Water salute
A water salute occurs for ceremonial purposes when a vehicle travels under plumes of water expelled by one or more fire fighting vehicles.
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At an airport, typically an even number of vehicles will line up perpendicularly on the sides of the taxiway or apron, and the plumes of water will form a series of arches. Symbolically, the procession looks similar to a bridal party walking under a wedding arch or the saber arch at a military wedding.
Water salutes have been used to mark the retirement of a senior pilot or air traffic controller, the first or last flight of an airline to an airport, the first or last flight of a type of aircraft, or other notable events. When the Concorde flew its last flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport, blue, white and red coloured plumes were used.[2] United States President Donald Trump received a water salute on his first departure from LaGuardia Airport after winning the presidential election in 2016.[3]
Water salutes are also used for ships and other watercraft, with water being delivered by fireboats. This is often done for the first or last visit or retirement of a senior captain, the first or last cruise of a ship, the visit of a warship, or other ceremonial occasions.
See also
- Plume (hydrodynamics)
- Salute
- Water cannon
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Water cannon salutes in aviation. |
- "国航来赴"春天的约定" 接运北京援鄂医疗队回家". People.cn (in Chinese). 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "End of an era for Concorde". 2003-10-24. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
- "Pres-Elect Trump's Plane Gets 'Water Salute' on Way to D.C." Fox News Insider. November 10, 2016. Retrieved 2020-02-13.