Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:34 pm
So far I have two -
1) "Formation Break" of the Heritage flight at Midland 2006. 3-ship formation - P-51, F-16, and F-15E. Reg goes straight ahead while the F-16 and F-15E do a crossover break behind him. Was a beautiful sight and only time I've seen them do a crossover. The gasp from the crowd was great too.
2) Attending my first major air show at Love Field just after the end of Desert Storm. It was the first public display of an F-117. I also got a calendar and had the crews of some of the planes sign the calendar next to "their" plane on it. I think that 9 or 10 of the 12 aircraft in the calendar were represented at the airshow, so I was a happy kid to have "real pilots" sign next to the aircraft they brought in.
1) "Formation Break" of the Heritage flight at Midland 2006. 3-ship formation - P-51, F-16, and F-15E. Reg goes straight ahead while the F-16 and F-15E do a crossover break behind him. Was a beautiful sight and only time I've seen them do a crossover. The gasp from the crowd was great too.
2) Attending my first major air show at Love Field just after the end of Desert Storm. It was the first public display of an F-117. I also got a calendar and had the crews of some of the planes sign the calendar next to "their" plane on it. I think that 9 or 10 of the 12 aircraft in the calendar were represented at the airshow, so I was a happy kid to have "real pilots" sign next to the aircraft they brought in.
Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:36 pm
Probably realizing that I had successfully transitioned, at least for one event if never again, from the little kid in the seat wanting to be a pilot, to being the pilot talking to the little kid in the seat!
I do also still get a lump in my throat every time I see Tora.
Ryan
I do also still get a lump in my throat every time I see Tora.
Ryan
Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:38 pm
CAPFlyer wrote:So far I have two -
1) "Formation Break" of the Heritage flight at Midland 2006. 3-ship formation - P-51, F-16, and F-15E. Reg goes straight ahead while the F-16 and F-15E do a crossover break behind him. Was a beautiful sight and only time I've seen them do a crossover. The gasp from the crowd was great too.
Was that on Sunday? I don't remember it on Saturday when I was there.
Ryan
Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:04 am
I took photos both days, but since the photos I tried to take of the break didn't come out, I can't remember which day it was. I think it was on Sunday though.
Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:18 am
Matt beat me to the punch on this one.
Oshkosh '95 still stands at the top: 170+ heavies, mediums, fighters, transports, and trainers over airshow center at different altitudes at one moment. It will never happen again.
Oshkosh '95 still stands at the top: 170+ heavies, mediums, fighters, transports, and trainers over airshow center at different altitudes at one moment. It will never happen again.
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:01 am
Two come to mind, both from long ago. Back in 1986, when the Memphis Belle was actually in Memphis, and her 1st restoration dedication ceremony, got to fly as a photog in Texas Raiders, standing in the radio operators top window, watching 8 other B-17's in formation behind and aside us. Did not take near as many pics as I should have, it was so awe inspiring just to watch.
Second was an Oklahoma City airshow, maybe a few years after the above. Normal airshow stuff over about 5 or 5:30, guys did all the stuff on the planes, ground and flight crews had a nice hangar party, then about 9 or so .... just after dark .... there was that eerie sound of an air raid siren winding up, louder and louder, then 3 or 4 searchlights popped on from different parts of the airport, followed by the sound of several round-motor aircraft flying overhead. High enough and dark enough you could not see them, except occasionally a little exhaust flame. Siren still wailing, and searchlights going all over the sky.
I really cannot describe the feeling, it was like being transported to London in 1940. Even knowing it was perfectly safe and staged, I for one at least could feel the hair on the back of my neck rise.
Second was an Oklahoma City airshow, maybe a few years after the above. Normal airshow stuff over about 5 or 5:30, guys did all the stuff on the planes, ground and flight crews had a nice hangar party, then about 9 or so .... just after dark .... there was that eerie sound of an air raid siren winding up, louder and louder, then 3 or 4 searchlights popped on from different parts of the airport, followed by the sound of several round-motor aircraft flying overhead. High enough and dark enough you could not see them, except occasionally a little exhaust flame. Siren still wailing, and searchlights going all over the sky.
I really cannot describe the feeling, it was like being transported to London in 1940. Even knowing it was perfectly safe and staged, I for one at least could feel the hair on the back of my neck rise.
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:09 pm
1983, Charlie Brown Airport, Atlanta GA, Merle Gustafson, & Howard Pardue, doing a dual Corsair routine, with my parents there watching. It would be the last air show I would Crew Chief for Merle before his passing. 
R.I.P. buddy.
Robbie
R.I.P. buddy.
Robbie
WIX bus tours?
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:21 pm
n/t
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:23 pm
1973 at Ohakea RNZAF Base.
The RAF had bought over 4 Vulcans. One was on display and the others did a tactical takeoff. Engine start at the end of the runway and all off the ground in 30 seconds.
A couple of minutes later one came over at 500 feet max speed and stood on it's tail over the display area. For the next 30 seconds the ground shook. The noise slowly fading away to the sound of babies screaming.
I decided to join the Airforce that day
The RAF had bought over 4 Vulcans. One was on display and the others did a tactical takeoff. Engine start at the end of the runway and all off the ground in 30 seconds.
A couple of minutes later one came over at 500 feet max speed and stood on it's tail over the display area. For the next 30 seconds the ground shook. The noise slowly fading away to the sound of babies screaming.
I decided to join the Airforce that day
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:27 pm
1. The final missing man formation at GML. I was standing next a guy who had been an armorer on P-51s during the war and he stood and saluted when they played taps. Very emotional experience. And then when Vlado decided to come back around and join the formation again for one more pass. It was like nobody wanted it to be over.
2. A close second would be a Flight of the Day experience at the Air Zoo. I was probably 5 or so at the time. The Bearcat had just returned from its flight and the pilot it pulled up right next to us at the fence and ran it up to full power. Just when it shut down, the museum director Bob Ellis turned to me and said "that's one sweet plane, huh?" It definitely made quite an impression on me at the time. Still one of my favorite warbird moments.
2. A close second would be a Flight of the Day experience at the Air Zoo. I was probably 5 or so at the time. The Bearcat had just returned from its flight and the pilot it pulled up right next to us at the fence and ran it up to full power. Just when it shut down, the museum director Bob Ellis turned to me and said "that's one sweet plane, huh?" It definitely made quite an impression on me at the time. Still one of my favorite warbird moments.
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:42 pm
I have a few.
The old Scranton Pa airshows of the early and mid 90's. They always had some great modern jet demos perform. They always had a B-1 perform too. Man I remember that thing low and fast. Every kid around me crying and screaming! But me I just loved it. 
The 98 and 99 WINGS OF EAGLES show both had the MATS Connie there. Loved seeing that thing on take off. Loud!! I miss that Connie.
Last year at Geneseo when 4 P-40's in formation surprised everyone with a low pass then break for landing. THAT WAS COOL!
The old Scranton Pa airshows of the early and mid 90's. They always had some great modern jet demos perform. They always had a B-1 perform too. Man I remember that thing low and fast. Every kid around me crying and screaming!
But me I just loved it.
The 98 and 99 WINGS OF EAGLES show both had the MATS Connie there. Loved seeing that thing on take off. Loud!! I miss that Connie.
Last year at Geneseo when 4 P-40's in formation surprised everyone with a low pass then break for landing. THAT WAS COOL!
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:45 pm
Steve,
you mentioned seeing the Mosquito on its final leg to Dayton. My dad ferried it to England in '76 and i was standing beside the runway ( 6 years old) when they arrived and still the hair on the back of my neck stands up thinking of the good old "beat Up" they gave Blackbushe
Impossible to cut this list down to 1 or 2 but another couple for me were
Gadsden Alabama WW1 flyin 1993 i believe, dawn patrol, the pipes and drums are playing "Amazing Grace" as the sopwith Camel, Fokker Triplane and D VII take off in the early morning mist. That mixture of pipes and rotaries is numbing!
Also standing beside the runway at Burnet as Lefty did his routine in the '38, shear heaven!
gotta get back to work now!!
Simon
you mentioned seeing the Mosquito on its final leg to Dayton. My dad ferried it to England in '76 and i was standing beside the runway ( 6 years old) when they arrived and still the hair on the back of my neck stands up thinking of the good old "beat Up" they gave Blackbushe
Impossible to cut this list down to 1 or 2 but another couple for me were
Gadsden Alabama WW1 flyin 1993 i believe, dawn patrol, the pipes and drums are playing "Amazing Grace" as the sopwith Camel, Fokker Triplane and D VII take off in the early morning mist. That mixture of pipes and rotaries is numbing!
Also standing beside the runway at Burnet as Lefty did his routine in the '38, shear heaven!
gotta get back to work now!!
Simon
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:48 pm
A post-airshow occurrence at NAS Atlanta in the mid-1990's. There was a B-1B at the show that did not do an aerial demo during the show, but on its departure on Monday morning, did an impromptu aerial display for the base folks.
A normal take-off, followed by a low-speed pass with everything hanging out and the engines at full power, but not in A/B. He cleaned it up at the end of this pass and circled the field. The next was a high speed pass, going into full A/B as he passed the Navy ramp. There were a half-dozen or so shock diamonds in the plume from each engine. Awesome. He went around again, and went into full A/B at the far end of the runway, and as he passed the Navy ramp, he went into a near-vertical climb and went out of sight.
I had always thought the Harrier was the loudest plane I had ever heard, but this crew went above and beyond in this exercise of converting jet fuel to noise.
This was an awesome display of the brute power of the B-1B.
Walt
A normal take-off, followed by a low-speed pass with everything hanging out and the engines at full power, but not in A/B. He cleaned it up at the end of this pass and circled the field. The next was a high speed pass, going into full A/B as he passed the Navy ramp. There were a half-dozen or so shock diamonds in the plume from each engine. Awesome. He went around again, and went into full A/B at the far end of the runway, and as he passed the Navy ramp, he went into a near-vertical climb and went out of sight.
I had always thought the Harrier was the loudest plane I had ever heard, but this crew went above and beyond in this exercise of converting jet fuel to noise.
This was an awesome display of the brute power of the B-1B.
Walt
Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:57 pm
Definately the arrivals on friday night at my first Geneseo show in 2005. Everyone was eating their chicken dinner in the crew tent when off in the distance I could see a Corsair banking towards the field. He came in from the direction of the hangers, head on towards the tent at a high speed. Nobody seemed to notice him except myself, but they sure noticed when he buzzed over top of the tent with about 15 feet to spare!
Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:07 pm
1) Seeing Chuck Yeager fly a P-51 at Edwards AFB Open House (2005?)
2) Seeing Concorde land at Oshkosh (mid 90's I think)
3) The first time I saw Sean Tucker a long time ago in the black 1-800-Collect "Challenger". I remember thinking...who is THIS guy?
2) Seeing Concorde land at Oshkosh (mid 90's I think)
3) The first time I saw Sean Tucker a long time ago in the black 1-800-Collect "Challenger". I remember thinking...who is THIS guy?