Weapons displays at airshow

[brlau]

This past weekend there was a "Family and Neighbors Weekend" at Hickam AFB here in Honolulu. The main attraction was the Thunderbirds were here to perform their air show. But of course there were also static aircraft displays - the C-5, C-17, B-1, B-52, F-15, F-117, some helicopters, etc. There were also static displays from the USMC, Army, and historical WWII era jeeps, trucks. I loved to go to these as a kid, but these events became scarce over the years (probably due in part to world events) and the annual Armed Forces week "open houses" disappeared, replaced by smaller entertainment-oriented events.

One of the things I loved to look at as a kid were the small arms. I think the first one I ever went to I could barely lift an M-16 and there was a photo of me struggling to hold one. Then there was another photo of me successfully holding an M-16 up port-arms as I got a little older. One of the things I'm really glad I learned starting in high school was proper gun handling. As I look back at those pics when I was a kid, the finger was on the trigger of those weapons. Empty as they may be, I now cringe at the thought. One of the displays I got to see this past weekend was set up by SDVT-1, the SEAL Swimmer Delivery team based here. There was a table full of small arms - the M88 0.50 sniper rifle (which got passed up by most of the kids and adults prob since it was so heavy), and then the M-4's, an Mk11 Mod0, Mk12 SPR, Mk46 SAW, and even an MP5K:
Precision weapons
Unfortunately for me a whole bunch of little kids were there so all I could look at was the (what I figured was) M-4A1 with 10" CQB upper:
CQB upper. The kids were of course picking up the lighter M-4's and the MP5 and pointing them here and there, one of them pointing it at friend or family and making shooting sounds. The SEAL that was standing there looked pretty - uncomfortable. I wanted to take a closer look at the other weapons and maybe ask the SEALs there a couple questions but it didn't look like that was going to be worth the wait - there were other displays to see and the Thunderbirds would be up in less than an hour. Wanted to return to the tables after the show but they had packed everything up by then and were getting ready to leave.

Anyway, I had a really good time there - brought back memories and also made me feel glad I've learned more about firearms through the years, thanks to books available, and of course to great forums like this

Brian

P.S. I promise to teach my kids - hopefully there will still be events like this in the future.

 

[QuickDraw]

Nice post.
I think it would be cool to talk to one of the seals for a couple of
hours.

QuickDraw

 

[art_vandalay]

I was at Hickam AFB as well this Sunday. The SpecOp tent and the Thunderbirds were my favorites, too. I talked to the same SEAL you saw for almost 45 minutes while he tried to keep the gangbangers from damaging the weapons. One of them was picking up the Semi-Auto Stoner .308 and letting the bolt slam shut on an empty chamber. He was not too happy. He said to them, "NEVER let a bolt slam home without a round in the chamber." Of course, they didn't understand at all what he was saying. He just grabbed it from them and put it on the table and they cowered away. He and I began discussing the SEALs phasing out of the MP5 in favor of the M4. He gave me the background and an un-opinionated view of why they are doing that - so I asked him how he liked the switch. Quietly, he said he didn't. He said that the MP5 had become like an extension of his hand and that he was afraid he would never feel quite as comfortable with the M4 as the MP5. Definately the highlight of the day was talking to this seasoned operator. He and another SEAL looked every bit the part of the extremely professional warriors they are. Frighteningly scary, but quietly reserved men.

Another thing I found cool beyond belief was the SEAL delivery vehicle they had on display that attaches to the outside of attack submarines based at Pearl Harbor. Amazing, amazing stuff.

Some of the most fun I've had all summer - and FREE to boot!

 

[brlau]

Art,

Yep, that's what I really wanted to do. One thing I wanted to ask was how they like the SPR compared to the Mk11 (the Stoner .308 you mentioned). It seems to me that the SPR is just a little lighter and shorter ranged compared to the Mk11 - they are both accurized AR's. A little redundant it seems, but maybe there is a special role for the SPR that the Mk11 can't fit.

Felt sorry for them - trying to keep those precision weapons from being mishandled while trying to keep cool. Anyway that was an interesting bit of info you got on the platform switch. Maybe another time...

Agreed on the SDV, it definitely is neat. The new ASDS on the other hand, would be totally awesome to see

Brian