Gulf Shores, Alabama - June 12-19, 2004

The Kirwans (Jody, Kelly, Jack and Daniel) took the Skylane for their family vacation to Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Thunderstorms were a big factor during this trip, but with a little patience and flexibility the trip worked out great.

One of the great highlights of this trip was when we watched the Navy's Blue Angels practice at their home base at NAS Pensacola (in Florida just east of Gulf Shores).  While we had watched the Blue Angels practice before from the general public viewing area, this year we received a special invitation to watch from the Blue Angels' private hangar and ramp.

Below is "Fat Albert," the Blue Angels' support transport airplane.  The picture was taken from our seats on the Blues' private ramp.

Right next to Fat Albert were the "Blue Jets."

(From left to right) Jack (5), Daniel (1) and Kelly (I better not say) on the Blues' ramp.

I just turned right from where we were sitting and took this picture of the Blues' hangar.

Taxiing out getting ready for takeoff.

After the 45 minute show, the Blues are back on the ground marching in.  These guys are AWESOME, and there's nothing like having your two sons clap and cheer as America's Finest fly overhead at 100 feet going 400 knots and only 18 inches (yes, inches) apart - you can feel the power of the engines in your chest!  To see some pictures from one of the Blue Angel's airshows, click here!

We all got our pictures made with the Blues - this is my brother-in-law and sister.

Jack next to Fat Albert.

After the Blues' practice, we went into the Museum of Naval Aviation just down the road.  Jack and Daniel standing on the actual wooden flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Cabot.

We decided to fly from our vacation home airfield (Jack Edwards - KJKA) to Dauphin Island (4R9) which is just over 23 miles to the west out in Mobile Bay.  I had read an article about Dauphin Island in one of my flying magazines, and the airport, people and fresh seafood sounded too good to pass-up.  Here's a picture of the trip (with the plane about halfway there stopped in midair) courtesy of the Garmin GNS 430.

This is a picture flying south from Jack Edwards out over the Gulf of Mexico.  Our condo is at the top of the picture (the brown-roofed, two-story buildings).

Another picture of our condo complex.  Our unit is on the right facing the Gulf of Mexico.

Flying west down the strip from our condo toward Dauphin Island.  We are flying right over the strip, and this is looking north at the Intracoastal Waterway.

Daniel is a great passenger!

Here is a good view of us flying toward Dauphin Island.  The Gulf of Mexico is on our left to the south and the Intracoastal Waterway is on our right to the north.

Over the Intracoastal Waterway looking south toward the strip and the Gulf of Mexico beyond.

Another view looking south while flying over the Intercoastal Waterway.

The Beach Club on the strip facing the Gulf of Mexico.

Some nice golf courses on the strip between the Intercoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico.

This is out over Mobile Bay looking at a natural gas (or oil) drilling rig.  There are several of these rigs in Mobile Bay.

This is the four-mile long bridge in Mobile Bay that connects Dauphin Island to the mainland.

Left base to Runway 12 at Dauphin Island.

Short final (a little fuzzy).  There are a ton of birds on this airport, as well as, shells.  The birds pick up crabs (and other seafood), fly over the runway and drop the crabs on the pavement to crack the shells open - voila, food!

The family next to the Skylane on the ramp on Dauphin Island.  We made a quick call to the restaurant where we wanted to eat (The Seafood Galley), and the owner came to pick us up.  A five-minute ride and a great seafood dinner later, we were ready for the drive back to the airport and the flight home to Jack Edwards.

Just off Runway 12 at Dauphin Island looking back to the west - the Island goes on for some distance.

"Feet dry" over Fort Morgan at the end of the strip heading back to to the east.

Flying back down the strip with the Intracoastal Waterway on the left (north) and the Gulf of Mexico on the right (south).

Short final for Runway 9 at Jack Edwards.

The weather trying to get home was full of thunderstorms again, but we managed to make it after quite a bit of IMC an an IAP back into Bowman.  Awesome trip!