MAPS Airshow Update

[AirJimL2]

A few more planes did make it including Panchito, the CAF SB2C, a couple of T-28s and a few more T-6s. (Also there was a Heritage Flight flyby with Bald Eagle and an F-15.) Overall I had a great day. Met up with Steve Tourney. Talked to Gary Kohls and John Lane for a while and was glad to learn that many of the former Goodyear employees really were happy to see a Goodyear Corsair back in Akron.

Jim

EDIT: Sorry about that...I meant to reply and edited by mistake. Arg!

Last edited by AirJimL2 on Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[jaybird]

Even though the ad from Maps looked a little too hopeful, it's a shame it appears to be falling through. I'll go anyhow, since Gary Koh's bird is there. I talked to him at Oshkosh...what a heck of a nice guy with an awesome plane. The local papers have been running articles of interviews with the former Goodyear employees (most of them around 80 now) that built the FG's. The old folks seem to be in high anticipation of seeing a bunch of Corsairs lined up...I feel bad for them, not me, if a "gathering" does not take place. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'll fly in before the show, weather permitting. If I had a WIX shirt, I'd wear it! I need to buy one.

[jaybird]

Sadly, it looked more like a concession stand reunion than anything else (I just got back). As far as a reunion, only 1 Corsair (bu#92106) showed up and I heard that it was sponsored by Goodyear (thanks to Goodyear & Gary Koh's for being there), not MAPS....don't know what the heck they got going on there, but the show sure went downhill this year...that's a shame. An aerobatic pilot aquaintance of mine was approached by MAPS to perform, he said sure and gave them his normal (reasonable) fee to which they balked at...don't think they wanted to pay anything. I think their ads promoting a reunion was known B.S. just as a few had alluded to. Oh well, Oshkosh is soon! Other than the low-light of no Corsair gathering as advertised, there were some highlights....a heritage flight, B29 & B24 attendance, B2 fly-over, Texan II demo....I guess the former factory worker reunion went off the night before with much success and some great stories.

[corsairboss]

The Akron show would have been a good one if all the Corsairs would have been paid and able to come. I had set up the F2G and Marine's Dream for the show, but I guess the funds where not there..?? This is to bad, and we feel sorry for the Goodyear Retirees who where there to see their Corsairs return to Akron. Everyone knows that these Fighters are expensive to run and maintain, and they need funding from the shows to keep them going for years to come. "JAYBIRD" you met a friend of mine at the show and he said you had asked a question..?? e-mail your phone number and time and I will call with a answer for you, I will be around all day on sunday. One reason Ray Dieckman did not attend the show, is he is in the Hospital passing Kidney Stones.!! We had the Fighter ready to go. Maybe next Year MAPS Aero Expo will have the funds to get the Corsairs to the show. Best of Luck with their Show.

[jaybird]

Absolutely, best of luck to them. I dropped a Ben Franklin there no problem and had a good day. I only complain that alot of advertising is done on something that is not produced. As far as this "friend", I can only surmise this to be the gentleman I posed the question to regarding why the website banner states 7 Corsairs to attend including 3 F4U-1's when this is simply not possible. His response would surprise you, and maybe I should just leave it at that!

[corsairboss]

I was reading the Akron Journal this morning, and the MAPS show was stating that the F2G was going to be there. This is funny, they have known for about a month and a half that it would NOT be there. They where putting alot of stuff in the paper about the show that was not going to come. This is a shame, this would have been a great show to go to, and I was looking forward to this. Maybe all the truth will come from why the Corsairs did not show, and I feel sorry for the Goodyear Workers and the Corsair fans who where expecting to see 3-4-5 Corsairs show up. I do have a question: who owns the MAPS Museum and who else is on the Board besides Joe Chevaurx..??