(NGC) encounters with military aircraft

[johnr]

That is correct.  It had been long enough since I watched the documentary I had forgotten the Vulcan floating amongst the gaggle of Victors.  Here's the link:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Yl8ntVS-4

Delightful documentary.

[Sheepdog]

I guess my favorite encounters were at Ft Chaffee, AR. We frequently used a live fire range that shared it's surface danger area with the Air Guard tactical range. Back then they flew A-10s and F16Cs and we'd watch them practice gunnery and bomb runs. I can tell you, the sound of those cannon would put a shiver down your spine. The falling brass was amazing, also...there's a bunch of it!

That said, I also love Stearmans. I got to inspect several (along with a really gorgeous P-51) at the Olympia, WA airshow a few years back. Fascinatingly simple, yet advanced compared to the biplanes I saw at Rhinebeck Field as a kid:

[Gliderjohn]

One of our older glider club instructors had his military primary training in a Stearman. The student is in front and the instructor behind. He claimed that the instructor could detach his stick in flight and if you screwed something up the instructor would whack you on the shoulder or the side of the head with it. He said that he found out that he was ready to solo when the instructor more gently whacked him and then through the stick overboard. In am glad he did not use the same techniques on me although I am sure I deserved at times.
GliderJohn