Merced 2005

[C170BDan]

Looking like I should be able to make it out to Merced this year. Just didnt work out last year. This will be my second CA airshow... only other one I have made it to was Chino. Chino covered the Warbirds now I am really looking forward to seeing the vintage aircraft from the west coast. Any tips and pointers about attending the show?

Hope to go early to visit the Schellville airport too.

[Roger Cain]

First question Dan, are you flying in or driving? If you want to kill two birds with one stone, up the valley, EAA Golden West at Yuba City is happening at the same time. I plan to visit Merced on Friday, and Yuba City on Saturday/Sunday.

Merced is a two day show, with arrivals on Friday, and many departures by mid afternoon on Saturday. There is no air show, so planes are free to come and go all day long, unless a fly-by from the current military is scheduled. A short jump down the road will also take you to Castle airport, home of the famous Castle Air Museum.

This is what Merced looked like by 2:30pm on Saturday



The fields in the back used to be filled with planes in previous years, unfortunately it gets thinner each year.

[C170BDan]

Thanks for the info, Roger. Was going to email you when it gets closer... still will. Just might schedule in the other show for Sunday.

I will be flying in on an airliner info SFO. Hope to fly in THUR and head back to TX late on SUN.

[Roger Cain]

Give me a holler when the time gets closer, I also live 5 minutes from SFO

[HarvardIV]

Hi Roger:

Sometime I amy be heading up your way sometime in the near future. maybe we could have a beer.

Chris

[Roger Cain]

It will probably be hit or miss timing if you make it up this way. I'll be gone most weekends at air shows/fly-ins and have school several nights during the week. Let me know when the date gets closer, I'll see what I can swing..........

[HarvardIV]

Actually Roger:

If you know some of the guys up at Livermore I could meet you there sometime, and would like to see some of the P-40s anf F6Fs out there.

Chris

[Roger Cain]

Tony Banta has the P-40, F8F, and P-51, but there aren't any F6F's here in Northern Ca that I know of.

Last edited by Roger Cain on Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[HarvardIV]

Thanks:

What about Mike Crutches F6Fs, P-51H, and the other warbirds there?

[C170BDan]

Well Roger.... not going to make Merced. Was really looking forward to a west coast show. Job/vacation times sure effects the airshow/fly-in plans! The great part of the change of plans is that I will make my first visit to Rhinebeck Aerodrome! So the CA trip gave way to Rhinebeck! Maybe next year I can fit CA in.

[Roger Cain]

Dan,

I think your choice of going to Rhinebeck instead of Merced is a lousy choice!

Just yanking your chain. Actually at this point, that is a very wise decision. There is a very serious conflict the weekend of Merced, as the EAA Golden West in Marysville is taking place at the same time. I'm very disappointed in this, as I have always attended both events. Experimentals and classics will most likely gravitate towards EAA, and I have a feeling the turnout at Merced will be poor. I'm hoping not, but from some of the pilots I've spoken with already, Golden West is their planned destination. Merced should still pull in a majority of the antique aircraft. I will go to Merced on Friday, and then up to Golden West on Saturday. For me this will be a three hour drive, on top of the time it takes to get to Merced, and then back home from Marysville, on my Goldwing.

[TimAPNY]

Well Roger.... not going to make Merced. Was really looking forward to a west coast show. Job/vacation times sure effects the airshow/fly-in plans! The great part of the change of plans is that I will make my first visit to Rhinebeck Aerodrome! So the CA trip gave way to Rhinebeck! Maybe next year I can fit CA in.

I live about 1 hour from Rhinebeck, Scott, Ryan, krlang (to name a few) are a bit further out but Maybe we all can meet up there. Hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer then when we went in the fall, got a bit cold.

Rob lives way out but seems to show up despite the odds.

[O.P.]

I'll see you up at Marysville Roger. I'll be there all weekend. It should be cool.

[Roger Cain]

Orvis,

I'll look for you at Marysville. My plans are still up in the air as to when I'll get there, but it should be on Saturday. Are you going to get to the Watsonville Air Show. I was at Watsonville a couple weekends ago. A regular there was a very rough T-28 with original DM markings. It now has a nice new paint job along with "Monterey" painted on the vertical stabilizer. I'm leaving before the birds get up tomorrow for the Traron formation clinic at Castle tomorrow. Lot's of North American stuff...........See you later

[C170BDan]

Roger,

Look forward to your Merced and weekend report! Wish I could be there! Heard any pre-show buz about what new might be coming?