-I saw some folks complaining on FB that the Lanc wasn't "on display" Sunday. They had an engagement following Thunder and opted for an airshow departure. They (and the Mossie) discussed getting towed back to the crowd, but realistically they'd have gotten hooked up, moved to the crowd, sat for twenty minutes or so, then would've had to be taken right back out to leave before the TFR's went into place for Viper & the Blues.
-The "flip flop" arrangement, while not perfect from a crowd perspective, is actually better for the warbirds themselves. As part of the airport reconfiguration, what used to be runway 9R/27L is taxiway hotel now. It's jokingly called the world's widest (160ft) taxiway. Sending the heavies (or anything else for that matter) out this ramp cuts
way down on their taxi time from the north end (motoring around at 15mph doesn't help radial engines, especially when it's pushing 90 degrees like it was this past weekend). All the space on hotel also means that one monkey doesn't stop the show if someone has a mechanical issue. We'll have plenty of room to shift people around and keep the show as close to on schedule as an airshow can be.
On two final, personal notes.....
-The aircrews that came to Thunder were to a man (or woman) a fantastic group. Lots of great folks who made Yankee look great by putting on great shows in the air, and by being super accommodating on the ground.
-The backside of a JU-52 oil cooler air scoop leaves a nice welt on your forehead if you stand up & turn around at the wrong time....
_________________
Phil K.
Yankee Air MuseumSystems Admin / Ramp Crew / Professional Photo Ruiner
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