Cool indeed! I envy your having seen it close up. The closest I can come to that was when I was in the Army and was downrange taking part in field maneuvers. I was halfway up a big promontory when a jet plane flew by a hundred yards away and almost 100 feet above my position. Wow, what a surprise that was!
The second thing was when I was walking down Grand Ave. in Oakland, CA on a Sunday afternoon when almost the whole downtown area was deserted. I heard the whine of a jet plane over my shoulder but it didn't sound like the typical jet engines on a commercial airliner. It was what I remember as being somehow 'electric' sounding. I looked up and directly overhead was the biggest flying thing I'd ever seen.
It was an Air Force C-5 Galaxy transport and it was lined up for landing at the Alameda Naval Air Station and the flight path apparently lined up with Grand Ave. The Air Station closed down soon afterwards due to budget cuts, so I'd guess this C-5 landing may have been one of the last ones.
Big thrills, but not as thrilling as your sighting today!
Taking a trip to LA this winter to see it again at the museum. I can't wait!!!
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