Air Force Academy Flyover 2016

The 2016 Air Force Academy graduation flyover was held on 2 June 2016. The ceremony featured a commencement address by the President of the United States under clear skies. However, the thousands of people watching from nearby could not hear that. Instead, the focus is on the flyover performed by the US Air Force precision flying team, the Thunderbirds.

While Colorado Springs is noted for its sunny weather, this was the first time in a few years when the flyover was not overcast and rainy. In 2015, for instance, it was so overcast that they almost had to cancel the flyover. They got it in just before it began to rain.

The 2016 event went flawlessly. Unfortunately, on the way back to base, one of the aircraft crashed. The pilot ejected without injury, and there were no casualties on the ground.

Anyway, these are some pictures I took at the event. They should give you a feel for what it is like to be there.

The Thunderbirds are awesome!

2016

Snowcapped Pikes Peak

The light was good today, and the mountains must have had some snow overnight (it was quite cold here yesterday, but 50 degrees today), so it was a good day to take some snaps. Hope you enjoy them!

Colorado Springs February 18 2016

My last couple of posts showed a fierce blizzard that hit Colorado Springs (and much of the rest of the country) from 1-3 February 2016. Two weeks or so having passed since the storm, during most of which time the snow remained on the ground and did not melt within a couple of days as usual, I decided to walk around a bit and get some Colorado Springs landscape shots.

The snow has mostly melted, as you can see. In fact, the temperature had been in the 50 degree Fahrenheit range for several days as of the date of these pictures. Colorado, despite what many may believe, is not just snow and skiing. It actually warms up quite a bit even in the midst of winter. But, then it gets cold again.

So, we get some nice views of Colorado Springs. I thought there would be more of a snow cap on it, but at least there is something. It gets warm up there at times, too.

Garden of the Gods is to the lower left of Pikes Peak, with Manitou Springs a bit further left.

These shots were taken around 7 a.m. I like to get a morning session in now and then because the light angle highlights the mountains better than it does when the sun is higher in the sky.

You can see pretty clearly where Ute Pass and the highway go into the mountains. It is not quite as obvious when the sun's rays come down more directly.

It was a pretty brutal winter, and it is not over yet. I checked things outside and most was good, but there was some light damage to one of the shutters. Nothing terrible, I can just leave it as is and it will be fine, but just shows that winter in Colorado is real and not something you shrug off.

We usually get one or two really good snow storms in March and even April. In fact, if we don't, that would be kind of surprising. However, that said, those tend to be "wet"snow and it melts rapidly. In fact, it is more slush than snow, at least within a day or so.

I realize these shots probably look like they could have been taken at any time during the year. There are subtle indications of the season, though.

For instance, the brown prairie grass with little flowering vegetation - you won't see it like that except in the dead of winter.

The sky also has a pale blue look to it with few clouds that is characteristic of this time of year.

The snowcaps will look different throughout the year and are kind of the signature for different seasons.

You also won't see snow as far down into the foothills during the warmer months.

Anyway, I hope these shots make you want to visit Colorado Springs!

2016