Airshow news for CAF Hq Airshow! Midland, Tx!

[Alan Brooks]

OK guys, will be keeping ya updated on arrivals.... So far, B-24 and B-29, FM-2, Me-109, I-16, plus various T-6's and L-birds, C-45's etc..... Mr Patterson is due to arrive on Friday plus Mr Dieckman and his beauty, Marines Dream. John Lane in "Hairless Joe" is arriving either Thursday or Friday.... will have more info by late Wednesday. I'm here with Steve Rister in Midland.... more later..... Alan

[Alan Brooks]

Ok, here is today's update..... Tim Savage and his trusty crew arrived today in the Twin Beech. Crew was Dave Tinker, Jim Church, and Tim Cullen. Hope I got Tim's name correct! The Ju 52/3m arrived just behind Tim and co., plus the A-26 Spirit of Waco. The FG-1D arrived, looking and sounding very nice. Stan Musick arrived flying the P-51D Ol Red Nose. From the east coast came the S-2F Tracker. Chuck Gardner also arrived, flying in from Austin! Funny, it had four wheels, no wings..... and looked nothing like a T-6. Jim Church is already thinking of many devious schemes on how to get the AM-1 back to Indiana..... I may have to help him! Various trainers have already arrived, but several have stopped to rest and then make the trip over to the Odessa field for the FAST clinic.
Rarest trainer on the field is the FW-44. Nifty looking little plane. Anticipated arrivals for tomorrow are the So Cal guys over at the show in New Mexico. Plus, John Lane in the P-47D "Hairless Joe".. Can't wait... Alan Brooks

[Warbirdnerd]

John Beyl is leaving on Miss Mitchell in about an hour heading for Midland...

[JDK]

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

That's the other thing the engine's for, Steve.

[Alan Brooks]

Despite the early morning rain showers, the weather finally broke and the floodgate of metal began arriving. Today in the late morning, the Hellcat, Bearcat, Zero, C-131, and C-46 arrived (in between showers). Followed by the B-17 Sentimental Journey. As the weather began to clear came Jim Cavanaugh's P-51 and the P-51 Gunfighter (Gen Urschler won't allow those Navy guys to be to far ahead!). The P-39 and P-63 arrived as a pair, plus one of the stars for this show, the P-47 Thunderbolt flown by John Lane. Three B-25's, plus two C-60's, C-47, R4D, An-2, and the CAF P-40, closely followed by the CAF SBD. Also arriving today was the CAF Colorado based TBM. Various trainer and L-birds began arriving as well. About seven Tora birds are on the field, plus a couple over in Odessa for the formation clinic. This years show is also having a Cessna 195 gathering. They have about 9-10 Cessna 195's already parked. Some of these are very sharp. Not a warbird, but very pleasing lines. Chuck Gardner will have the official update with pics and everything else. this is just the teaser! Alan

[NathanT24]

And as I type from my hotel (Airport Plaza Inn) I saw a C-46 takeoff guessing on morning photo shoots, because I just heard some more radial engines!

[TimAPNY]

Pictures? Please, pretty please

Dont use digital so pics will have to wait till I get back to Houston. I did something I have never done before, I took my first EVER Warbird ride!!!!!
I flew in the CAFs SBD-5 Dauntless and OMG OMG it was amazing!

[Alan Brooks]

The ramp space was filling very quickly! About 25 or so Cessna 195's, plus a corresponding number of T-6, SNJ's, Harvards. Plus more Bt-13's, Tora birds (5 Kates total). In addition, the P-47 Tarheel Hal and the B-17 Thunderbird from Lone Star arrived. Plus Marines Dream, plus Steve Patterson in his Sea Fury.... also Ike Enns in Miracle Maker! Cavanaugh's D-Day marked C-47 also arrived this afternoon. For you Helldaiver fans, she is back in Texas after spending a good portion of the summer based out of Columbus, Ohio. She arrived this morning after the Friday mini show for Special People. Once again fans, Chuck will have the official update and pics to boot...... Alan

[NathanT24]

Thanks Alan, guess taking a nap I missed seeing Thunderbird come in DOH! Guess flying in the SBD wore me out hahaha. So guess I need to get to bed soon got to be up about 6:00am, I WILL be there when the gates open. OH I thought I saw a Blue Angel F/A-18 come in were my eyes deceiveing me, not that it matters since I am here for the Warbirds! Now lets pray this front moves through fast.

[Alan Brooks]

Thanks to everyone who followed the postings (pics to come from Chuck) and also to those who attended.... On Saturday afternoon, a familiar ellipitical wing shape appeared on the horizon, with a merlin providing the power. Bill Greenwood and his Spitfire did make it to the show. The Saturday show was outstanding, although the weather was a little rough in the morning. The Sunday show was, well pretty much not a show as the weather was awful. Awards went to Ray Dieckman for Marine's Dream ("Best of Show") and also to Butch Schroeder's Hairless Joe ("Best Fighter"). Except for the C-60 event, I think the show was a success. By mid December we will already be planning for the '05 show. So stay tuned.
To everyone, regardless of your group association, it only works when you get involved! Remember this general rule. For volunteer organizations, 80% of the work is done by 20% of its members...... Alan

[henning]

Wow... Sounds like you had an excellent show for saturday. Can't wait
to check out the pics. Any comments on seeing Don Blakeslee? Did
he make it? any stories or dialogue worth quoting? Pics?
Hoping to make it there next year. Let us know what the gameplans are
when you can divulge them. Any opinions on what was the highlights
of the flying portions of the show?

thx,

henning

This was my sixth year to serve as CAF Airsho chairman, and, with the exception of the C-60 take-off accident, it was a fine Airsho weekend. We had almost a record number of airplanes, and my "dust control" measures worked well (a bit too well!) so the condition of the grounds was good. I'm glad that Allan Brooks and his cohorts enjoyed what we were able to invite in the way of non-CAF airplanes, and that he now understands some of the difficulties I have in trying to get a variety of airplanes to the show (with a limited budget).
Next year will be my final year as Airsho chairman, and I can tell one and all who read this forum that my goal (not always achievable) is for an all-warbird show, with at least one of each of the major combat airplanes from WW II. I will be working with Ralph Royce (airboss one more time) to get 60 birds airborne at once as a tribute to the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the war. At this point we do not know if we will have a demo team (Blues or T-Birds) but have made the request. I'm sure Allan will be bothering me from time to time in the next six or eight months with suggestions of people to invite, and so you all will know how we are doing.
FYI: I will post in another location my comments on the C-60 accident, although my friend Doug Rozendahl has done a good job of presenting the view of the CAF membership and General Staff.
Bill Coombes

[corsairboss]

I will have another P-47 Thunderbolt, that has never been to your show on it's way home to California next year after a East Coast Fighter Tour 2005, give me a call or e-mail and let's see if we can come to an agreement on this, and also the POF P-38 "PORKY II" may be coming back again next year as I have had a few request for the 2005 season. Thanks.

Thanks for the interesting thoughts bill. Look forward to hearing more as time gets near!
Also, mint, East coast tour? can you say more yet? Any chance there'd be another
p-38 reunion with glacier girl at middlesboro over labor day again or other places?
If so, It'd be great if the weather hangs together over indiana - or maybe I'd have my IFR
by then.. ..

henning