Thunder Over Michigan 2009

[Canso42]

RickH, I was thinking of Rick Sharpe and the SPAD.
Doug

[RickH]

Rick Sharpe !

Now what are we gonna do witth windows we put in the 400 gal travelpod !?

[Elroy13]

No barf bag needed!

[Scott Rose]

Hmm, Vietnam theme. I like it. It's different and as much as I like WWII aircraft I also am flat out in love with the Skyraider. And we could get a bunch of T-28 guys to show up as well as some A-26 Invaders!

Hopefully the whirlybirds will be well represented as well!

As long as it doesn't conflict with Geneseo I might have to pay a return visit to Michigan next year!

Don't forget the B-52, that would be neat to see fly at TOM.


A B-52 flyby would be GREAT for the show (Even though the "H" model never flew in SE Asia to the best of my knowledge, it can be a stand-in for the "G" models that did fly there.

And over in the static park we have the B-52D to represent the "tall tail" Stratofortresses that flew over SE Asia during the war.

[Rhino-9-3]

Over on Airshowbuzz Micheal Luther has posted that they have booked the AC-47 which is their first aircraft for the show.

Over on Airshowbuzz Micheal Luther has posted that they have booked the AC-47 which is their first aircraft for the show.

An excellent start to a vintage Vietnam/SE Asia era aircraft lineup!

Just for discussion sake, below is a very informal and rough list of civilian owned warbird Vietnam era warbird aircraft types that may be in current "flyable" status in North America and might conceivably be available for TOM next year:

I think each of these types served in or around the SE Asia area during the time frame from the early 60s thru the mid-70s. It may not be a complete or an entirely accurate list.

A-1 Skyraider
A-4 Skyhawk
A-26/B-26 Invader
A-37 Dragonfly
F-4 Phantom
F-5 Freedom Fighter/"Tiger"
F-100 Super Sabre
F-104 Starfighter
C-7 Caribou
C-46 Commando
C-47/AC-47 Skytrain/Spooky
C-54 Skymaster
C-118/DC-6A Liftmaster (may be some - but not operated as 'warbird')
C-123 Provider
C-131 Convair Liner/Samaritan (see note behind C-118)
T-28 Trojan
O-1 Bird Dog
O-2 Super Skymaster
OV-1 Mohawk
OV-10 Bronco
HU-16 Albatross
UH-1 Huey
AH-1 Cobra
CH-21 Shawnee
UH-34 Seahorse
MiG-17
MiG-21
AN-2 Colt

A second list are aircraft that are (or may still be in 2009) in U.S. Military service that are Vietnam era aircraft (in some cases the actual variants/models in service during the Vietnam War era - actually used in SE Asia - years may not be the variants/model types in current service:

C-130E Hercules
KC/C-135 Stratotanker
QF-4 Phantom
F-5E Tiger
B-52H Stratofortress
CH-46 Sea Knight
CH-53 Sea Stallion

I know that some have mentioned aircraft types that may have been used in the earlier French Indochina War that ended in 1954 (F8F Bearcat, etc.), but I have NOT included those in lists above. I would have no problem with those type aircaft being included as representaive of the larger Indochina/Vietnam War era from the end of WWII to 1975.

Looking forward to a great cross section of warbirds from the Vietnam era next year in Michigan including multiple examples in some cases hopefully.

[michael luther]

#2, Eric's Skyraider has been added.

[michael luther]

The Lancaster has been added, and will fly both days!

[Elroy13]

Thats great news Mike! Thanks for the update!!

[Warbird Kid]

Hmmm Lancasters in Vietnam?!?

Im not complaining! I just hope the CWH decides to bring a few more goodies down like they used to. Back in the early 90s if the CWH was coming to a show, you were almost assured that they were bringing a fleet!

[Ontario-Warbird]

The Lancaster has been added, and will fly both days!

Well I hope O'Leary gets some air to air with it so he won't bash the CWH again in his mag.

Dave C

[Warbird Kid]

Is there a chance that that article is online to read?

[Ontario-Warbird]

Here ys go.

Dave C