Thunder over Michigan 2007

[corsairboss]

If Mike and Kevin are on their toes, they will ask ACC for a Heritage Flight with A-10's and the Lonestar Flight Museum P-47, and then see if they can get Mr. Schroeder to bring his P-47, this would have 5 P-47's. A little mini East Coast P-47 ReUnion.

[kalamazookid]

He doesn't take the "Bear" to any airshows except for Oshkosh and sometimes Mount Comfort/ Indianapolis Air-Show. My dad used to fly for Mr. Wood and every now and them he would take the Bearcat out for a little spin but he rarely took it to shows.

Its a shame he doesn't do more shows, I've seen him fly the Bear twice at Kalamazoo about 5 years ago. Haven't seen his P-51 or F-86 in a couple years either...

[PhantomAce08]

Me-109
F-100 (it seems these only fly out west )

MiG-21 with F-4!

(Yes, I realize those are really expensive )

[Jeff Funk]

I like to see a variety of planes, particularly ones that aren't displayed too often. A few jets are good, particularly Korean War era. However, I'd like the majority of planes to be WWII.

Of course, I'll be thrilled with whatever you come up with. Although I've seen most of B-25's listed so far, seeing them together will be great. At this point, any additional ones will be new to me. A few more P-47's would make a nice sub theme also.

[warbirdguy]

Tom Wood brought the Bearcat to the Porter County Air Show in 2003! He even flew as part of the "Bomb run Flight"

[AIRIC]

Well, if you are asking....another attempt at some of the Spitfires that could not make it last year would be nice.

Not an aircraft request but a flying order request that would benefit the photographers. Have you ever considered swapping the flying order from one day to the next. The sun makes it nearly impossible to shoot aircraft as the afternoon goes on. By swapping the flying order all aircraft in attendance would get an opportunity to fly during decent lighting.

Whatever goes first on Saturday, goes last on Sunday etc. I understand about keeping the " theme " aircraft till near the end to keep the crowd but it is my feeling that the crowd that really wants to see the theme aircraft for the most part are the photogs, many of whom pay for the pit pass etc.

Just a lttle something that I hope you would consider. Any other photogs agree with me on this issue or am I being unreasonable

Jeff

Jeff,
Thanks for the suggestion.
With our planned site layout change, the crowds and photographers will be facing more to the Northwest (versus directly West). The sun should be even more favorable for photos all day. We are planning to have the crowds parallel to 23L 5R rather than almost perpendicular to it as in the past.
As for reversing the line-up, that could only be partially accomplished as some performers have "hard times" on their performance windows.
Thanks.
Kevin Walsh
Air Show Director
Thunder Over Michigan
Yankee Air Museum

That is great to hear Kevin. Can’t wait to see the new flight line. I just hope the aircraft are in as close and are not pushed farther away from the crowd.

Eric

[TOM WALSH]

Mike and Kevin:

A B-25 group which is celebrating a 65Th Anniversary in 2007 is the famed 345Th, the "Air Apaches".

Activated on November 11, 1942 in Columbia, South Carolina, the four Squadrons - "Falcons", "Bats Outa Hell", "Rough Raiders" and the "Black Panthers" - that made up the 345Th, fearlessly strafed, bombed and skip-bombed their way across the Pacific!

Cheers,
Tom Walsh.

[Waltz41]

Here's something....what about different formation flights? Is it possible these days to put up a B-17 with some escort fighters or something like that? Seems like this used to be done but not any more. Is this is a flying regulation now? I'd love to see something like that.

brian

[michael luther]

Here's something....what about different formation flights? Is it possible these days to put up a B-17 with some escort fighters or something like that? Seems like this used to be done but not any more. Is this is a flying regulation now? I'd love to see something like that.

brian

We can do that, but in the past some of the crews were not feeling good about the idea of formation flights, with aircraft they have never been with.

[michael luther]

Any chance of getting B-25H for the show?

Is Barbie still in AZ? Is she coming back to IL anytime soon??

As of now it looks like to much money to come from AZ.

[Trey Carroll]

F-100 (it seems these only fly out west )

There is a two seat F-100 in Ft. Wayne. I think the guy who owns it is named Cutshaw or something along those lines. I've seen it fly once and that thing moves!

[PhantomAce08]

F-100 (it seems these only fly out west )

There is a two seat F-100 in Ft. Wayne. I think the guy who owns it is named Cutshaw or something along those lines. I've seen it fly once and that thing moves!

How much would it be to get that one?

[Bill Greenwood]

Mike and Kevin, maybe you better start over and ask people what airplanes they Aren't interested in seeing at Thunder! The replies sort of model what I found a few years back when I was part of the production of airshows. We found a variety of tastes, with informal surveys. One thing that was sort of a surprise was that folks really liked to come out in the morning and walk around the planes and talk to the crews. Thunder had some of the most interested people anywhere, I was actually tired from answering questions. Oskosh is of course good at at this, but from a pilot standpoint they wait to late in the day to fly the fighters. So anyway, just get every warbird in N. America, provide a dual control Spit, P-51 T-33 etc for each photographer to ride in, and make sure the weather is 78 and VFR; so no problem.[/i]

Trey:

On the "Fence Check" website there has been extensive discussion of Dean Cutshall's F-100. Several people including myself have expressed interest in seeing it. Michael Luther reported to us that Dean needs 8000+ of runway and that Willow Run is too short at 7500 ft.

We also mentioned that we would be very happy if flybys only could be arranged without coming in for static display. Not sure if there is any possiblility here by Mike Luther and Kevin Walsh are very aware of the keen interest in the F-100.

Jim C.

[B25PBYGUY]

Its fun to have a wish list, but its important to realize that the appearance fees obtained from an airshow, merely defer the operating expenses of these airplanes - they dont cover them. This is one reason airplanes like the Liberty Belle and others rarely do airshows, when they could be elsewhere actually supporting the airplane by providing rides etc. Consequently, owners usually participate at these events to the imposed limit of thier own pockets. Directors at these events have to be able to maximize their budget allocations accordingly.