my photos... I was standing next to a little security cubicle for a security guard on duty for the area. You'll catch a glimpse of the top of it right at the end of the video...lol.

A few moments later they came flying by low over the ocean again.

DSC_2703.jpg


After doing some more spectacular moves they passed over us again and then finally approached from behind us to come in for a landing...one-by-one. There were a total of four Harvards up the sky.

To end this day's post, here are two of them as they came in to land.

DSC_2805.jpg

DSC_2801.jpg


I'll share more photos of these Harvards in another post tomorrow.

Next week, I'll share photos of other aeroplanes and how this particular air show will always be remembered with a mixture of excitement and sadness.

Thank you for reading my post! I do appreciate it!


Business Logo.PNG

ONLINE STORE: You can find my images on various products (from wall art to gifts, home décor, stationary and more) in my ONLINE STORE.

While I am using Hive as my blogging platform, I am also doing regular updates on my website and will announce new blogposts from there.

Follow me on:



0
0
0.000
39 comments
avatar

Such cool shots I must try to catch an air show sometime but I to would not want to deal with the crowds

Thanks for joining the Wednesday walk

Have a great day

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thanks @tattoodjay! Yes, we feel the same about the crowds😅! But that's the good part about an air show...you can stay outside and still see the action. There are still lots of people around, but it's not as crowded as inside, which also makes it easier to stay on the outskirts or just move to another location when it gets too busy around you...

0
0
0.000
avatar

Now I know why we had them practicing over our valley, appears a popular spot with training and those doing special maneuvers practice shooting down the river over the sea. No longer having airport close to where we live this has become popular from both smaller air fields north and south of us here.

Captures amazing photographs, agree these spots to get in on the day are jam packed, not pleasant at all.

!BEER

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hi @joanstewart! Yes, if you had that kind of activity, that must have been the reason. It makes sense what you say about no longer having the airport close to you.

Thank you for the positive feedback on my photos. I do appreciate it!

0
0
0.000
avatar

In the beginning it was quiet, landing planes used to come over relatively low, missed seeing certain planes at certain times of the day coming over. All gone currently just small aircraft come over.

0
0
0.000
avatar

That makes sense. Yes, I can imagine that you'd be missing certain planes at certain times of day. Being so close to you for so long, you must have become familiar with lots of them.

0
0
0.000
avatar

So cool, i will see of there is a similar activity near me

0
0
0.000
avatar

Wow, great shots by you. I see it was really a fun day. Thanks for sharing those wonderful pictures too

0
0
0.000
avatar

Those are some very nice shots, my friend! I haven't been to an air show in ages, but we lived next to a small local airport when I was a child, so I remember them well. I'm glad that you had fun with it all! 😁🙏💚✨🤙

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you for your feedback, @tydynrain👍! I do appreciate it! I'm glad you still have pleasant memories of living next to the local airport as a child. These are always memories to cherish!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Sure thing, @jacoalberts, you're always very welcome! Indeedy, there are many things like that from my childhood that I remember fondly indeed! 😁🙏💚✨🤙

0
0
0.000
avatar

Awesome👋😊👍

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you, my friend, and it is. Not everything was ideal, and there were some notable challenges, but I'm very grateful for how and where I grew up, as it gave me a very solid base. 😁🙏💚✨🤙

0
0
0.000
avatar

Nice ❤️

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hello @galenkp, I noticed that you have been downvoting many of my posts. I respect your opinion, but I would like to know the reason behind it. If there is something I can improve in my content, I would really appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I can imagine the fun! Those pictures are fascinating...I love them.

Thanks for sharing.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I would love to visit this kind of place with my siblings.
It's beautiful and with the airplanes flying up showing those beautiful clouds.

0
0
0.000
avatar

You won't regret it, I promise you, @faithybest! It's an awesome experience!

Have a great day!

0
0
0.000
avatar
(Edited)

I believe I will.
Have a wonderful weekend

0
0
0.000
avatar
(Edited)

It must be exciting and entertaining to watch such an intense air show directly!

We got some flavors from your post! Thanks

!BBH

0
0
0.000
avatar

It is exciting and entertaining indeed, @hafiz34! I'm glad you enjoyed my post to the extent that you got some flavor from my post about the experience! Thank you for that kind of feedback! I do appreciate it!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Nice photos of the air show. I like how thy added the smoke which makes the photos more dramatic. I do not like crowds so would have choose to be on the beach as well.

!ALIVE

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you for your feedback, @darmst5339! I do appreciate it! Yes, the smoke really gives a dramatic effect, doesn't it!

I agree with you. Out on the beach was way better, and we could still see all the action👍.

Have a great day!

!ALIVE

0
0
0.000
avatar

Looking more like an adventure, these are some things on my to-do- list to attend. I'm really glad you're having a good time with family and being conscious as well

0
0
0.000
avatar

It was a great adventure indeed, and it would be worth going on your to-do list!

Thank you for stopping by, @favouright!

Have a great day!

0
0
0.000