Sea, air show flies over L.B.

By Jimmy Chai, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, October 5, 1998

Aviation has come a long way since the day Orville and Wilbur Wright first lifted off the ground and crashed after a flight of only 12 feet.

At the "Wings Over Long Beach Sea and Air Show" held in Long Beach Airport and Belmont Pier, high-power action planes and miniature scale models of the Wright brothers' first prototype plane were on display for an estimated crowd of 150,000 this past weekend.

Fans of all ages came out to see their favorites toys. Spectators became inspectors as they got up close and personal tours of the C-5 (once the world's largest transport airplane), the heavily guarded F-117A Stealth Fighter and hundreds of other exotic, vintage and modern aircraft.

When the planes took to the air, all eyes looked to the sky. At the Belmont Pier, the 12th Air Force A-10 Demonstration Team wowed the crowds by showcasing the maneuverability and versatility of the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

All activity stopped when the silent presence of the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber graced the sky at snail speed. The pancake-thin bomber hung overhead seemingly suspended in midair as the audience stared in sheer awe.

The show also displayed the trickling down of once highly advanced technology to everyday life. A virtual reality Stealth Fighter ride and battery-powered lighter were among the many items on display that showed just how far mankind has come.