Air Show

Seven protesters were arrested and detained for several hours yesterday at the 41st annual air show at Andrews Air Force Base after demonstrating against NATO airstrikes. Police said they detained the protesters -- four of them from Baltimore -- when they tried to climb onto a B-2 bomber to hold up a sign. Elizabeth McAlister, 59, of Baltimore said that she and the other six were peacefully demonstrating against NATO airstrikes in Yugoslavia and the U.S. military force in Iraq when they were arrested and charged with trespassing and failing to obey orders.

The annual Blue Angels air show at the Naval Academy almost came to a screeching halt last year when a riverfront Annapolis area resident -- prominent lawyer Brendan Sullivan -- refused to move his lawn party out of the show's off-limits "aerobatic box."This year, to avoid another last-minute showdown, the academy is moving the off-limits box 150 feet to the south and east.That means Sullivan, whose practice is in Washington, can have his annual Blue Angels party.But it also means the academy's Dewey Field, a grassy riverfront rectangle and the prime spot for watching the Blue Angels, is off-limits.

To most Americans watching television in the 1950s and 1960s, he was known as Garry Moore -- the eternally youthful guy with the wick-wire crew cut and inch-wide bow ties. But to Baltimoreans, he was still Garrison Morfit, the kid who grew up in Bolton Hill, attended City College and McDonogh School, and began his show-business career here on WBAL radio.Known as the city's second best-loved crew cut, right behind Colt legend Johnny Unitas, Moore later became the host of two network quiz shows, "I've Got A Secret" and "To Tell The Truth."

About 20 veteran model-aircraft pilots entertained nearly 200 spectators yesterday at Batavia Park in Rosedale, showing off their craftsmanship and remote-control flying skills at the Monster Modelers of Maryland Fly In, a fun event for large-scale model planes.Each pilot was required to be a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the International Miniature Aircraft Association.Requirements included that aircraft have minimum wingspans of inches for monoplanes and 60 inches for biplanes, or that the model be built to one-quarter scale of a full-sized aircraft.

NEW YORK -- Ever since he was reborn one New Year's morning in a Las Vegas casino hotel, Lowell White Paxson has felt God's hand guiding him.Now "Bud" Paxson, the multimillionaire co-founder of the Home Shopping Network, is mingling faith and fortune in a new venture.At noon today, he launches Pax TV, the seventh broadcast network after ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB and UPN. (Locally, Comcast customers can see Pax TV on Channel 51. Other viewers may be able to see Pax on Channel 66 out of Washington or Channel 60 out of Martinsburg, W.Va.

Don't be alarmed if you hear bombs going off in Westminster this weekend.Air Force pilots will be at the Jack B. Poage Airshow, setting off false bombs and making simulated napalm runs at Carroll County Regional Airport.Demonstrations by the Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolt II Firepower Demo Team will be the highlight of the two-day show, expected to attract more than 15,000 people."It'll look and sound like the aircraft are firing something off, but it's completely safe," said David Schultz, air show coordinator.

The annual gut-wrenching performance by the Navy's Blue Angels supersonic stunt flying team over the Severn River was nearly grounded yesterday when a famous Washington lawyer refused to relocate a lawn party.The show, a 45-year Commissioning Week tradition at the Naval Academy, went off late and only after days of furious bargaining among top academy officials, the Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration administrator and the lawyer, who insisted he would hold a backyard Blue Angels party.

Stung by the spectacular crash of a Stealth fighter aircraft last year, the Chesapeake Air Show will be held again this fall, but without high-speed aerobatics and under new leadership.At a meeting last night in Middle River, community leaders were told the show will be held, but with slower-flying aircraft performing airborne tricks.As part of an agreement with skittish residents in Bowleys Quarters and Wilson Point, air show jets will not fly but will be part of a ground display during the show, scheduled for Sept.

WASHINGTON -- Two inspections by Air Force and Lockheed Martin Corp. personnel failed to uncover a maintenance error that caused an F-117A stealth fighter to lose its wing and plummet into a Baltimore County neighborhood in September, Air Force sources said yesterday.Investigators have the names of Air Force maintenance personnel who worked on the Lockheed Martin-manufactured jet fighter, but cannot pinpoint which of them is responsible for incorrectly installing a wing support that led to the crash.

In the wake of a stealth fighter's spectacular crash during a Baltimore County air show in September, sponsors have decided to eliminate jet aircraft from future exhibitions."