Earlier in the month I was at one of my vendors shops and saw that they were in the process of making posters and fliers for this event. It was the Wings and Wheels at Wendover air show. I scrambled to find as much info as I could. My thoughts were, "I have never been to an Air Show before" and neither had Steph. So I surprised her with this weekend getaway.
We left Friday after I got off work. Once we got through all the bonehead drivers on I-15, we were out of here! However, excitement on the road faded a little. It was the most boring drive! Being from Virginia, when you say "Roadtrip" scenery goes with it. Well, I am certainly not out to offend the Utahn's but... there is no scenery west of Salt Lake!!! Anyway, we got in to Wendover at a very decent time, about 8:00 p.m. and everyone but Justin was ready to hit the sack. He was so excited!
Saturday morning was an interesting start to the day. Let me provide an intro with informing everyone that I am a man with a plan... for everything. When that plan (no matter the direction) is held up I get a little frustrated. I don't believe in being to the movie theaters 5 minutes before a movie starts and I don't believe in being to work 5 minutes before IT starts. So I certainly am not going to be 5 minutes early to the Air Show. The festivities started at 9 am so we were there at 7:30. Do you think I got an ear full about it when we showed up and no one was in the parking lot... you betcha!!! But I reasoned it with the fact that we would be parked very close to the gate.
We were allowed in even though it was against policy. I being a very charming man am able to make friends very quickly. I am not bragging; this is a trait I have learned that the good Lord has blessed me with. I quickly made friends with the man who is responsible for this air show starting some years ago. It looks as though we might be involved with future air shows as part of planning or volunteering, not sure which but we are excited to go again in the future.
As the festivities began to wind up, the gates were opened and we took to checking out all the planes. Justin wanted so bad to go in the planes but only a few could you actually touch.
It was a little frustrating. The smell of Brat's filled the air and I wanted one so bad. But believe it or not, no one accepted VISA. Everyone only accepted cash! Come on man, it's 2009 get with the program. So I settled for a Subway sandwich instead; I am sure somewhere I made Jared happy.
This is the plane from the movie Con Air. Really cool!
My favorite plane was the Avenger. This is the fighter jet quite commonly used during World War 2. It also just happens to be the plane that George H. W. Bush was flying when he was shot down. The F-16's were an awesome sight too, and boy are they loud.
The Avenger
F-16'sJustin loved the big refueling plane mostly because he could run around in it. Check out the size of this thing.
Speaking of Justin, we surprised him with a helicopter ride. It was fun and nerve-racking all rolled into one ride. He was thrilled but I was just praying that we landed safely. It does feel good to be back on the ground.
We finished off the day with an extremely amazing dinner at the Over the Rainbow Restaurant. The atmosphere was amazing and they brought us the biggest ice cream Sunday we had ever seen. We couldn't even finish it!
In conclusion, I want to say how fun it was to be with my little family. Brooklyn was an angel and Justin a goofball as usual. I wouldn't have traded the trip for anything (I would have appreciated the dork who parked beside us in their Durango, being a little more cautious and not dinging my car, but perhaps that is too much to ask). All in all it was good. A little tip though: in 1903 the Wright Brothers learned how to fly... because in 1902 they drove cross-country with their families. I guess don't expect kids not to be kids and just know and be prepared to always say "We'll get there when we get there".
