Warbird Information Exchange

The established Air Shows should be setting and planning their 2014 dates right away and not wait for a decision on the Military Teams. The non-support by the military to the Air Show industry in 2013 will probably continue well into next year. Performers, volunteers, suppliers and the general public need to plan for their time off so that they can attend and support their favourite venues in 2014. No organizer, big or small can afford to wait indefinitely for a scheduling decision from the Demonstration Teams that might never come. I urge all shows to set their dates now and get this industry back on track. If the Teams come back next year with a full or modified schedule, great, but, they should not ask the Shows who are well into their planning to move their dates.


Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

AGREE Completely, Tom! Military support will be great if it is available, but especially those established shows that include vintage warbirds as a major component can survive and do well without the U.S. military support if they plan well, set good dates and stick to them.

Well said.

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Matt

Well, looks like this will fit on this thread


http://www.cbs8.com/story/23599688/shut ... r-air-show

In some ways, being a show that's too small to be anchored by the demo teams has been a blessing for us.

Geneseo will be on regardless, July 12 and 13, 2014.

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Lee Barber
Flight Engineer/Mechanic/Photographer, National Warplane Museum
Geneseo, NY
http://www.rtn2014.org
http://www.nationalwarplanemuseum.org
https://www.facebook.com/C47W7geneseo

Wendover is in the same boat as Geneseo - too small for a military team - we are planning on September 20, 2014 and are looking at doing an "all piston power" show. that is not to say that I have not gotten my DD2535 in and approved just in case that our "insert your favorite explicitive" Congress gets it's act together.

Tom P.

I'm a big fan of the geneseo airshow, and to be perfectly honest, I could care less about having the jets do the fly by thing. I like warbirds, not modern jets. I like geneseo being old school.

I like Civilian Airshows, Warbirds Shows and Military shows. Each used to have a different flavor to it. Civilian shows often had locals static and local aerobatic performers. The focus was General Aviation. Sometimes there was a small military presence at these shows., like a flyby or military closing act.

Warbird shows had some flying, but featured all generations of former military aircraft. They more often had a stronger military participation. Military shows showcased the best and brightest of what the hosting branch had to offer. It was clearly and exercise to help recruit for them.

I used to like civilian shows that ended with a jet team, such as the Thunderbirds or the Blue Angels. It seemed the shows had a balance between the military and civilian without too much of either. But over the last 15 or so years I have watched the Civilian Airshow world hand itself away to the military without a thought. Frankly, when I go to an Airshow, I don't want to see 45 minutes of somebody jumping in and out of a helicopter. Or running around with guns and fake ammo so far out in the field nothing can be seen. Or a show of how military dogs perform. Of about a dozen of the other things that have now become standard. I want to see AIRPLANES doing what airplanes do. I don't want to see a couple of 10 minute aerobatic acts, and 3 hours of military whatever.

I've also watched as the crowds have turned now only away from, but against civilian performers. I have repeatedly heard them complain about someone like Bill Stein or Patty Wagstaff, while whining about when "The Jets" are going to do something.....yet when questioned, won't drive 30 miles away to see an actual military airshow that is going to be held.

Each type of show has its place, and I am frankly glad to see the stranglehold the military created on ALL shows going away. It puts the responsibility on holding a good show back on the hosting group- and allows them to create the flavor they would like to present. I'm hoping the Airshow community steps up to the challenge and fills the void with the kinds of quality shows I remember from my youth.

Agreed, but my fear is most shows will wait for the ICAS convention in December hoping the Teams will release their 2014 schedules. I don't think the Teams will be in a position to tell anyone anything at that point, particularly, in light of all the chaos going on in Washington right now. So, the Military will probably delay posting the schedules hoping for better circumstances thereby putting the Air Show industry further behind. As I said earlier, set your Show dates and plan now. If the Military get back in business, super, but don't get sucked into this "well we'll have to wait and see what happens game". They have already played that tune.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

Rather than wait, I would rather see the shows just schedule their acts and go. If the military comes back, they need to offer something special to fit into available slots at that point....

So, as of today nothing has changed in the Washington political arena. Sequestration is still on and far too many air shows are sitting on their thumbs hoping they will receive Military support in 2014. Organizers, set your 2014 dates now, hire your acts and move on. Think about it, 2014 will be a carbon copy of 2013.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds will resume in 2014 but at a more limited frequency than in previous years:

Military to Reduce Community and Public Outreach

Anthony

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Thanks Anthony! That is good news that will hopefully be a positive for at least some air shows in 2014. I would hope that this will at least mean that some of the major military shows planned in 2014 like Andrews (first planned show on the every other year schedule), MCAS Cherry Point and NAS Oceana among others, will be able to hold their shows.

And I hope that we will at least see some partial resumption of USAF Heritage Flight and USN Legacy Flight support. It would be especially nice to see the QF-4 Phantom from Tyndall and/or Holloman resume some limited air show support especially since their days are numbered.

Even if each team only flies two shows a month, that would be a huge improvement. I'm waiting to hear on what's going to happen at Shaw, which was a pretty good show in 2012. Considering Cherry Point or Andrews if MAM's Warbirds Over the Beach show isn't back next year. Of course, I prefer warbird shows but I've had slim pickings with those this year and am hoping for better next summer.

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Matt

Just talked to NAVCO - at this point only the Blues will be flying in 2014 - no Navy static displays are to be approved. Not a big surprise but a little sad to hear.

Tom P.