July 4, 2019 

Dan and Tomasita Cohrs came to visit us to attend the St. Louis city fireworks display.

We also were able to see the airshow connected with Fair St. Louis.

Since July 5th was Dan's birthday, we celebrated with a trip to the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum.

​A good time was had by all.

The Airshow 

Performers for the airshow inculded:
  • Aeroshell Aerobatic Team [July 4th ONLY] – The North American AT-6 was first introduced in 1938 and became the primary training aircraft for WWII fighter pilots who went on to fly famous aircraft like the F4U Corsair, P-51 Mustang and P-40 Warhawk for the U.S. Army Air Corps.  The award-winning Aeroshell team is internationally renowned for flying 4-aircraft precision formations where distance between wingtips may be as tight as 3 feet!  The maneuverability of the planes and the roar of their 600 horsepower engines make Aeroshell an air show favorite!
  • Boeing V-22 Osprey – The Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.
  • Capt. Joe “Rifle” Shetterly in the RV-8 [July 4th ONLY] – Joe is the USAF’s former A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Pilot whose aerobatic skills are on display when he flies the RV-8, the most popular home built plane in America.
  • Jeff Boerboon in the Yak-110 – A Yak-110 is the unusual combination of two Yak-55s, joined together with a jet engine thrown in for a bit of extra kick! The Yak-110 will be piloted by aerobatic pilot Jeff Boerboon, who has numerous aerobatic championship titles to his name.
  • Kevin Coleman – The Extra 300 SHP has a roll rate of 400 degrees per second and +/-10g capabilities.  Flown by a second-generation pilot and second-generation air show performer, Kevin is one of the youngest air show stars in the world.  Kevin is a former member of the U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team.  He has numerous aerobatic and racing accolades to his credit since he soloed on his 16th birthday!
  • Lockheed C-130 Hercules – This remarkable military transport aircraft has been in continuous production for 60 years making it the longest continuously produced military plane in history.  With four turboprop engines, it is capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, and is large enough to transport troops, equipment and cargo, often in challenging conditions. The versatile airframe has been used as a gunship, an aerial refueling tanker and an airborne assault platform.  It is now the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide.
  • McDonnell Douglas T-45 – Known as the Goshawk, the T-45 was a collaboration between McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace, developed to train Navy and Marine pilots for aircraft carrier operations and tactical strike missions.  In 1989, primary production of the T-45 was moved to St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Northrop Grumman T-38 – The sleek and timeless T-38 Talon is the world’s first supersonic jet trainer and has been in continuous service with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, NASA and air forces around the world since its introduction in 1961.
  • Northrop Grumman A-10 Thunderbolt II  – Originally manufactured by Fairchild Republic and named in honor of the World War II Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, the A-10 is one of the most fearsome close air support aircraft ever made.  It is built around a 7-barrel 30mm cannon capable of firing 3900 rounds per minute, powerful enough to destroy an enemy battle tank.  It is affectionately nicknamed the “Warthog” because of its blunt snout, unusual shape and toughness.
  • Scott “Scooter” Yoak in the P-51D Mustang – The P-51D Quick Silver, also known as “The Resurrected Veteran”, celebrates our nation’s armed forces. Each feature of this famous World War II aircraft represents and honors those who have served our country and who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Father and son team, Bill and Scott “Scooter” Yoak of West Virginia, spent 13 years meticulously working to make the P-51D Mustang a reality.
  • United States Army Golden Knights – The Golden Knights are the U.S. Army’s official aerial parachute demonstration team comprising elite volunteers from all branches of the Army.  Each air show will begin with a colorful and patriotic presentation of the American flag as the team jumps from their Fokker 27 to a landing on the beautiful Gateway Arch grounds.


The Fireworks 

Picture
The Fair St. Louis fireworks take place over the Mississippi River behind the Gateway Arch.

People come from all over the United States to views this pectaular celebration of America's birthday.

We had seats up close to the river.

Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum​

The Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum is housed in a beautifully restored 1896 building and features an extensive collection of telephones, telephone-related equipment and memorabilia.  The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in the 426-acre historic Jefferson Barracks Park, a 15 minute drive south of downtown St. Louis. You can visit their website at www.jbtelmuseum.org/.

The Birthday