While in Cocoa Beach, Fl. we spent the day at Kennedy Space Center. My gallery now has KSC photos from 1976 (visit), 1984 (work), and 2023 (visit). The 1984 photos include a launch of Shuttle Discovery, while installing a telephone office that served the Shuttle Processing area.

This trip, Falcon Heavy had just been rolled out to it's pad, but not yet lifted vertical. This is the launch scheduled for tonight, SpaceX Falcon Heavy ViaSat-3 Americas. Most of the other photos are somewhat touristy but you might still enjoy.

https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/60-YEAR-JOURNEY-IN-PHOTOGRAPHY/A-LITTLE-BIT-OF-EVERYTHING/NASA


Teaser: Falcon Heavy

After wading through more than 4000 photos from 4 cameras, I’ve narrowed it down to a representative 90+.

https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/60-YEAR-JOURNEY-IN-PHOTOGRAPHY/COCOA-BEACH-AIRSHOW

There were no static displays of aircraft since this was not at an airport. Cocoa Beach is situated directly between Kennedy Space Center/Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base. All the military planes flew from Patrick. It was Air Force centric, the only Navy representation was a couple of EA-18G Growlers and an F4U Corsair for a “heritage flight”. The Air Force “heritage flight” was with an A10 and P51 Mustang.

We were on the top floor of our hotel with a balcony, so some of the photos appear like we are flying along at the same height, in fact the planes were probably no more than 100’ higher. Down on the beach they would have been belly shots!

We were celebrating our anniversary, having been married on this very beach 15 years ago. At the end of the gallery is a short video by Nancy, my co-pilot of 15 years. The video is of the Thunderbirds making a heart in the sky, special for our 15th on the 15th. That’s what I told her and I’m sticking to it.

Teasers: Check out the second seat taking my photo, lol