Warbird Information Exchange

Well, if "all" you saw at the Gathering of Mustangs in Obetz, OH last October was Mustangs, you missed a stellar Warbird line-up, that included, among other Warbirds:
2 - P38
2 - P47
1 - P63
1 - Lancaster
2? - B17's (memory is going, sorry)
2 - B25's
That is the core of a great warbird show right there, even without the Mustangs.
...and aside from the planes...a unique chance to meet and speak with many veterans who flew and crewed these a/c. That alone was worth the price of admission.
I went there to see all that, plus Mustangs from the Left Coast & other parts of the USA I don't get to see, plus a handful of A/B/C models...they are kinda scarce up here in the Northeast...and I got to see them fly (as opposed to see them on display in a museum...I go to a lot of museums).
Oh, yeah, and I volunteered for 8 days to help in some small way to make it happen for all of us to enjoy. The Comraderie was wonderful and worth my effort & $.
A Gathering of Monster Trucks wouldn't quite be the same thing...(tongue firmly in cheek).

The reason we are so into the gatherings is, as producers, after you do say 3-5 shows in a row with a wide mix each year, you start to have the same repeat show, and what do you do next to spice it up? Also the gatherings do bring some owners out, who otherwise don't attend air shows.

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Michael Luther
Yankee Air Museum's
Air Show Director
THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN

repost

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Michael Luther
Yankee Air Museum's
Air Show Director
THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN

I agree, I loved the Mustang Gathering.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'm not really into seeing a bunch of the same type of aircraft. I really enjoyed the Chino show last year because of it's diversity and the fact there were some planes that I had not seen fly before. I like Jerry O'Neills idea though. I'd love to see a manufacturers gathering such as Grumman or Douglas. There are many examples flying from different maunfacturers and you could invite not only the aircraft but anyone who may have been factory workers and such.

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The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

Being around Warbirds for 30 years I have basically seen one of just about everything and seen most of them fly a dozen or more times. It almost gets to be an old hat. I think the type gatherings are much more exciting seeing the aircraft all flying in formation is a bit more like you would have seen in the period. I have had many WWII pilots tell me it just isn't the same seeing one aircraft flying at an airshow and it is much more nostalgic for them to see the formations as it was pretty uncommon to see just a <insert aircraft here> flying all by its lonesome back in the day.

I also like seeing some of the guys from various geographical locations all joining it allows you to see aircraft you haven't before or for a while. At many of the airshows it gets to be sort of a gathering of the usual suspects which is why I don;t really attend local airshows anymore. You can go to any number of local or even regional airshows and it is just about the same. Go to a type gathering and you will likely see aircraft that you haven't seen at the last 10 airshows you went to.

Ryan

I think dedicated type gatherings, such as Mustangs and Legends, are fantastic. However, for the regular annual airshow type events I much prefer a selection of various aircraft rather than a large number of one type. That's the big attraction of the Planes of Fame show for me. and the absolute biggest reason I would almost kill to make the trip over the pond for Flying Legends.

Yeah, these gatherings are getting a bit boring.
Mustangs in 2007 and (yawn) the last one in 1999; its getting too repetitious.
Gimmie an ole time airshow with just one Mustang and maybe one Stearman showing up. (Let those pesky PT-17s stay in Galesburg!).
VL

I love the concept of the "Gathering of ......" whatever. Like has been said, it allows me to see a lot of warbirds that normally don't go to airshows in "squadron strength", like you would see on a typical flightline in the war zone. Regular airshows won't entice a lot of warbird owners out there who rarely fly or go to airshows. The only gathering I've been to that I was disappointed in was the Corsair Gathering in Indianapolis a few years ago. The GML last year was absolutely awesome and once in a lifetime. For those of you that are not thrilled by these "Gathering" type airshows, perhaps you are getting "burnt-out" on warbirds in general?

I have gone to a few airshows in the past that I normally wouldn't go to, expressly because of the "Gathering" theme. Yes, this means traveling thousands of miles and spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars. It is worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see most, or nearly all of the flying specimens on one particular aircraft type!

You are killing me Vlado!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I just like warbirds. Don't really care how many/ what type.

I'm a big fan of type gatherings. I think the highlight of these gatherings for me, is getting to see a specific aircraft that has come a great distance to be at the show, that I otherwise wouldn't have the chance to see. Probably the biggest thrill of the Mustang Gathering for me was getting a chance to see some of the west coast based Mustangs, such as "Polar Bear" and "Ridge Runner." Another thing I like about the gatherings is that some of the aircraft that rarely go to airshows will make an appearance because of the uniqueness of the event.

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Matt

Sorry, but when it comes to warbirds:

THE MORE, THE MERRIER!

It just serves to remind us how rich (in heritage and good fortune) we really are.

Bring on the mustangs!

Zwit

I went to GML from WA state and loved it. Really liked seeing the other warbirds too, like the P-38s, P-40s and P-47s, very awesome.

I'm waiting for a Sabre Gathering, seems like they are dissappearing faster than they are being restored.

Love the type gatherings as well. Since right now I'm unable to travel to the west coast, it's great to see some of those planes make it further east as part of the gatherings. Gives me a chance to see something new and let's face it, it makes for some great formation and ground pictures.

Not owning a warbird I can't speak for the owners, but I would imagine it's probably a great thing for them to be able to meet fellow owners and pilots and be able to trade stories in person. My own example is belonging in a type car club. We have a yearly car meet where it is just our type of car and it's just great to meet fellow owners, share stories, see different ways of doing things to the same car, and really learn a lot more about your machine and problems/fixes associated with it.

I think I like both, truth be told. It's kind of cool to see a bunch of the same type lined up together, or specially in formation, you know? But I also like the variety of a nregular airshow, the excitement and wonder of not knowing what will be there (*I never look at the ads*) And sometimes you see something you never thought you would get to see, you know?

Mustangs, however, I can do without. Seen one, seen half a billion of em. NOt that I dislike them, I'm just into the rarer birds. Dan Newcomb let me see thier Zero (he wasn't too excited about in IMHO) and I dreamed about iut for weeks afterward!

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."