AvGEEKERY.com — California’s March Air Reserve Base on Wednesday elected to cancel their upcoming air show featuring the Air Force Thunderbirds due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus.
In a statement released by the air base, show officials expressed concern for the families and military officials who live and work on the base. The March ARB event is the first air show to cancel due to the Coronavirus disease.
The air base is located east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino.
“After several meetings and conversations with local civilian and military health officials, we have decided to postpone the 2020 March Field Air and Space Expo due to COVID-19 concerns. Reschedule date to be determined.”
Thunderbirds public affairs officer Capt. Remoshay Nelson explained to this reporter, “I can confirm we received an official postponement notification from the air show planners of the 2020 March Air Field Air and Space Expo. Once a new date is established, we will assess our schedule to determine our availability to support.”
The March ARB event was scheduled to be the Thunderbirds third show of the season. That weekend date of March 28 and 29 will now become a bye weekend for many of the top air show performers.
An A-10C Thunderbolt II sits poised ready for its next air show demonstration Davis-Monthan AFB. (USAF)
The A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team was also scheduled to perform each day during their second show location. Other performers included World War II-era aircraft and the Canadian Skyhawks parachute team.
“Department of the Air Force personnel and their families live, work and attend school in this community and we are committed to doing our part to limit the spread of the virus,” the March ARB statement continued. “One of the Air Force primary concerns is preserving the ability of our servicemen and women to provide national defense and carry out our worldwide military missions.”
(Charles A. Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
These F-14 Tomcat ‘Sunset’ Cruise Videos Are Both Awesome and the Last of Their Kind
On 10 March 2006, US Navy Fighter Squadron TWO ONE THREE (VF-213) Blacklions Lieutenants Ken Hockycko and Roy Emanuel flew F-14D Tomcat side number 201 from the deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and into the history books. The two LTs were the last Tomcat crew to launch from a carrier during an operational deployment (albeit at the very end of the last one). Carrier Air Wing EIGHT (CVW-8) had the last two operational Tomcat squadrons, VF-213 and VF-31 Tomcatters, aboard the ‘Big Stick’ for her 2005-2006 Persian Excursion deployment. We nostalgically present the cruise videos for both final Tomcat squadrons, as uploaded to YouTube by Triple Nickel.
VF-31 and VF-23 F-14Ds lining up for the cats for the last time. Image via US Navy
Tomcatters Tales
VF-31 received their first F-14A Tomcats in 1981. They flew the big fleet defenders from the carriers USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), the USS Forrestal (CVA-59), USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) before their final deployment as a VF squadron aboard the Roosevelt. The Tomcatters began flying the F-14D Tomcat in 1992. VF-31 actually flew the final Tomcat flights from the Roosevelt on 28 July 2006 and the last flight for the F-14 overall on 4 October 2006. The Tomcatters became VFA-31 in late 2006 when they transitioned to the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet– their mounts ever since. Here is the final VF-31 Tomcatters F-14D cruise video.
VF-213 received their first F-14A Tomcats in 1976. Their first deployment was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) as part of CVW-11 in 1977. The Blacklions also deployed aboard the carriers USS America (CVA-66), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and the Roosevelt. VF-213 switched from the F-14A to the F-14D in 1997. VF-213 became VFA-213 when they transitioned to the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet in 1997 and have flown the two-seater F model ever since. Here is the final VF-213 Blacklions F-14D cruise video.
During the Big Stick’s 1 September 2005 – 11 March 2006 Persian Excursion, Carrier Air Wing EIGHT (CVW-8) consisted of VF-31 Tomcatters (modex 100) and VF-213 Blacklions (modex 200) flying the Grumman F-14D Tomcat, VFA-15 Valions (modex 300) and VFA-87 Golden Warriors (modex 400) flying the F/A-18C(N) Hornet, VAQ-141 Shadowhawks (modex 500) flying the Grumman EA-6B Prowler, VAW-124 Bear Aces (modex 600) flying the Grumman E-2C NP Hawkeye, VS-24 Scouts (modex 700) flying the Lockheed S-3B Viking, Detachment 1 from VRC-40 Rawhides flying the Grumman C-2A Greyhound, and HS-3 Tridents (modex 710) flying the Sikorsky SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk.
VF-31 F-14D Tomcat. Image via uS Navy
A Historical Deployment
On 8 February 2006 the final recoveries of F-14 Tomcats after combat sorties took place. Lieutenant Bill Frank of VF-31 released the final bomb from an F-14 Tomcat on that night’s mission. CVW-8 CAG Captain William G. Sizemore II trapped aboard the Roosevelt after the mission for the final Tomcat combat sortie recovery. The two CVW-8 Tomcat (‘Bombcat’) squadrons dropped 61,000 pounds of ordnance while flying a combined total of 6,786 combat hours (38,980 total hours) over 1,163 combat sorties (16,000 total sorties) during their final F-14 deployment. They also maintained a 97.3% sortie completion rate. Bravo Zulu!
VF-213 F-14D Tomcat. Image via US Navy
It Takes a Carrier Strike Group
During their 2005-2006 deployment the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TR CSG) consisted of the Roosevelt, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) and USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN-760), the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 96) and the Kilauea-class ammunition ship USNS Mount Baker (T-AE 34). The Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate SPS Álvaro de Bazán (F101) also deployed with the TR CSG for several months. This was the Roosevelt’s ninth deployment since she was commissioned in 1986 and her third in support of the global war on terrorism.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Blue Angels newest pilot did not grow up dreaming about aviation. In fact, the first time he ever flew in an aircraft was as a junior in high school.
It was that first flight aboard a twin-engine private plane which began his love for aviation. A passion which carried the future military aviator to new heights.
“I fell in love with being in the air and I fell in love with flying,” Marine Maj. Frank C. Zastoupil recalled during an interview at MCAS Beaufort. “I fell in love with having the controls of that airplane.”
The Blue Angels new left wing pilot is looking forward to the 2020 airshow season. (US Navy)
As a F-35B Lightning II pilot, Major Zastoupil confirmed last season he was in his dream career as a F-35 Lightning II pilot. Three months later, that career banked 180-degrees after he was accepted as a pilot with the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron.
Zastoupil transitions from the F-35 to F/A-18
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Texas A&M in 2009, he joined the U.S. Marines. His career in military aviation began with flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola. He earned his wings of gold in 2013.
“I wanted to fly jets for the Marine Corps. — like what’s cooler than flying jets for the Marine Corps, right,” Zastoupil said. “After years of hard work, I think the F-35 is where it’s at for becoming a tactical aviator.”
Blue Angel 3 Maj. Frank Zastoupil takes part in a training flight over NAF El Centro, Calif. in February. (US Navy)
The recent F-35B instructor pilot at MCAS Beaufort added last year, “I’m an F-35 pilot and the capabilities this thing brings is bar none to anything else that’s out there.”
The recently promoted Major is fimilar with flying during an air show. He piloted an F-35B during the 2019 Beaufort Airshow — flying a few similar maneuvers the F/A-18 Hornet can perform.
Last July, Maj. Zastoupil was notified by the Blue Angels he was accepted as the squadron’s new left wing pilot for the 2020 and 2021 air show seasons. Once notified, he quickly reported to MCAS Miramar in California to train with VMFAT-101 to learn to fly the F/A-18 Hornet.
To date, Maj. Zastoupil has made only ten carrier arrested landings — far fewer than most Blue Angels pilots. As an F-35B pilot, 90 of his shipboard landings were vertical.
As Blue Angel 3, he will fly in the left position during the four-jet diamond formation. In addition to his precision flying, Zastoupil looks forward to visiting schools and community centers at local air show locations.
The Blue Angels close out three months of fast-paced winter training this week at NAF El Centro, Calif. They will launch into their 74th anniversary season on Saturday with a public performance at the naval base.
[Update: As of March 20, the Blue Angels season has been delayed until NET May 22d with a fly over of the U.S. Naval Academy graduation.]
(Charles A. Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
These 1950s Air Defense Command Pilots Didn’t Take Themselves Too Seriously- and It Showed
We’ve unearthed some classic gag films while prosecuting our never-ending search for great aerospace content. From the Navy’s classic send-up of carrier aviation, Launch ‘Em, to the Air Force’s rocket-powered railroad at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), to student pilot-produced gag films, there are plenty of laughs to go around. Even the Air Force safety film No Sweat is yuk-worthy in spots. The 498th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), AKA the Geiger Tigers, produced their own classic gag film and it’s a real gem. So get your popcorn ready, sit back, turn your volume up, and enjoy Geiger Tigers (uploaded to YouTube by sdasmarchives.)
NOTE: A two-part version of the film with better audio and lower definition video is linked below.
The Vagabond 498th
The 498th FIS was originally established as a III Fighter Command Operational Training Unit (OTU) on 10 August 1943 after its genesis as the 303rd Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1942. The squadron was initially equipped with a variety of light bombers such as the Vultee A-31 Vengeance, the Douglas A-24 Banshee, and the Bell P-39Airacobra. The vagabond unit was based at Savannah Army Air Field (AAF) in Georgia, Drew Field AAF in Florida, Harding Field AAF and Hammond AAF in Louisiana, and Abilene AAF in Texas. While based at Hammond the 498th received Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, but it wasn’t long before the unit was disbanded at Abilene on 1 April 1944.
Image via National Museum of the US Air Force
A New Jet-Powered Beginning
When additional Cold War Air Defense units were needed, the 498th was reactivated at Geiger Field in Washington on 18 August 1955 and equipped with North American F-86D Sabre Dog interceptors as part of Air Defense Command’s (ADC) 84th Fighter Group (FG). The film was shot when the F-86D-equipped Tigers attended a rocketry training course at Yuma AFB (later Vincent AFB- today Marine Corps Air Station [MCAS] Yuma). The 498th turned in their F-86Ds for Convair F-102A Delta Daggers in 1957 and were the first operational squadron to fly the Convair F-106A Delta Dart when they switched to them in 1959. The Geiger Tigers moved to McChord AFB in Washington in 1963, to Paine Field in Washington on 1966, and finally to Hamilton Field in California in 1968 before they were deactivated again, and for good, on 30 September 1968. Their Delta Darts were reassigned to the 84th FIS.
Image via National Museum of the US Air Force
We Like Choices and We Pass Them On to You
NOTE: When given a choice between video quality and audio quality our standard practice is to go with the better visuals. However, with a film like this the audio is important as well. Therefore, we have provided links to a version of the film with better audio and less-than-stellar video. These were uploaded to YouTube by Tom Dozier. Tom’s father actually appeared in the film. Part OnePart Two.
This HD Action Shot Aboard the Carrier Shangri-La Takes Us Back to a Colorful Time
The Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) was launched on 24 February 1944 and commissioned later that same year on 15 September. Named for the fictional setting of the James Hilton novel ‘Lost Horizon’ the “Shang” earned two Battle Stars fighting her way across the Pacific during World War II. She was decommissioned and laid up from 1947 until 1951, when she was brought back into service for the Korean War. The Shang deployed with the Seventh Fleet to the Western Pacific (WestPac) five times and to the Mediterranean (Med) with the 6th Fleet seven times before her final deployment to the Tonkin Gulf in 1970. This gorgeous HD footage from film, uploaded to YouTube by SuperCanopus, was shot aboard the Shangri-La during her 1962 Med deployment.
Shangri-La’s 1962 Med deployment was her second deployment
to that region and her second with Carrier Air Group TEN (CVG-10) embarked. The
carrier departed Naval Station Mayport in Florida bound for the Med on 7
February 1962 and returned 28 August 1962. CVG/CVW-10 would deploy aboard the
Shang three more times before CVW-8 took over.
Image captured from YouTube video
Bird Farm Birds
During their 1962 Med deployment aboard Shangri-La, CVG-10
consisted of VF-13 Night Cappers
flying the Douglas F4D-1 Skyray, VMF-251
Thunderbolts flying the Vought F8U-1E
Crusader, VA-46 Clansmen and VA-106 Gladiators
flying the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk, VA-176
Thunderbolts flying the Douglas AD-5
and AD-6 Skyraider, a Detachment from
VFP-62 Fighting Photos flying the
F8U-1P Crusader, a Detachment from VAW-12
Bats flying the Grumman WF-2 Tracer, and a Detachment from HU-2 Fleet Angels flying the Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever and Sikorsky HUS-1 Seahorse.
Image captured from YouTube video
Record-Setting Marines
VMF-251 became the first Marine Corps F8U Crusader-equipped squadron to deploy aboard the boat. The Thunderbolts set a record for Sixth-Fleet F8U squadrons clocking more than 500 flight hours. VMF-251 and Shangri-La port calls during the 1962 Med deployment included Cannes in France, Palermo in Italy, Rhodes and Athens in Greece, Istanbul in Turkey, Malta, and Genoa, Livorno, Naples, and Rapallo in Italy. The footage in the video was shot for the German film ‘Mediterranean Holiday’ (AKA ‘Flying Clipper’), which was apparently a real stinker- even when released in the United States in the early 1960s with Burl Ives doing some narration for the film. But we’re glad the footage is out there because it’s some of the best you’ll see.
OGDEN, UTAH — The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command announced Saturday the selection of the first female to both command and pilot the F-35A Demonstration Team during the 2020-2021 air show seasons.
Capt. Kristin “Beo” Wolfe has been selected as the new leader the F-35A Demo Team. She also becomes the Air Force’s first female single-ship aerial demonstration pilot.
[youtube id=”jcaZEacQkjs” width=”800″ height=”454″ position=”left”] Wolfe will pilot the military’s newest fifth-generation jet during 20 show site visits between March and November. The nearly 18-minute demonstration will showcase the F-35s speed and high-G turns before the spectator crowds.
“It’s extremely humbling and rewarding to get the opportunity to showcase the F-35A at so many different locations,” Wolfe said on Saturday. “It’s a privilege to work with the best airmen from Hill Air Force Base, and to give people a small glimpse of what this jet is capable of.”
The F-35A Demo Team has been preparing for the start of the air show season. Capt. Wolfe’s training flights over the snow-covered mountains surrounding Hill AFB have been picturesque during January and February.
“She was a phenomenal choice as the next pilot and commander of the F-35A Demo Team,” Outgoing F-35A Demo pilot Maj. Andrew “Dojo” Olson added. “As a previous F-22A Raptor Instructor Pilot, she’s flown and instructed in fifth generation fighters her entire career.”
Wolfe graduated from the University of Alabama in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. A few weeks later, she began training as a pilot in the Air Force. She earned her silver wings in September 2012.
Capt. Wolfe performs a practice demonstration on Jan. 24, 2020, at Hill AFB, Utah. (USAF/ Capt. K. Sumner)
She began piloting the F-22 Raptor, and in 2017, transitioned over to the F-35 Lightning II. Capt. Wolfe has logged nearly 800 total fighter hours in each of the Air Force’s fifth-generation aircraft.
Capt. Wolfe, who flies by the call sign “Beo” as in the Old English epic poem Beowulf, recently served as a pilot with the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill AFB. As a member of the 34th’s Rude Rams, she was deployed to Kadena Air Base in Japan for six months between November 2017 to May 2018.
In July 2019, Capt. Wolfe participated with her fellow pilots in Gunfighter Flag 19-2. The annual military aircraft exercise involved F-35s, F-15s, and A-10s practicing target strikes at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho.
Before she was selected to lead and pilot the demo team, Capt. Wolfe served as an instructor pilot for the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill. When she’s not flying, Wolfe enjoys water skiing and hiking in the mountains.
Capt. Kristin Wolfe pilots a recent flight on an F-35A Lightning II over Hill AFB. (USAF/ Capt. K. Sumner)
Capt. Wolfe’s role as a pilot and team leader is destined to inspire women of all ages. She and the team will visit schools and hospitals at air show sites to inspire young adults into a career with the Air Force.
“When we travel to different air shows across the country, we’re there to recruit, engage, and inspire the next generation,” F-35 Demo Team spokesperson Capt. Kip Sumner explained on Saturday. “When we travel across the world, it’s to showcase the professionalism and excellence of our United States Air Force. Whether that’s visiting with schools, hospitals, or veterans organizations, we aim to tell our story through the lens of being an Air Force demonstration team.”
(Charles A. Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team 2020 Schedule (USAF)
The C-5A and C-5B Galaxies Sing You the Song of Their People
The Lockheed C-5A Galaxy strategic airlifter was powered by four of the most unique jet engines ever produced. The General Electric TF-39 high-bypass turbofan was the first of its kind and developed specifically for the C-5A and was never used to power any other aircraft. The TF-39 was developed into the GE CF6 series of engines which powered the majority of first-generation widebody jetliners and the GE LM-2500 industrial and marine turbine engine that has powered more than 50 classes of Navy ships around the world. But the TF-39 is forever linked to the Galaxy.
Boeing JB-52E testing the TF39 engine. image via us air force
More Power
The last TF-39-powered Galaxy engines made its final flight to the AMARG Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) for retirement on 7 September 2017. All C-5M Super Galaxies now in service are powered by GE F138-GE-100 engines- a development of the CF6, which was developed from the TF-39. The new powerplants produce 22% more thrust than the TF-39s did, which equates to a 30% shorter takeoff roll, a 38% better climb rate, and greater payload with longer range for the C-5Ms they power. All good, but ask anyone who ever heard a C5A, C-5B, or one of the two C-5Cs fly over and they’ll tell you they miss the unique Fine Whine of the TF-39.
tf39 engine. image via uS Air Force/DVIDS
Turn it up!
Enjoy this series of C-5A and C-5B ops uploaded to YouTube by gags5503. The first is a flight deck view out the starboard side windows at the two TF-39s on the starboard wing during a heavily loaded takeoff on a hot/high day (aren’t they all?) out of Afghanistan. The engines were set at 99.8% of N1.
This video is of a similar viewpoint shot during a
touch-and-go on runway 33 at Westover Air Reserve Base (ARB) with subsequent climb
to 3,000 feet during crew training. The high power setting for this clip was “only”
91.1% of N1. Those big fans spool up to power pretty fast!
When this clip was shot in March of 2017 the crew was flying one of only five TF-39-powered FREDs left in service to the Boneyard at AMARG. The aircraft had amassed some 25,493 flight hours since entering service in 1970. Thrust reversers in action!
We wouldn’t be letting the Galaxy sing the song of her people for you without that fine TF-39 whine heard from the ground. We found a great video compendium of TF-39-powered FREDs taking off, landing, and in general making sounds like nothing else in a variety of locations and conditions- many of them shot on runways 21 or 03 at Gander International in Newfoundland. This video was uploaded to YouTube by 235FireFly. Enjoy!
B-52H Operations Today Must Look Similar to How They Looked When These BUFFs Were Born
The modern Boeing B-52H Stratofortress is destined to serve for the foreseeable future as America’s delivery system for tactical munitions anywhere on this planet. The aircraft will eventually be modernized (again!) with uprated engines. The exact strategy for this next round of improvements to the fleet of 76 BUFFs isn’t entirely clear yet, but we know it’s necessary. Today’s B-52Hs are being flown by the grandchildren of the pilots who flew them when they were spanking new. The guys flying the BUFFs in this video might just be some of those grandchildren. Enjoy this look at current B-52H ops as uploaded to YouTube by USA Military Channel.
The BUFF appearing first in the video is Air Force serial
number 60-0024 (CN 464389), a 1960-vintage B-52H-145-BW Stratofortress built by
Boeing at their Wichita, Kansas assembly plant. The jet entered service with
the 4042nd Strategic Bomb Wing at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base (AFB)
in Michigan on 4 August 1961. On 1 February 1963, 024 was transferred to the 410th
Bombardment Wing (Heavy), still at K.I. Sawyer. From there the BUFF was sent to
serve with the 7th Bombardment Wing at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas.
Image capture from linked youtube video
Giant Fish
In 1983 024 was assigned to a special atmospheric radiation sampling project codenamed Giant Fish. 60-0024 was equipped with sampling pods along with B-52H serial numbers 60-0033, 60-0051, and 60-0052. After the project concluded in the early 1990s the bomber was transferred to the 416th Bombardment Wing at Griffiss AFB in New York. From there, while wearing the name I’ll Be Seeing You, 024 was transferred to the 72nd Bomb Squadron of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB in North Dakota in December of 1994. In 2010 the bomber was sent to serve with the 20th Bomb Squadron Buccaneers of the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana where she serves today.
image capture from linked youtube video
Coming From a Stable Home
The other bomber in the film is Air Force serial number 60-0001 (CN 464366), a 1960-model B-52H-135-BW Stratofortress also built by Boeing in Wichita. Balls 1 rolled out the doors in 1960 and entered service with the Air Force in 1961, but did not galavant around the country serving with several bombardment squadrons the way 024 did. 60-0001, named Memphis Belle IV, is still with her original outfit- the 96th Bombardment Squadron Devil’s Own of the 2nd Bombardment Wing at Barksdale AFB. Film Credits: U.S. Air Force video by Technical Sergeant Christopher Ruano, Senior Airman Luke Hill, Staff Sergeant Philip Bryant, and Staff Sergeant Levi Rowse. Bravo Zulu!
Heart-Warming Sights and Sounds for the Warbird Lover in All of Us
We brought you the EAA-produced video about the restoration and imminent first flight of the one-of-a-kind XP-82 Twin Mustang. We also did a Twin Mustang retrospective for the 70th anniversary of the P-82 Twin Mustang Betty Jo’s record-setting long distance flight from Hickam to LaGuardia in 1947. But since we published those stories that beautiful warbird has indeed flown. At EAA Airventure 2019 in Oshkosh the XP-51 flew, and we brought you the proof. Enjoy these three gorgeous videos, all uploaded to YouTube by AirshowStuffVideos.
First up: The
XP-82 Twin Mustang flying during the Saturday Airshow
As it turns out, the XP-82 Twin Mustang flew for the
first time after that ten-and-a-half-year restoration on 31 December 2018, but
the flight didn’t go exactly as planned. In fact the flight wasn’t planned at
all. The aircraft’s last flight had occurred on 14 December 1949. When test
pilot Ray Fowler took the powerful aircraft out to the runway for some taxi
tests (including a quick liftoff/setdown) that power got the better of him.
Next Up: a tailcam
perspective of the same flight during the Saturday Airshow
After all…at comparable power settings the Twin Mustang has just shy of two and a half times the horsepower of a single P-51 Mustang but only weighs in at about a Mustang and a half. So the XP-82 took to the skies sooner than expected. Rather than try to stop the aircraft, Fowler just went ahead and flew it around the pattern and then landed it. With no gripes.
Restored XP-82 Flying Oshkosh Skies. Image via AirshowStuffVideos
The first planned test flights commenced in late January of 2019. After four gear-down hops to check systems and expose the inevitable (minor) issues, the man who spent all that time (207,000 hours all-told over those ten-plus years) restoring the warbird, Tom Reilly, finally went flying in her.
Finally: Another XP-82
flight during the Tuesday Airshow[youtube
id=”EUrkjSUU11c” width=”800″ height=”454″
position=”left”]
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The thrust and high speed maneuvers of the Navy’s Super Hornet jet will thunder over air show sites across the United States during the 2020 season.
The Navy’s Rhino Demonstration Team will charge into 2020 to perform at 11 show locations. Based at Naval Air Station Oceana, the demo team will display the dedication of its service members and inspire future naval aviators. [youtube id=”hu7gseuRWoI” width=”800″ height=”454″ position=”left”] Lead Rhino Demo pilot Lt. Shane Brady is one of four who will demonstrate the handling and maneuvers of the Navy’s F/A-18F Super Hornet, nicknamed the Rhino. This year will mark Brady’s second season with the team.
“This year I am the overall lead with the team,” Lt. Brady said in an exclusive conversation on Tuesday with AvGeekery.com. “In terms of the talent we have on the team this year, and our show sites, we are doing double the shows we did last year.”
Lt. Brady and the entire Rhino Demo Team are currently practicing for their first show in mid-April. He acknowleged the team’s excitement in taking off for their first public demo.
“Once you go airborne, it get’s your heart racing which is awesome,” Snuffy began. “It’s a pretty busy time and when you’re off the brakes you’re essentially in air show mode, and you try to put a good show on for the crowd.”
Lt. Brady, who flies with the call sign “Snuffy”, pilots the two-seat F/A-18F with an assistant known as the weapon system’s officer. It is the WSO’s job to provide aircraft updates and announce the next maneuver to the pilot during the demonstration.
“The Wiz-O (WSO) allows me to focus solely on flying the aircraft,” The Wiz-O is like a second set of eyeballs, calling out airspeeds, and the timing of when to bring the afterburner back on and when to start the maneuver turns.”
Each 15-minute flight by the VFA-106 Rhino Demo Team will be the only way to witness the aircraft at an air show on the eastern half of the United States. Its twin-engines will glow bright orange as the afterburners kick in and the aircraft accelerates.
“This year, you are going to see a lot more out of our team,” “We changed our name, and we are trying to get that message of naval aviation out there. I think this year you should expect some good things coming from the team.”
F/A-18 Rhino Demo Team’s Updated 2020 Schedule:
April 18 …………….. (Cancelled) Thunder Over Louisville
May 23-24 …………. Hyundai Air and Sea Show (Miami Beach, FL)
June 5-7 …………….. Wildwood Air Show (North Wildwood, NJ)
June 13-14 …………. Ocean City Air Show (Ocean City, MD)
July 4 ………………… Thunder Over North Beach (Racine, WI)
July 23-26 ………….. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (Oshkosh, WI)
August 15-16 ……… Chicago Air and Water Show (Chicago, IL)
August 29-30 ……… New York Air Show (New Windsor, NY)
September 19-20 … NAS Oceana Air Show (Virginia Beach, VA)
October 10-11 …….. Wings Over Houston Air Show (Houston, TX)
November 14-15 …. JBSA Air Show (San Antonio, TX)
(Charles A. Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
This Mass Flight of P-51s Looked Every Bit as Incredible as it Sounded
The Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) AirVenture 2019 was an event few who were in attendance are likely to forget. The show is always great and the exhibits, discussions, and general camaraderie with other Avgeeks is without equal. The fact is that as soon as one AirVenture ends, for many the countdown to the next one begins. At AirVenture 2019, known as ‘The Year of the Fighter,’ the Thursday Warbirds show featured a gathering of North American P-51 Mustangs so huge that it was impressive even at an event known for great P-51 owner attendance and participation. Enjoy the video (with the volume turned UP) as uploaded to YouTube by AirshowStuffVideos.
If you watched closely you saw at least one example of
every P-51 model manufactured by North American. Naturally the lineup is dominated
by P-51Ds (someone once said “they’re common as weeds”), but three P-51B/Cs and
a P-51H
also flew in the event. Both are considered rare by any warbird standard. Even
rarer was the presence of the restored prototype XP-51 at Oshkosh. The XP-51 didn’t
fly in the show but its presence alone is a treat for Mustang fans. But there
was one more Mustang at Oshkosh that raised more eyebrows than most- the
recently restored-to-flightworthiness XP-82
Twin Mustang.
image capture of linked Youtube video
Planting Warbird Seeds
Warbirds of America is today the historical military aircraft component of the EAA. But it wasn’t always that way. Warbirds of America was incorporated on 25 March 1966 by a group of warbird owners who at first limited membership to World War II-vintage fighter and bomber owners only. In 1967 Warbirds of America became a division of EAA. They also opened up membership to owners of the North American T-6/SNJ/Harvard trainers, which swelled the ranks considerably. With each passing year more warbirds are restored and membership is no longer limited to World War II. If it was flown by the military it’s now considered a warbird- including jets!
Great to meet you Jonah! Many avgeeks love legos and they love building things too. Some lego sets offer aircraft. But they aren’t really that accurate. What is supposed to be a DC-9 airliner kind of looks like a kids toy. You took a different approach. Tell us about your store and why you decided to start Plane Bricks.
Jonah PadBerg, founder of PlaneBricks.com
Plane Bricks is currently a place to get the most accurate Lego aircraft available and also where you can get a commission done by me, but it all started out as just a hobby. Up until launch my work had mostly just been on Flickr. I had been building throughout childhood and then really started honing in on my technique around age 18. In 2017, Brick Universe came to Oklahoma City for the first time and I barely made it in before the deadline. I was able to set up my planes for display that weekend and I got such a great response. Many people asked if I made kits, several others thought they would sell if I entertained the idea of doing so. I had never thought about doing that, but I did know that I wanted to somehow make money doing what I love to do, which is build with Lego. Later that year I decided I would give it a go. In Jan of 2018, I launched Plane Bricks and have been working since. Currently I have an online store where you can buy full kits, electronic instructions, custom stickers and custom minifigs.
Have you always loved Legos? What things did you build as a kid?
Since I was seven, I’ve been addicted to the brick. I say brick because my first set wasn’t even Lego. It was a Megablock A-10 Thunderbolt! I love History. My grandfather flew the TBF Avenger in the Pacific in WWII and was the only one of his squadron to make it out. If you have ever seen that famous picture of the five TBF Avengers in formation, he is the second one from the bottom. Learning about him and his flight career and that set, really sparked something in me. After that, I started collecting actual Lego as much as I could. I used to build trucks and cars mostly. My mom runs an online homeschool support group in our area and we hosted Lego Club for so many years and still does since I have five other siblings. With that club I was able to spend a lot of time building with people of all ages. We became known as the Lego family in our homeschool circles. When I was about 14, I entered a Lego magazine contest with one of my trucks and it won the little gift card you get for those.
The famous TBF Avengers photo. Jonah’s grandfather is flying the second plane in the photo.
Around 15, I started focusing on airplanes but didn’t really start being more complex and detailed until around 18. I also was a part of a contest here, called the Great OKC Build, where we gathered a team of four to represent our group. We were able to build a building that resided downtown and won in our division so our model became a part of the buildings representing OKC. With each experience I had, I knew that Lego would be a part of me forever. Now, I’m 22 and still making planes. I get commissioned to do a lot of planes in addition to what’s on my site. I’ve also been contacted to build other things and am about to launch a page for commissions that will encompass anything they’d like to see built.
What was the first aircraft template that you decided to do for Plane Bricks? The first plane I crafted was the B-17. I had done it a couple of years before I launched so it was an easy starter kit.
And how many models of aircraft do you currently sell? Currently, I have 11 aircraft, a fuel truck and trailer, and about five aircraft sitting in my office waiting to be released.
Are all your aircraft military or do you have civilian aircraft too? We only have military aircraft at this time, but one of my models waiting for release is a civilian aircraft. I plan to do more civilian aircraft in the future. We welcome requests that we place on a list, which helps determine what plane we do next.
What if a fan of your store has a request? Do you put together custom plane sets? Commissions are very welcome! If you’d like an aircraft, or something completely different, I invite you to contact me. I am able to offer a pre-done model, an electronic file only, a print book, and a full kit. The combinations can be made to work for you.
What does the future look like for Plane Bricks? Plane Bricks hopes to flourish in the years to come, with the expansion of our product line, securing of licenses needed for certain companies, and building up the commission side of it all. We are currently not selling Lockheed Martin aircraft due to licensing fees. We are still fairly new and couldn’t justify the expense at this time, so in the interim, we are offering those digital instructions for those planes for free. We would appreciate you all spreading the word about Plane Bricks/Jonah Padberg. As a new business on the block, getting your name out there can be challenging.
And we heard you have a special offer for readers of Avgeekery!
We would like to extend a special offer code for your readers! Come visit Plane Bricks and use code AVGEEKS for 20% for an entire month from the publish date of this article.
