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Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010
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Author:  kalamazookid [ Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010
Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010 (KAMN)
Alma, MI
August 21-22

Once again, the warbird fly-in will be back at Alma this year. This is a great little event that offers the ability to get up close and personal with what is usually a good variety of warbirds. No barriers, relaxed atmosphere, and tons of fun!

If anyone is in the area, I highly recommend making the drive or flying in. For a free warbird show, you won't beat it.

Here's what's expected this year:

Yankee Air Force B-25
Hawker Sea Fury "Riff Raff"
FM-2 Wildcat
P-51D Mustang- will arrive late Saturday or early Sunday
F4U-5 Corsair- will arrive late Saturday or early Sunday
2 Grumman Widgeons
T-6s- at least 4
Stearmans

Never know what else might turn up. Two years ago, 3 extra P-51s showed up Sunday.

Hope to see some WIX-ers there this year!
Author:  MichiganRick [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010
I know the weather was rough, but did anyone go to this open house? Any pics? :?:

Thanks,
Rick
Author:  kalamazookid [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010
I went, haven't had time to go through pics yet though. Here's what was there:

P-51D "Moonbeam McSwine"
F4U-5 Corsair 'WR-5'
Hawker Sea Fury "Riff Raff"
A6M Zero replica Tora 101
2 Grumman Widgeons
L-39 Albatross
12 T-6s
3 Stearmans
BT-13
2 T-28s

There was also another P-51, a Waco UPF-7 and another Stearman in various hangars but they didn't participate in the fly-in.

It was a good time despite the bad weather Saturday morning. Sunday was definitely the better of the two days. There were aircraft arriving, departing, and flying around in formation all day.
Author:  MichiganRick [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010
Thanks Matt. I would love to see the pics. The weather scared me away, but not next year. I was at a birthday party Saturday near Monroe, MI and a TMB "Ida Red" flew over (low, due to heavy cloud cover). I figured he was coming back from Alma... I went to the Windsor airshow on Sunday, so I was able to get my fix :) How do they get so many warbirds to attend?

Thanks,
Rick
Author:  kalamazookid [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 4:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010
I think "Ida Red" was flying at the show in Alpena on Saturday. I was hoping it would stop by Sunday, but no such luck. The weather actually wasn't that bad up there either. Saturday I got there at about 11 and there was absolutely nothing on the warbird part of the ramp because of the rain, but within about an hour a bunch of T-6s and the Sea Fury arrived.

Al, Dan and Mike Schiffer as well as David Folk are responsible for most of the warbird turnout at Alma. Most of the pilots who fly in are friends with those guys. They've had the Corsair there each of the last three years and there's usually a good turnout of T-6s that fly a lot of formation.

I think a lot of it has to do with the location too. It's a small airport and there isn't really any controlled airspace for miles around which I would guess makes it an attractive place to fly from. Considering how small the town is, they get a pretty good turnout too and the crowd is generally very enthusiastic. It's just a great, laid back atmosphere.

I keep telling myself I'm going to make that show in Windsor one of these years, but it's always the same weekend as this one.
Author:  MichiganRick [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Gratiot Community Airport Open House 2010
I'm gonna try to hit them both next year... :D I can't miss the chance to see all those warbirds again...
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