Airshow news for CAF Hq Airshow! Midland, Tx!

[Alan Brooks]

Allright, I've been waiting long enough to start announcing part of our show for 2004! For this years show, we are honoring the 60th anniversary of D-Day! When I saw the new Flypast cover with Butch Schroeders P-47 on the cover, I thought this is the time to announce the show! Over 50 BIG iron warbirds, (not counting T-28's, T-6's, C-45's, etc), plus Tora Tora, trainers, modern military, Masters of Disaster (Jim Franklin, Jim LeRoy, & Les Shockley), and last but not least, Julie Clark! Allright, lets add a little ZIP to the mix... TWO P-47's for the show! Maybe more. I managed to talk good friend John Lane into flying Butch Schroeders P-47 down for the show, plus LSFM's Tarheel Hal! In addition, another fighter already confirmed for the show is the Cavanaugh P-51, plus their appropriately D-Day marked C-47! Bill Greenwood in his Tr Mk IX Spit is usually in attendance. There are at least four other west coast fighters that are pending and probably will not have confirmation either way right up to showtime. Steve Rister and I will be updating everyone when we have more comfirmations. Lets see, B-29, LB-30, B-17's, SB2C, SBD, Mustangs (P-51C & P-51D's), P-39, P-63F, P-47's, P-40, P-38?, FM-2, F6F, F8F, FG-1D, TBM's, PBY, FIVE B-25's, two A-26's, C-46's, C-47's, Ju-52, Me-109!, I-16, and the "Shack".... Also, Steve will have a webpage up later this summer to profile the aircraft in attendance! In addition, invitations for the show are being mailed soon! Now add this in! Real heroes of the war. One of the inductees for the American Airmen Hall of Fame, is none other than Don Blakeslee! Yes, he is scheduled to attend, plus the posthumous induction of another P-51 legend, Major George Preddy. I know Thunder Over Michigan will be great, but Airshow 2004 is already shaping up to be a great show! OK, my fingers are now officially tired. I know that Chuck Gardner, Bill Green, Steve Rister, Jerry Toliver, and myself will be there! Scott has made indications that he will be coming down for the show.. looking forward to seeing everyone.... Alan

[Scott Rose]

I definately want to make this trip if finances permit. Sounds like a blast and Chuck Gardner had too much fun last time, I was jealouos.

[RyanShort1]

I'm thinking I'd like to try to make it out there. Maybe I'll even be able to fly out there myself by then. I'm over 50 hours now and getting close to getting my license. I also have a cousin living there in Midland... so that might take care of lodging.

Ryan

[Alan Brooks]

I got so involved with the show description, I forgot to mention that Airshow 2004 is the first weekend of October, which is 1-3. Friday is like a small half show... "Special Show for Special People", generally not accessible to the general public, but airplanes are also still arriving on Friday for the weekend show. "Hairless Joe" with (John Lane flying the P-47) will probably be arriving on Friday. I will confirm more details on arrivals as I get them...

[RyanShort1]

:oops: I got so involved with the show description, I forgot to mention that Airshow 2004 is the first weekend of October, which is 1-3. Friday is like a small half show... "Special Show for Special People", generally not accessible to the general public, but airplanes are also still arriving on Friday for the weekend show. "Hairless Joe" with (John Lane flying the P-47) will probably be arriving on Friday. I will confirm more details on arrivals as I get them...

Sooo... How would one get in on Friday?

Ryan

[Alan Brooks]

OK guys and girls! Spoke with airshow chairman Bill Coombes the other day and another B-17 is being added to the show! Lone Star's Thunderbird will be making the trip in company with their P-47. Also looking to make the trip from the west coast is the Zero from David Price/Southern Cal wing. This was one of the Zero's recently seen at the Chino airshow and one of the stars of the film, Pearl Harbor. Remember, there are a few more surprises in store..... and most will be right at the time of airshow. Steve Rister and I will be updating everyone when confirmations are received...... Alan

[Lynn Allen]

Ryan, one would call the tower and land. You can fly in as long as the field is cold. You will park back in the South 40. The notams will say if anything is different. Rememeber, Midland stands for X-winds

Cheers,

Lynn

[RyanShort1]

Ryan, one would call the tower and land. You can fly in as long as the field is cold. You will park back in the South 40. The notams will say if anything is different. Rememeber, Midland stands for X-winds

Cheers,

Lynn

Right, check that, but what I meant was how would one get in to the "special" show on Friday... . If I do get to go there's a fairly good possiblility I'd be working with a USAAF reenactors group and thus not able to see as much of the planes during the show.

Ryan

[Lynn Allen]

Ryan, the Friday show is just a warm up for the weekend. They do a great job for the special people that come out. You won't miss what you will see all weekend long.

Cheers,

Lynn

[Alan Brooks]

Guys, I just got an email from another Mustang driver that wants to come to the show..... I will post when we get him comfirmed..... Any other P-51 or Spit drivers wanting to attend? Thanks guys! Alan

Allright guys, sorry for the long lapse from posting, but I have been really busy at the hospital since coming back from Willow Run. OK, just got a message from Steve Rister. Already at Midland for the airshow (on rotation) are the F8F Bearcat, Me-109 (Hispano), and the I-16! The 109 flew in, while the I-16 was trucked in. We have received confirmation that Ike Enns will be back with his P-51D Miracle Maker! We were trying hard to the POF P-38 booked for the show, but that fell through. OK, so four Mustangs, two P-47's to start.... and got a message the other day that the CAF P-40 is now back in the air and at home in Texas..... Doug Jeanes has thought about putting the P-47N fuselage on a trailer and bringing it out to the show so everyone can see the detail of the rebuild... hope he does! More surprises in store..... More details as confirmations come in! Alan

[Chad Veich]

Good to hear the P-40 is airborne again. I watched the Warhawk fly over my shop as it departed Luke AFB on its eventful last flight. What a bummer to hear that it only made it a short distance before engine trouble forced it down. Great news, thanks for the update. Regards, Chad Veich.

[Alan Brooks]

The CAF FG-1D is back in the air, after a prolonged engine change! So, in addition, a certain Sea Fury driver has said he is coming to the show... not sure which one yet, but have heard it might be a certain Mr Patterson?
Of course he is so busy having fun out at Reno right now! Will work on the confirmation... Also Bill Greenwood in his Spitfire is a regular attendee... working up to be a good show.... Still working on a last minute surprise.... You never know in the world of warbirds...... Alan

[Alan Brooks]

OK, Mint broke the news that Marines Dream will be attending the show! Thanks Ray! I really did not know you were coming........ Now, all I need is a really BIG fan to blow these rain clouds down toward Laredo.... they probably could use a little rain. The Southern Cal wing airplanes are planning on arriving on Thursday morning with six aircraft... Hellcat, Bearcat, SNJ, C-46, C-131, and the Zero. They will be attending a show in New Mexico on Wednesday. Still a little more room for a few more surprises........

[srpatterson]

Only a 30% chance of rain on Saturday. That's better than the snow that was in the forecast for Reno! Never been so cold in all my life.

Here's a little conversation I had with Ashley on the ramp at Reno Stead as I was preparing to depart...

AE "Have a good trip, at least it will be warm when you get to Texas. Next you'll probably be wanting us to install a heater in the Sea Fury."

SRP "I don't have a heater???"

AE "See you back home!!!"

Ah, the joys of warbird ownership...