re: Speaking of Big Birds...
I've never seen a launch, but back around 1966 I got to witness a Saturn V first stage being static tested at Marshall Space Flight Center. I was about 9 years old and we were 3 miles from the test stand. Flames curved hundreds of feet into the air and the noise was unbelieveable. Needless to say, I was impressed.
A good friend of mine got to watch the Apollo 17 launch (the only night launch of a Saturn V) from the VIP viewing stands, some 3 miles from the launch pad. That's an experience I truly envy.