Thunder Over Michigan 2009

Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:13 pm

I know that it's probably too early to hear what the "theme" will be for next year (Michael Luther announced the P-47 theme about November 22 last year), but I think the B-25 theme for 2007 was announced in mid October the year before if I remember right), but I was wondering if the tentative dates are known yet.

I hope it is early August again, but I heard rumors a while back that a major jet team may be sought again that could push the show to a different weekend like 2007. If that's the case we may not know the show dates until the major teams announce their schedules in early December at the ICAS conference. Of course most of us warbird fans would rather see the show without the distraction of a major jet team, but I understand the money that this type of show can bring to the Yankee Air Museum.

The recent article about TOM 2007 in "Air Classics" magazine implied that "blue painted" (Navy/Marine?) aircraft may be prominent at Thunder next year.

Another very odd thing about the "Air Classics" spread on TOM 2008 was that there was not ONE photograph of a P-47 Thunderbolt (major theme aircraft). :?:

4 Thunderbolts (of an original planned 6) were there and flew in the show.

Looking forward to great show in 2009.

Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:26 pm

Don't forget if the Blues show, it will go back to the other layout. Having been there for the previous Blues weekend, that means planes very, very far away, and massive heat haze to try to photograph through. I'll pass.

Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:51 am

jwc50 wrote:I know that it's probably too early to hear what the "theme" will be for next year (Michael Luther announced the P-47 theme about November 22 last year), but I think the B-25 theme for 2007 was announced in mid October the year before if I remember right), but I was wondering if the tentative dates are known yet.

I hope it is early August again, but I heard rumors a while back that a major jet team may be sought again that could push the show to a different weekend like 2007. If that's the case we may not know the show dates until the major teams announce their schedules in early December at the ICAS conference. Of course most of us warbird fans would rather see the show without the distraction of a major jet team, but I understand the money that this type of show can bring to the Yankee Air Museum.

The recent article about TOM 2007 in "Air Classics" magazine implied that "blue painted" (Navy/Marine?) aircraft may be prominent at Thunder next year.

Another very odd thing about the "Air Classics" spread on TOM 2008 was that there was not ONE photograph of a P-47 Thunderbolt (major theme aircraft). 4 Thunderbolts (of an original planned 6) were there and flew in the show.

Looking forward to great show in 2009.

The dates and theme for the 2009 Thunder Over Michigan show will be announced shortly. Most likely by the end of October.
Best!
Kevin

Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:04 am

Tim Adams wrote:Don't forget if the Blues show, it will go back to the other layout. Having been there for the previous Blues weekend, that means planes very, very far away, and massive heat haze to try to photograph through. I'll pass.

Whenever we host a jet team again we may not necessarily move to the 2007 layout. The 2008 layout was designed with the possibility hosting both jet tem and non-jet team shows. Our thoughts are to try to keep the show on the East side of YIP. That may not always be possible but we are making every effort to keep it there.

Regards,
Kevin

Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:22 am

I've seen the Blues once and the Thunderbirds several times. Selfishly, I would hope that TOM doesn't get some show that would require altering the layout from the 2008 version.
However, reality strikes! The work that goes into organizing and presenting a show such as TOM boggles the mind of most of us, so we need to take a big bite out of the reality sandwich.
My wife and I will be at TOM 2009 either way.

Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:52 am

kevin walsh wrote:The dates and theme for the 2009 Thunder Over Michigan show will be announced shortly. Most likely by the end of October.
Best!
Kevin

Thanks, Kevin. Looking forward to hearing the news soon.

Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:29 pm

How about an A-26 gathering? How many are currently flying and which ones are close to being back up?

Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:35 pm

spookythecat wrote:How about an A-26 gathering? How many are currently flying and which ones are close to being back up?

Now that would be cool.

Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:21 pm

spookythecat wrote:How about an A-26 gathering? How many are currently flying and which ones are close to being back up?

I agree that an A-26 gathering would be excellent if you could get enough of them. If you can't contract at least 6 or more (I don't know if there are that many or more currently flying or not), a gathering is probably not practical. The B-17 (eight) and B-25 (15 I think) gatherings worked out fine, but the Skyraider gathering originally planned for 7 and only 1 actually made it. The Thunderbolt gathering planned for 6 and 4 made it.

At some point though the A-26s could possibly be part of multi-type Korean War and/or WWII gatherings.

Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:49 pm

One of the best things about TOM when I went, was that you could visit with the public and they were very enthusiastic and friendly. If you get a big jet team it tends to alter the whole feeling of the event. It may bring in the more of the less traditional crowds, but it is not likely to be as before. I try to avoid shows with big jet teams. It is interesting flying to see once or twice, but the noise precludes much else.