THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN 2011

[kalamazookid]

Ah crap..I was really looking forward to seeing an FW fly, even if it is a replica.

SN

Wouldn't you call it "Full Scale New Build Reproduction?

We mere common-folk prefer "cool airplane."

I wasn't counting on the FW190 showing up so I'm not that disappointed. I'll probably be wandering around with my jaw hanging down to the ground regardless.

[PhantomAce08]

Just submitted my camera and lens rental request!!

[TOM WALSH]

Definitely a disappointment on the Fw 190. However, safety is paramount and you have to trust in the owners decision when she'll be good to go.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[PhantomAce08]

With the 2 Corsairs and Fw190 out, does that open budget room for a Tigercat?

[TOM WALSH]

Two additional aircraft that are not on the aircraft list are;

P-51B "Old Crow" and P-51D "Gentleman Jim".

This makes a total of 7 Mustangs that will be at this years show.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[Steve Nelson]

While it certainly looks like a helluva lineup, I am a bit curious as to why there are no Hellcats on the list. I know there's only a few currently airworthy..are none of them touring?

SN

[PhantomAce08]

Hey, is anyone watching arrivals/practice on Friday? My wife and I were thinking about hanging out someplace around the airport but were not sure of the best place to be.

[bdsmith337]

While it certainly looks like a helluva lineup, I am a bit curious as to why there are no Hellcats on the list. I know there's only a few currently airworthy..are none of them touring?

SN

I also noticed this, I'm really looking forward to the show but the lack of a hellcat is somewhat disappointing. Im sure they looked into getting one, maybe there's just none available.

[airshowwb]

Did some of the F-18 squadrons drop from the list of attending aircraft, looks like some did. Would like to see some highly painted CAG birds on the flightline.

[kalamazookid]

While it certainly looks like a helluva lineup, I am a bit curious as to why there are no Hellcats on the list. I know there's only a few currently airworthy..are none of them touring?

SN

I also noticed this, I'm really looking forward to the show but the lack of a hellcat is somewhat disappointing. Im sure they looked into getting one, maybe there's just none available.

Keep in mind that all the flying Hellcats are either in Texas or on the West Coast. Given the long travel, it might just not have been worth the cost to bring a Hellcat to ToM.

[BK]

While it certainly looks like a helluva lineup, I am a bit curious as to why there are no Hellcats on the list. I know there's only a few currently airworthy..are none of them touring?

SN

I also noticed this, I'm really looking forward to the show but the lack of a hellcat is somewhat disappointing. Im sure they looked into getting one, maybe there's just none available.

Keep in mind that all the flying Hellcats are either in Texas or on the West Coast. Given the long travel, it might just not have been worth the cost to bring a Hellcat to ToM.

It's too bad ToM couldn't get some more of the Navy birds that are going to Oshkosh: Tigercat, Albatross, J2F Duck, Skyraider, T2 Buckeye, Seawolf Huey, etc. but it's still a great line-up for us in the East that don't get to see Navy birds so much. As long as the Helldiver is there I'm cool.

The ToM list was updated today:
North American P-51B Mustang "Old Crow"
North American P-51D Mustang "Gentleman Jim"
North American P-51D Mustang "Red Nose"
Northrop Grumman C-2 Greyhound
Lockheed F-16C Fighting Falcon

It's too bad ToM couldn't get some more of the Navy birds that are going to Oshkosh: Tigercat, Albatross, J2F Duck, Skyraider, T2 Buckeye, Seawolf Huey, etc. but it's still a great line-up for us in the East that don't get to see Navy birds so much. As long as the Helldiver is there I'm cool.

The ToM list was updated today:
Northrop Grumman C-2 Greyhound

It would have been great to see a Skyraider and a few of the others at TOM, but it will be a Great lineup. Really glad to see the C-2 Greyhound added to the list. I hope it is a CAG or Heritage paint scheme of some kind. It sure would be nice if they could get the Greyhound to do a COD "Legacy Flight" with the C-1A Trader coming to the show.

[Xray]

Hey, is anyone watching arrivals/practice on Friday? My wife and I were thinking about hanging out someplace around the airport but were not sure of the best place to be.

Can be a challenge finding a good vantage point with the Blues flying, as they close off all perimeter roads like Ecorse that ordinarily offer great vantage points.
If you don't mind being a little distance from the craft, they usually let crowds gather on Ecorse east of Beck road. You are off to the side of the action, to me its just a tease with a spot like that ,,, But that spot usually has the largest crowds.
There are better spots to be had if you don't mind doing a little venturing, along the railroad tracks that run just north of Ecorse along Van Born rd [which is just a dirt trail at that point]. Cops sometimes block that off too, but there are multiple ways to get on the road and make it to the tracks.
Michigan Ave between Beck & Denton offers many good vantage points, in one of the many parking lots or fields off the road. With the right spot determined by the flight profiles of the practicing aircraft, you can be right in line with the runway. Using google maps helps in picking out potential positions.

[PhantomAce08]

Hey, is anyone watching arrivals/practice on Friday? My wife and I were thinking about hanging out someplace around the airport but were not sure of the best place to be.

Can be a challenge finding a good vantage point with the Blues flying, as they close off all perimeter roads like Ecorse that ordinarily offer great vantage points.
If you don't mind being a little distance from the craft, they usually let crowds gather on Ecorse east of Beck road. You are off to the side of the action, to me its just a tease with a spot like that ,,, But that spot usually has the largest crowds.
There are better spots to be had if you don't mind doing a little venturing, along the railroad tracks that run just north of Ecorse along Van Born rd [which is just a dirt trail at that point]. Cops sometimes block that off too, but there are multiple ways to get on the road and make it to the tracks.
Michigan Ave between Beck & Denton offers many good vantage points, in one of the many parking lots or fields off the road. With the right spot determined by the flight profiles of the practicing aircraft, you can be right in line with the runway. Using google maps helps in picking out potential positions.

I think I have a pretty good spot picked out for if we watch the Blues. When they are not flying, can you sit off of Ecorse close to being in line with runway 23?

[Mudge]

I hope I've misunderstood some of the posts, that describe the "good spots for photos" off the field. Are you troops saying that you're not going to buy tickets but will sit at the "photo spots". I hope that's not your intent. I would think that if you're going to take advantage of the effort put into the show, you'd at least support it by buying tickets.
Just sayin'.

Mudge the curious