July 30th, 2014 marked the day for the annual Seafair festival Parade of Ships and Parade of Flight on the Seattle waterfront. This was part of Fleet Week but was also Marines Week too and this year it was time for US Marine Corps air power to shine!
Those of us in the crowd were treated to flyby after flyby of various USMC aircraft. The Bell AH-1Z Viper, Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion, Bell UH-1Y Venom and Boeing CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters along with the impressive Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft all went past the waterfront and over the ships.
Then across Elliot Bay came a mass USMC flyover! All of the helicopters and tilt-rotors were involved.
One after the other they flew by in an impressive cavalcade of USMC airpower. What a great afternoon!
The Osprey tilt-rotors are an impressive aircraft to watch in flight. Part helicopter, part conventional aircraft with the versatility of vertical take off and landing coupled with the higher speed and range of a turbo-prop aircraft. They are an amazing piece of machinery.
The only thing missing was the USMC fast jets. Rest assured McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II V/STOL attack jets will be flying during the Seafair Boeing Air Show for sure!
Helos! Like motorcycles you don’t have to be sane to use them but it sure helps! These massed flybys must have been fantastic to hear and feel 🙂
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I am heading down to Museum of Flight tomorrow for a closer look at the USMC aircraft and equipment (based there for Marines Week). It was a great display over the bay!
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