4th of July, aerial style

Windchill · July 2nd, 2004, 02:04

Anyone watch the fireworks from the sky . . . renting/flying your own, up to watch 'em?

Thought about it for New Years in Jan.

What's a nice altitude to be at? I'm not sure just how high they go up to and explode out at.

JDMcFly · July 2nd, 2004, 02:08

Would love to some time!

Gotta book those planes early, too!

SteveC · July 2nd, 2004, 06:45

've been flying on the Fourth before, and to be honest wasn't overly thrilled with watching the fireworks from the air. Most of the shells explode at something like 600' - 800' AGL, so unless you're down low you're seeing the fireworks against a backdrop of the ground. Looks more impressive (to me anyway) from up close, looking up from the ground.

It was pretty neat, though, to be able to look around and see numerous fireworks displays at multiple locations.

It's worth doing at least once, anyway.

MQAAord · July 2nd, 2004, 06:58

I was working a flight from ORD to DFW a couple years ago on the 4th, and we had the most spectaular view of dozens of cities' fireworks. We were at cruise, and we could see the fireworks of St. Louis, and many, many small towns. It really was a pretty cool sight.

ready2fly · July 2nd, 2004, 08:53

Flew out of DC just as the fireworks began in 1994. Pretty cool!

Flew on July 5th two years ago practicing night landings at LAL - which is a city o' rednecks.

It was funny - every time I turned final, there was this barrage of obviously store-brand firewords at about 100' AGL about three miles from the airport.

I was still at about 500'+ and they were no factor, but it was fun to watch.

Guess Bubba and Cooter were playing "Anti-Aircraft Battery".

USMCmech · July 2nd, 2004, 09:10

[ QUOTE ]
've been flying on the Fourth before, and to be honest wasn't overly thrilled with watching the fireworks from the air. Most of the shells explode at something like 600' - 800' AGL, so unless you're down low you're seeing the fireworks against a backdrop of the ground. Looks more impressive (to me anyway) from up close, looking up from the ground.

It was pretty neat, though, to be able to look around and see numerous fireworks displays at multiple locations.

It's worth doing at least once, anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did it once a few years back. I too wasn't really thrilled. It looked like the shells were exploding about 800 AGL, and they were over a well litghted area. So they were pretty hard to see from 2000 AGL.

Fireworks are on the very short list of things that are more impressive when viewed from the ground.

FalconCapt · July 2nd, 2004, 09:31

[ QUOTE ]
I did it once a few years back. I too wasn't really thrilled. It looked like the shells were exploding about 800 AGL, and they were over a well litghted area. So they were pretty hard to see from 2000 AGL.

Fireworks are on the very short list of things that are more impressive when viewed from the ground.

[/ QUOTE ]

EXACTLY!

July 2nd, 2004, 02:04	#1
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	4th of July, aerial style Anyone watch the fireworks from the sky . . . renting/flying your own, up to watch 'em? Thought about it for New Years in Jan. What's a nice altitude to be at? I'm not sure just how high they go up to and explode out at.

July 2nd, 2004, 02:08	#2
JDMcFly Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,694	Re: 4th of July, aerial style Would love to some time! Gotta book those planes early, too!

July 2nd, 2004, 06:45	#3
SteveC Modulator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR Posts: 8,788	Re: 4th of July, aerial style 've been flying on the Fourth before, and to be honest wasn't overly thrilled with watching the fireworks from the air. Most of the shells explode at something like 600' - 800' AGL, so unless you're down low you're seeing the fireworks against a backdrop of the ground. Looks more impressive (to me anyway) from up close, looking up from the ground. It was pretty neat, though, to be able to look around and see numerous fireworks displays at multiple locations. It's worth doing at least once, anyway.

July 2nd, 2004, 06:58	#4
MQAAord Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 9,624	Re: 4th of July, aerial style I was working a flight from ORD to DFW a couple years ago on the 4th, and we had the most spectaular view of dozens of cities' fireworks. We were at cruise, and we could see the fireworks of St. Louis, and many, many small towns. It really was a pretty cool sight.

July 2nd, 2004, 08:53	#5
ready2fly Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: DFW Posts: 7,373	Re: 4th of July, aerial style Flew out of DC just as the fireworks began in 1994. Pretty cool! Flew on July 5th two years ago practicing night landings at LAL - which is a city o' rednecks. It was funny - every time I turned final, there was this barrage of obviously store-brand firewords at about 100' AGL about three miles from the airport. I was still at about 500'+ and they were no factor, but it was fun to watch. Guess Bubba and Cooter were playing "Anti-Aircraft Battery".

July 2nd, 2004, 09:10	#6
USMCmech Old Skool Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,711	Re: 4th of July, aerial style [ QUOTE ] 've been flying on the Fourth before, and to be honest wasn't overly thrilled with watching the fireworks from the air. Most of the shells explode at something like 600' - 800' AGL, so unless you're down low you're seeing the fireworks against a backdrop of the ground. Looks more impressive (to me anyway) from up close, looking up from the ground. It was pretty neat, though, to be able to look around and see numerous fireworks displays at multiple locations. It's worth doing at least once, anyway. [/ QUOTE ] I did it once a few years back. I too wasn't really thrilled. It looked like the shells were exploding about 800 AGL, and they were over a well litghted area. So they were pretty hard to see from 2000 AGL. Fireworks are on the very short list of things that are more impressive when viewed from the ground.

July 2nd, 2004, 09:31	#7
FalconCapt Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 489	Re: 4th of July, aerial style [ QUOTE ] I did it once a few years back. I too wasn't really thrilled. It looked like the shells were exploding about 800 AGL, and they were over a well litghted area. So they were pretty hard to see from 2000 AGL. Fireworks are on the very short list of things that are more impressive when viewed from the ground. [/ QUOTE ] EXACTLY!

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