Just to round out this 4th of July week, there’s a big airshow this weekend on Cedar Creek Lake.
We all gathered at the Historic Aviation memorial Museum at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
And the purpose was to take a ride back in time, with the Red Steel flight team.
And when they say Red…they mean, you know, those reds.
If you were a young American Air Force pilot candidate in the 60’s and 70’s, you probably know this plane, the T-37 trainer, then you might have moved up to this, the T-33.
But if you were a young Soviet pilot in the 70’s…this is what you  trained in…the L-39 Albatros.
And we’re going to fly in one.
Our pilot was Orestes Lorenzo of the Red Steel team of L-39’s. He was a Cuban squadron commander who got his pilot training in Russia, before defecting in 1990.
And after a pre-flight check, we were off.
Over Lake Palestine we saw what the L-39 could do, and it is a very smooth and forgiving airplane.
Orestes even let a rookie take the controls.
It was an absolute thrill and over far too soon.
The Thunder Over Cedar Creek Airshow, the 5th largest in the Southwest,  is Saturday July 7th at 6pm.
There will be Russian Migs, a Hind attack helicopter, P-40 fighters and the Tora,Tora gang from the Commemorative Air Force.
On Saturday, by the way, at the aviation Museum, you can buy a ride on a B-25 Mitchell, the plane flown by the Doolittle Raiders in the attack on Tokyo.
And again, all proceeds benefit several military charities.