The past and future converged Saturday at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as some 2,000 people came out during an open house to view vintage aircraft and tour the inside of the military’s newest high-tech flying machine.
Aging veterans, young sea cadets and uniformed men and women pushing baby strollers were also part of the old-new mix.
Under a cloudless sky, a line of people waited to ascend steps into the P-8A Poseidon, a gleaming, brand new white jet built by Boeing for Navy maritime patrol and reconnaissance missions.
With the latest in computerized detection sensory and combat capability, the Poseidon replaces the P-3C Orion, known as a dependable work horse that’s been in service for decades.
“From four propellers to two jet engines. It’s like going from a Model T to a Jaguar,” joked Capt. Kevin Long, deputy commodore of CPRW-10 who lives in Anacortes and was transferred to the base last year.
He explained to friends standing in line with him how the Navy is transitioning from P-3C known as “Charleys” to the P-8A Poseidon.
“It’s more efficient, it’s quieter, it’s new,” said Long. “Much of the interior of the P-8A is empty. We don’t know what the future will be.”
This is the fourth year the Navy invited the public to tour its base, view demonstrations and get up-close looks at a variety of aircraft, including a MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter, the new C-40 Clipper and PBY Catalina, an amphibious patrol bomber flown from the NAS Whidbey’s Seaplane Base during WWII.
Another seaplane called a Canso 58 Catalina, the Canadian version of the venerated Consolidated PBY Catalina, proved a popular stopping point for many.
“We’d like to do an open house every year, make it a tradition with a different theme each time,” said Mike Welding, base public affairs officer.
NAS Whidbey, named the Navy’s installation of the year in 2016, is the only air station in the Pacific Northwest. It was commissioned Sept. 21, 1942, at the Seaplane Base.
Historical photos and news articles about the base were on display as a prequel to its 75th anniversary September celebration.
Hoisting his almost-3-year-old son up into the front seat of a fire engine used on base, Keegan Reinke from Mountlake Terrace, said it was the second year in a row attending the open house.
“It’s great for the kids,” he said. “It’s nice to have everything on display. They just light up when they see planes and fire engines, of course.”
Lt. Zach Thomas, who had the name “Milkshake” on his pilot uniform, spent the afternoon standing near the EA-18G Growler, which specializes in “jamming” enemy air defenses and communications systems.
Over the years, the Navy has assumed the military’s lead role in airborne electronic attacks, and NAS Whidbey Island is the primary base for the training.“The Navy will be the only ones left with electronic attack capability,” Thomas told visitors checking out the aircraft’s sleek silver shape and sharp nose.
Mary Lou Childs of Anacortes eagerly approached the Growler, carrying a homemade sign on a yard stick, reading, “I Love Growler Jet Noise.”
She pointed to two young women casually dressed for a hot summer’s day posing next to the Growler.
“They’re the backseaters running the jamming devices,” she excitedly said. “The one in the dress, she’s my tenant in Anacortes. I’m her landlord and next door neighbor. Now does she look like an electronic warfare officer? She’s undercover today, pretending to be a civilian.”
Paulena Pine, wearing a bright flowered sundress stood alongside her friend, Cate Oakley, dressed in jeans and t-shirt.
“We’re both in training for VAQ-129,” Pine explained, using the military term, VAQ, stands for fixed wing, attack, electronic.
Aircraft were not the only “old-timers” at the open house. Many veterans, proudly wearing ball caps declaring their squadron and time of service, took in the sights and reminisced.
Some came to reunite with comrades.
“This is the first time I’ve seen these guys in 50 years,” said Mike O’Neil, visiting from Napa, Calif., pointing to five men gathered in a circle of conversation. “All of us were in VP-42 squadron 50 years ago.”
The six veterans served numerous tours with the maritime patrol squadron, nicknamed Sea Demons, during the Vietnam War from 1965 through 1970; some trained at NAS Whidbey Island.
“We flew in P2V Neptunes but they weren’t on display here, maybe the only plane that wasn’t,” joked O’Neil. “So we’ll just have to come back next year.”
As Jared Bryant, 14, (left) comes down, Carliee Meadows, 11, concentrates on going up a route on the 35-feet-high rock wall challenge. The activity was one of many at Saturday’s NAS Whidbey Island Open House. By Patricia Guthrie/Whidbey News-Times
The P-3C Orion, a prop plane that’s been a warbird for the Navy for decades, was one of many aircraft on display Saturday as some 2,000 people came out for the open house of NAS Whidbey Island. Photo by Patricia Guthrie/Whidbey News-Times
