COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Top Air Force display teams including the Thunderbirds will headline this weekend’s two-day air show over Florida’s Space Coast.
The Cocoa Beach Air show will host the nation’s top military aircraft plus civilian aerobatic planes. Guests are invited to arrive early each day to the beaches near Lori Wilson Park.
The Thunderbirds, along with the A-10C Warthog and B-52 bomber, touched down at Patrick Space Force Base on Thursday. The F-22A Raptor and B-1B Bomber are also scheduled to perform across the ocean waters.
“We are incredibly excited to kick off the 2021 season over Cocoa Beach,” Thunderbirds right wing pilot Maj. Ian Lee expressed from the flight line at Patrick. “We are fired up to get out there and showcase the pride, precision, and professionalism of your United States Air Force.”
For 2021, the Thunderbirds have completely changed their show with new maneuvers and a new music list. For the first time in 38 years, their flight demonstration will look, sound, and feel different.
At the Kennedy Space Center, the runway used to support space shuttle landings is supporting another supersonic craft. The swept wing B-1B bomber will call the Shuttle Landing Facility home this weekend.
The Air Force will demonstrate the B-52 Stratofortress over the beachline this weekend. (USAF)
Civilian aerobatics include Mike Wiskus piloting his Pitts bi-wing and John Black flying his Super Decathlon. A 1945 Douglas C-47 Tico Bell is also scheduled to fly each day.
The six World War II aircraft of the GEICO Skytypers will highlight the show each day. Their formation flying includes maneuvers used by the pilots of the Greatest Generation.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Thanks to COVID the USS Eisenhower and CVW-3 Were at Sea for a Record 206 Days.
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE TWO THREE (VAW-123) Screwtops were deployed with the rest of Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) Battleaxe aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) for a record-breaking seven months (206 days) at sea. That’s right- seven months at sea. No port calls. 60,000 miles. The Strait of Gibraltar. The Suez Canal. The Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Bab el Mandeb (I had to look that one up- it’s at the south end of the Red Sea). The video, uploaded to YouTube by Screwtop JOPA, is awesome and features a Screwtops Hummer (side number 600) flying a single engine rails pass with the port engine out at 15:07 into the video. Check it out.
image captured from featured videoimage captured from featured video
The Rest of the Cast
During the 2020 Quarantine Cruise aboard the IKE, CVW-3 consisted of VFA-32 Swordsmen flying the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, VFA-83 Rampagers, VFA-105 Gunslingers, and VFA-131 Wildcats all flying the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, VAW-123 Screwtops flying the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, VAQ-130 Zappers flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler, VRC-40 Rawhides Detachment 4 Mad Dogs flying the Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound, HSC-7 Dusty Dogs flying the Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk, and HSM-74 Swamp Foxes flying the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk.
VAW-12 BATS AD-3Ws in 1950. image via national naval aviation museum
VAW-123 Born on Date: 1945
VAW-123 can trace its lineage all the way back to 1945 when the squadron was formed as a Composite Squadron (VC-12) first flying Grumman TBM Avengers and later AD-3W and AD-5W Skyraiders. In 1956 the squadron was redesignated Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Twelve (VAW-12) Bats. The Bats flew Grumman WF-2/E-1B Tracers beginning in 1961. Since 1967 the Screwtops have been flying variants of the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye. VAW-123 was embarked aboard the carrier Enterprise (CVN-65) for her last deployment before she was decommissioned in 2013. On 1 January 2020 the designator for the squadron (and the other Airborne Early Warning squadrons) was changed to Airborne Command and Control Squadron. It was a Screwtops Hawkeye crew that made the best of a bad situation back in 2016- also aboard the IKE.
Sweet Merlin Music and Whistling Gun Ports is All You’ll Hear in This Video Captured at a Drive-In Airshow
There are more than 200 airworthy P-51 Mustangs around the world. The majority of them are based in the good old U S of A, but flyable Mustangs inhabit hangars in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Naturally there are fewer airworthy P-51Bs and P-51Cs than there are P-51 Ds and P-51Ks, but it’s still a thrill to see (and hear) any Mustang in the blue. Enjoy this video of a P-51B and a P-51D performing at one of Yankee Air Museum’s “Friday Night Flights” drive-in mini-airshows in 2020. The video was uploaded to YouTube by our friends at AirshowStuffVideos.
The P-51B in the video is P-51B-1-NA AAF SN 43-12252 completed in 1943 as CN 102-24700 and registered as NL551E. On 14 November of 1944 the aircraft crashed into Lake Louisa in Florida. The pilot, Lieutenant Dean Gilmore, perished in the crash. The aircraft sat in the lake until 2001, when low water levels revealed the wreckage. In 2002 the wreck was acquired by Jack Roush. Over the next six years the Mustang underwent restoration at Cal Pacific Airmotive in Salinas and was flown again in 2008. The aircraft wears the colors (and the Malcolm hood) of Clarence “Bud” Anderson’s P-51B AAF SN 43-24823 coded B6-S and named “Old Crow.”
Formerly Wrecked Racer Rescued by Jack Roush Too
image captured from featured video
The P-51D in the video is P-51D-30-NA AAF SN 44-74320 completed in 1945 as CN 122-40770 and registered as N551J (previously registered as N5466V and N51CY). This aircraft went into service with the Arkansas Air National Guard (ANG) in 1947. By 1958 the Mustang had been sold into civilian hands. Involved in at least two accidents, the airframe was restored and during the 1970s the aircraft raced in the unlimited class at the Reno Air Races as #76 dubbed “No Name Dame.” In 2000 Jack Roush acquired the Mustang and restored it to stock military configuration. After restoration the P-51D first wore the colors of Check Yeager’s P-51D AF SN 44-14888 coded B6-Y and named “Glamorous Glen III.” In 2005 the colors were changed to those of Captain Jim Browning’s P-51D AF SN 44-14937 coded B6-P and named “Gentleman Jim.”
Jack Roush flying a P-51D. image via video capture
COCOA BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds unveiled their redesigned air show demonstration on Tuesday featuring new maneuvers plus an updated ground show presentation.
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Thunderbirds have overhauled their entire flight demonstration. The announcement comes on the eve of their first air show weekend of the year.
During an exclusive video conference which included this reporter, the squadron discussed their updated performance layout. The team acknowledged they designed a performance that is more than just ‘aerial maneuvers all over the place’.
Thunderbirds Advance Pilot and Narrator, MAJ. JASON MARKZON, taxies out for take off last month. (USAF)
Thunderbirds New Demonstration is Go!
Their shortened air show season in 2020 allowed for the Thunderbirds to redesign their entire demonstration. Changes to the ground and aerial shows now provide a reduction in total time from 90 down to 50 minutes.
“One of the main goals we had was to take a look at our show sequence,” Thunderbirds commander and lead pilot Col. John Caldwell explained. “We’ve changed the high, low, flat, and contingency shows. That is an incredible lift for this squadron.”
America’s Ambassador’s in Blue looked to the air show organizers across the country, and the guests in attendance last season. The public’s feedback provided the Thunderbirds with enough information on how to change their show for the better.
“We looked at all of our maneuvers,” Thunderbird’s right wing pilot Maj Zane Taylor said during our call. “We looked at ones that were redundant that probably showed the same thing to the crowd and be illuminated.”
The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform at 23 locations across the United States in 2021. (USAF)
Six maneuvers were cut trimming their flight time from 45 to 30 minutes. They added new maneuvers, too, including a few sneaky passes.
During the last decade, their high show averaged up to 47 minutes forcing their F-16 Fighting Falcons to land on fumes. Col. Caldwell noted that the Thunderbirds have only changed their demonstration two previous times in their 68 year history.
“That’s when we started the team and we had nothing, we built a 15 minute show. It was done again unfortunately in 1982 when we had the diamond crash and we had to rebuild the show with the F-16.”
New Phases of the Thunderbirds Aerial Show
The updated show will highlight many sequences beginning with the grand opening with high vertical maneuvers. They then reset the tempo to their precision section – ‘formation flying at it’s finest’.
Precision maneuvers will include lower, flat formations close to the crowd line. As the show continues the guests will then watch as the jets move higher in altitude.
The next phase is speed and motion in which the jets fly fast at each other from multiple locations. The tempo increases the excitement as they build to a high energy portion of the show.
Their first finally begins with their slow high alpha maneuver. They then move to their strength and power phase as they demonstrate how tight the F-16C can turn. Expect a lot of afterburner usage.
They will then move to their patriotic pride and teamwork phase with all six aircraft.
“We’re doing really slow kind of beautiful maneuvers,” “It’s going to be very graceful and cascading as guests looking high in the air.”
The final finally then gets underway with the delta burst coming back together. The solos will make a few final maneuvers, and the high bomb burst will close out the demonstration.
The ground show by the aircraft maintainers has also been shortened from 35 minutes to 15 minutes. Hand signals now replace voice communications as they replicate an actual Air Force jet launch.
“We’ve shortened down the number of steps to launch the aircraft,” Thunderbirds maintenance officer Capt. Mike Bell said during the video call. “What we want the crowd to feel is how fast those aircraft went from engine start to taxi to airborne.”
They kept the important ground aspects including the precision, facing movements, and aircraft taxi. Bell added, “We preserved all that, but we made it more efficient.”
Col. Caldwell, now in his third season with the Thunderbirds, is excited for the public to watch them at an air show. He hopes the Thunderbirds will inspire air show guests and the future of America’s Airmen.
“The best is to be on the air show line, feeling the thunder in your chest, hearing the jets roar by,” Col. Caldwell added. “Seeing the speed and motion, and seeing the heights that this demo team can fly 18-inches apart for the American public.”
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Take a Seat in the Cockpit on a Skywarrior Flight to the Pacific Northwest
The Douglas A3D/A-3 Skywarrior served with the United States Navy from 1952 to 1991. During the Whale’s time the aircraft was used in the attack, photo reconnaissance, electronic reconnaissance, electronic attack, training, tanking, VIP transport, and several combined roles. The jet was the largest and heaviest ever regularly operated from American aircraft carriers (including the Essex-class). After being withdrawn from service with the Navy, Hughes/Raytheon utilized several Skywarriors as testbeds for the company’s various radars, missile systems, and other electronics. This video, uploaded to YouTube by iusedtogomach, was shot during a flight aboard NRA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 144825, registered as N878RS to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island on 29 April 2011. Turn up the sound!
The jet in the video, BuNo 144825, was built by Douglas as an A3D-2P photo reconnaissance variant and accepted by the Navy in December 1958. The designation of 825 was changed to RA-3B when the Tri-Service designation changes occurred on 18 September 1962. 825 served with the Naval Air Test Center (NATC) at NAS Patuxent River before being assigned to the Naval Missile Center (NMC)/Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC) at NAS Point Mugu where the jet continued to be utilized as a testbed- often with the side number 75. For many years (until 1990) the jet wore an outsized radar housing for a nose, earning the unlikely sobriquet of “Snoopy.” After being stricken from Naval Service, Hughes/Raytheon began flying her in similar test roles out of Van Nuys (KVNY) in California. This video of 825 arriving at NAS Whidbey after the flight shot in the video above was uploaded to YouTube by Be44321.
While flying with Raytheon/Hughes the jet first wore civil registration number N578HA. The aircraft spent more time at Point Mugu while in service with Raytheon/Hughes. As of 1992 the civil registration was changed to N878RS and the jet began wearing side number 78. 825 wore the N878RS registration until June 2000, when the jet’s airworthiness certificate indicated a revised registration number of NX878RS. The jet made the flight to Whidbey in the videos above wearing N878RS/side number 78 markings. Today, thanks to thousands of volunteer man-hours, the jet is on outdoor display at NAS Whidbey Island wearing VAH-123 “Pros” colors on her port side and VAH-10 “Vikings” colors on her starboard side with the same side number (263).
144825 arriving at NAS whidbey. image via dvids144825 during dedication ceremony 2017. image via dvids
This Little Girl’s Reactions Are Guaranteed to Make You Smile!
Chances are you’ve seen little Lea before. We don’t know that much about her, and that’s fine. What we do know is that her enthusiastic reactions to aerobatic maneuvers like rolls, spins, inverted flight are some of the purest expressions of joy we’ve ever seen. Despite attempts to learn more about the pilot and passenger in these short clips, we’ve been unable to get in contact with ARL Aviation. No matter, because if these clips don’t make you smile you need to check your pulse! The first video was posted to YouTube five years ago; the most recent three years ago. All of the videos were uploaded to YouTube by ARL Aviation.
Image captured from featured video
This is the video that introduced little Lea to the world. We’re fairly sure the pilot is her father, but we haven’t been able to confirm. Just try not to smile!
Many of us AvGeeks are tracking the progress of the passenger counts supplied by the Transportation Security Administration during the COVID pandemic. Avid numbers geeks also know that raw data should always be converted to associated cool charts!
Numbers in the Raw
The first chart below displays the raw data. Because the TSA lists the most current day first, the chart reconstructs a chronological visualization for the same time periods January – December.
The Numbers Tell Us That Passengers Are Coming Back! 21
Making Sense of It All
Well aren’t those some squiggly lines? Because these are daily points, the lines show large amplitudes that correlate to high traffic (Fridays) and low traffic (Tuesdays). Let’s smooth out the lines using a rolling 7 day average to provide a better picture.
The Numbers Tell Us That Passengers Are Coming Back! 22
Deriving Some Encouraging Conclusions
The 7 day chart shows some interesting facts. The first part of 2020 on a rolling average basis, had approximately 5% increase in traffic over 2019 (grey line). The precipitous drop from February to April highlights the extent to which passenger traffic decreased. One could follow the 2020 line from right and then see the 2021 line in Blue to left as a continuation. Although 2021 began at less than 50 percent traffic compared to 2020, passenger counts have rapidly increased since January 2021.
Playing the Percentages
Speaking of percentages, the chart below indicates the raw percentage differences and a smoothed 7 day average. Note that there are only 2 lines – the orange line is the difference between 2019 and 2020. The blue 2021 line shows the difference between 2019 and 2021.
The Numbers Tell Us That Passengers Are Coming Back! 23
A What-If Scenario
When trying to identify when normalcy will return, Here’s a “what if” scenario: What if passenger traffic grew by 5% year over year from 2019 to 2020 through 2021?
The Numbers Tell Us That Passengers Are Coming Back! 24
Lost Passengers
What would be the point in identifying where passenger traffic might be at 5% growth? That answer rests in the below graph that shows the approximate “lost passenger counts” due to pandemic.
The Numbers Tell Us That Passengers Are Coming Back! 25
Some Bad/Good News
In just over a year, roughly 600,000,000 passengers did not travel. But if the 2021 pace of passenger counts continues, by August we could surpass 2019! That would be GREAT news for the aviation industry!
This Non-Profit Flight Service Fills a Critical Need at No Cost to the Children or Their Families
When Mark Pestal was a youngster growing up under the approach path to runway 12 at Offutt Air Force Base (AFB) in Omaha, Nebraska, he had no way of knowing that his interest in aviation would take him where he is today. His passion for flight increased dramatically as a 7 year-old when a neighbor and he went on an introductory flight in a Cessna 152. When Pestal arrived at the University of Colorado in Boulder to pursue a degree in Business, he fell in with several roommates who shared his interest in aviation. There Mark began taking lessons, eventually soloing in a 152 in 1982.
Image via Cessna
Working With the Department of Justice
After Mark graduated with his undergraduate degree he entered law school at UC Boulder. He then went to work for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington D.C. in the Office of Legislative Affairs. While working in Washington, Mark flew with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) during the early 1990s. Mark then became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Denver, where he was involved in aviation accident investigation and litigation on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Throughout his time with the DOJ, Pestal remained interested in aviation, eventually earning an ATP and jet-type rating.
Mark Pestal. image via aeroangel. used with permission
An Idea Develops Into a Compassionate Mission
During the early 2000s some of Pestal’s spare time was spent on the board of a Midwestern aviation charity. It was during this time that Pestal realized there was an unfulfilled need for critically ill passengers to travel long distances for treatment aboard jet aircraft, but many of them did not require, or could not justify, an air ambulance for their travel to treatment. Commercial flights were not an option for these passengers because of their serious health challenges and requirement for medical support en route. For a child with no immune system a commercial flight is simply not a viable option. While there are some 250 children’s hospitals in the United States, the distances children must sometimes travel for life-saving treatment keep them from that treatment.
image via aeroangel. used with permission
Taking Off and Starting Small
Mark Pestal founded AeroAngel as a non-profit organization in 2010. The first flight was made in a Beechcraft 58P Baron, and before long they were flying Piper Meridians, Pilatus PC-12s, and Cessna Citation Mustangs. Since then, Mark and his five-member team of volunteers, along with many more volunteer pilots, have provided more than 200 flights, primarily for children, across the country. The unexpected donation of a Learjet 55 aircraft in the summer of 2018 provided the impetus for Mark to retire from his work with the DOJ in August of 2019 after 30 years of service. When he’s not in the right seat aboard an AeroAngel flight, Pestal now volunteers as AeroAngel’s full time Executive Director.
aeroangel learjet 55. image via aeroangel. used with permission.
How Does a Family in Need Connect With AeroAngel?
Requests for AeroAngel flights come from several sources: Social workers at various children’s hospitals, the AeroAngel website, and perhaps most often, referrals from previous passengers and their families. Once a request comes in, first the child’s ability to travel aboard a business jet for the required duration is verified. Then the donor aircraft, crew, and other logistics are handled by AeroAngel. While Pestal says they can provide transport for patients with critical need in as little as a few hours, that’s the exception rather than the norm.
aeroangel passengers. image via aeroangel. used with permission
For the Rest of the AeroAngel Story, Bang NEXT PAGE Below
COCOA BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and F-22A Raptor will provide the thrust over America’s Space Coast next weekend during the Cocoa Beach Air Show.
Popular military and civilian aerobatic aircraft are scheduled to fly on April 17 and 18 over the sugar beaches. Lori Wilson Park will be air show center during an exciting weekend.
Demonstrations by the Air Force A-10C Warthog plus a B-52H Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer are also planned. Civilian aircraft include the GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team, Michael Wiskus, and popular warbirds.
The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team, Led by pilot Major Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, will perform high speed maneuvers and tight precision flying over Cocoa Beach on April 17 and 18, 2021. (U.S.A.F)
“We’re glad to be bringing the show back to the beach at a time where it can help the ailing tourism industry that has been so badly impacted in the past year,” Air show organizer Bryan Lilley told AvGeekery. “Having the double headliner of the Thunderbirds and F-22 Raptor will kick the destination appeal of the Cocoa Beach Air Show into afterburner.”
Homecoming for a Thunderbird and a F-22 Pilot
The Thunderbirds six red, white, and blue F-16C Fighting Falcons are scheduled to perform each afternoon. Led by Col. John Caldwell, the pilots perform an array of close maneuvers and high speed passes.
For one Thunderbird, Cocoa Beach will mark a homecoming. SSgt. Joshua Williams is one of the squadron’s tactical aircraft maintainers who regularly inspects their jets and replaces worn avionics.
“I am extremely excited to start the Thunderbirds 2021 season,” SSgt. Williams told AvGeekery.com on Tuesday. “2020 was a challenging year for everyone and the team’s thrilled to get back on the road performing air shows.”
Williams entered the Air Force in 2010, inspired by the aviation and space launches across Cape Canaveral. The sugar white beaches of Cocoa Beach is all too familiar to the veteran Thunderbird.
“I grew up camping at Patrick Air Force Base, going to space camps, lounging on the beaches, watching shuttle launches out of the Cape, and going to air shows,” SSgt. Williams added. “The air show at Cocoa Beach is the perfect way to cap off my four years as a Thunderbird.”
The Air Force will be on full display as the F-22A Raptor launches into a new season. This fifth generation stealth fighter will display spin maneuvers and high speed flat passes, plus the crowd favorite Heritage Flight.
Led by pilot Major Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, the F-22 Demonstration Team is a must see at air shows. A Tampa native, Cabo himself grew up attending air shows in central Florida.
“I am extremely excited about returning to my home state of Florida,” Maj. Gunderson said. “I loved seeing the military jets, so it’s an honor to pay that forward to future aviators.”
Civilian Aerobatics to Perform over Cocoa Beach
The world famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team begin their new season above Cocoa Beach. Their six Navy SNJ-2 aircraft perform a nearly 18-minute display of exciting maneuvers.
“Following a year where most cities were unable to host events of any sort involving large groups of people, we’re especially excited to participate in the Cocoa Beach Air Show,” Flight leader and pilot Larry Arken said on Tuesday. “This will be our first appearance in Cocoa Beach in 10 years.”
the World Famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team will highlight Cocoa Beach. (Brenda Little/ GSAST)
The pilots of these historic warbirds will perform dogfighting maneuvers used by World War II aviators. The GEICO Skytypers precision flight to a colorful narration makes this a memorable performance.
Recent additions to the show include the Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, and the Douglas C-47 Skytrain Tico Bell.
Air show tickets remain available for select VIP viewing and beach areas known as Sand Boxes. Each are designed to ensure social distancing in the guidelines of the CDC. Food, beverage, and restrooms will be located along the beachline.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Rare Footage of the Senator from Arizona Flying the A-10B Night/Adverse Weather Prototype
Fairchild Republic’s A-10 Night/Adverse Weather (A-10 N/AW) was the company’s proposal for a two seater all-weather attack version of the A-10 Thunderbolt II knowns as the A-10B.
The company built just one of these jets. The idea was to incorporate an Electronic Warfare Office (EWO) in a second seat behind the pilot, who could operate the additional mission equipment required to make the aircraft as dangerous at night and in adverse weather as the standard Warthog (still) is during the day. This video of Senator Barry Goldwater going for a familiarization ride in the A-10B Warthog was uploaded to YouTube by Periscope Film. More about the aircraft after the video.
Building a Two-Place Thunderbolt II
The first preproduction Demonstration Testing and Evaluation (DT&E) Republic A-10A (SN 73-1664) was returned to the Fairchild Republic factory for conversion to a prototype two-place variant of the A-10 during March of 1979. In addition to reworking the forward fuselage to incorporate a second seat and dual controls, the canopy was changed from the standard clamshell type to a side-opening type with an A frame structure between the two cockpits. The ejection seats were changed to ACES-IIs designed to fire through the revised canopy.
A large rear cockpit instrument panel to house the additional displays for the Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR), Low Light Level Television (LLLTV), Terrain Following Radar (TFR), Inertial Navigation System (INS), radar altimeter, laser range finding device, and an electronic moving map display was added.
image via national archives
Packing a Passel of High-Tech Sensors in the A-10B Warthog
The FLIR and laser range finding device combination was housed in a single external pod mounted on the center fuselage station (pylon six). The TFR emitter/receiver was housed in another external pod mounted on the center wing station closest to the left main landing gear (station four).
The LLLTV replaced the Pave Penny pod usually carried on the pylon mounted on the starboard side of the forward fuselage. 20 inch extensions were bolted on to the vertical stabilizers. The GAU-8/A 30mm Gatling Gun was retained but a smaller ammunition drum with a capacity of 750 rounds (about 50% of normal capacity) was substituted. In all the modifications required about three months to complete.
image via national archives
Why was the A-10B Warthog not successful?
On 23 October 1979 the Air Force Preliminary Flight Evaluation of the A-10 N/AW commenced, with flight testing of the aircraft performed by the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California. There, over the next 42 days (and nights), the jet was flown for a total of 48.6 hours during 28 flights, with roughly one third of the flights being flown at night.
Even though the A-10 N/AW test program was successful, the program was canceled- primarily because of advancements in night attack equipment such as the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system that could be, and still is, bolted on to many of the tactical aircraft already in the inventory.
image via national archives
The Night/Adverse Weather Legacy
The A-10 N/AW was redesignated the YA-10B early in the 1980s. The Air Force looked at converting a small number of A-10As into two-place Warthog pilot training aircraft. These trainers would have been designated A-10B, but the program was canceled before any aircraft were modified. Today the singularly unique YA-10B can be seen at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards AFB.
image via national archives
The Senator With Stars on His Shoulders
The late Senator Barry Goldwater was a USAAF Ferry Command pilot flying Curtiss C-46 Commando and Douglas C-47 Skytrain transports from India over the “Hump” to China during World War II. After the war ended, Goldwater flew with the Arizona Air National Guard until 1952, after which he remained in the Air Force Reserve until 1967.
Goldwater wore Command Pilot wings, flew more 15,000 hours in more than 250 different aircraft, and attained the rank of Major General as a Reservist before becoming the Senator from Arizona in 1969. Goldwater passed away 29 May 1998.
image via arizona memory project/luke air force base
LAKELAND, Fla. — The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and top aerobatic aircraft will kick-off the 2021 air show season next week during the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo.
The popular air show and pilot fly-in returns on April 13 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Aerospace workshops and static aircraft will also highlight the largest air show in the south.
Tickets to the family friendly events are available online. Gates will open each day at 8:00 a.m. EDT, Tuesday through Sunday.
Blue Angels Super Hornets Airshow Debut
Sun ‘n Fun will mark the Blue Angels first public demonstration flying the F/A-18E Super Hornets. The Navy’s elite flight squadron also launches into their 75th anniversary season at Sun-N-Fun.
The Blue Angels new C-130J Super Hercules is also poised to fly during the air show weekend. Known as Fat Albert, the squadron’s cargo transport is a crowd favorite not flown at air shows since 2018.
“We are honored to be the first airshow performance site for the Blue Angels to help launch this exciting new era of their 75-year history,” SUN ‘n FUN airshow director Greg Gibson said on Sunday. “The Blues’ display of precision, excellence in flight, and character on the ground is exactly the inspiration we want to bring to our fans.”
Blue Angels F/A-18E Super Hornets piloted by opposing solo LCDR Cary Rickoff (left) and LCDR James Haley soar over the central United States in March en route to Pensacola, Fla. (U.S. Air National Guard)
The Blue Angels one hour of flying will be divided into Fat Albert’s 12 minute demonstration followed by the Super Hornets display.
“We are thrilled to return to the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, where we will have the opportunity to debut our new jet platform, the F/A-18 Super Hornet and logistics support aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules”, Blue Angels Boss Cmdr. Brian Kesselring said.
“We are humbled by the support and hospitality the Lakeland community provides us,” Kesselring added. “We are excited to showcase the capabilities of Naval Aviation.”
Lakeland to Rumble Under the F-22s Thunder
The Air Force F-22A Raptor Demonstration Team is scheduled to perform April 16 thru 18. For the team’s commander and pilot, Sun ‘n Fun will be a homecoming as he returns to his aviation roots.
Maj. Josh “Cabo” Gunderson grew up in nearby Valrico, and attended air shows as a teenager. Upon high school graduation, Cabo headed to Colorado to attend the Air Force Academy.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson is the F-22A Demo Team pilot during the 2021 air show season. (USAF)
“I am extremely excited about returning to my home state of Florida and flying at Sun ‘n Fun,” Maj. Gunderson said. “I attended many Sun ‘n Fun events as a kid and loved seeing the military jets, so it’s an honor to pay that forward to future aviators.”
Cabo will pilot the F-22A through a demonstration filled with high speed climbs, precision turns, and low flat passes. Near the conclusion, the Raptor will join a P-51D Mustang to perform the Air Force Heritage Flight.
“We are very pleased to welcome Cabo and his team to Lakeland,” Gibson said. “The Raptor is one of my personal favorites. The incredible maneuverability and its ability to demonstrate such agility and power while literally disappearing from the enemy in combat is truly amazing.”
The AeroShell Aerobatic Team will pilot their four Army AT-6 Texans at Sun N Fun 2021. (Charles A Atkeison)
The pilots of AeroShell Aerobatic Team — Mark Henley, Steve Gustafson, Jimmy Fordham, and Bryan Regan — will perform over the airport aboard the Army’s AT-6 Texan. AeroShell’s four aircraft will perform aerobatic maneuvers flown by the Army Air Corps. 80 years ago.
An exciting addition to this year’s show is the first drone light show public performance. Sixty aerial robots will take to the night sky, launching in unison, twice during the week.
Classroom sessions and events for pilots, aircraft owners, and companies are available. There are in depth forums, areas to network with fellow pilots and buy or sell their aircraft. Workshops educating the latest in aircraft mechanics will highlight the expo side.
Daily admission tickets for the 47th annual Sun ‘N Fun remain available. All tickets are available online and include most of the classroom sessions, air show, the Florida Air Museum, and much more.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
TAMPA, Fla. — Six warbirds of the GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team return to the skies in April to perform aerobatic precision flying as they kick-off their 15th anniversary season.
The GEICO Skytypers’ 2021 season launches from America’s Space Coast on April 17 and 18. The squadron’s current schedule lists visits to 12 air shows.
The GEICO Skytypers air show team break formation during a 2020 Air Show performance. (U.S.A.F.)
Last year, the GEICO Skytypers season was shortened due to the outbreak of Covid. This year, the pilots and aircraft maintainers have a renewed interest in performing in front of the show crowds.
Carrying the Torch of the Greatest Generation
The Skytypers demonstrate the flying styles and maneuvers flown by the Greatest Generation 80 years ago. It is living history as they tell the story of the pilots who controlled the skies during World War II and Korea.
“We consider it an honor to demonstrate the amazing abilities of these vintage warbirds on behalf of our sponsor, GEICO, while sharing a bit of aviation history,” Squadron flight leader Larry Arken said. “Despite being nearly 80 years old, the SNJ-2 is a testament to the engineering genius of the Greatest Generation. These aircraft are a dream to fly.”
GEICO Skytypers slot pilot Chris “Soto” Orr piloted F-14 Tomcats in the U.S. Navy, and the C-130 Hercules for the New York Air National Guard. (Charles Atkeison)
The pilots of the well trained squadron include Larry Arken in Skytyper one aircraft. Chris Thomas, Mark Gannucci, and Chris Orr round out the diamond formation pilots. Steven Salmirs and Tom Daly are the aggressive solo pilots who challenge the diamond during aerial maneuvers.
The GEICO Skytypers pilot the SNJ-2 aircraft known in the Army Air Corps as the T-6 Texan. These silver doves perform an 18-minute demonstration highlighting wartime maneuvers.
Their demonstration tell the story of an age before the jet engine, and how a this prop plane made a difference during the second world war. A flight trainer in the early-1940’s, the SNJ was known among the army’s aviators as the pilot maker.
The GEICO Skytypers crowd favorite 4 vs. 2 maneuver during a November 2020 show. (Charles A Atkeison)
“It’s a very dynamic demo with a lot of things happening very quickly with some maneuvers a tribute to the era of the generation of these World War II airplanes,” Arken said standing in the shadow of the aircraft. “Other things are done for the spectators view like a heart or a bomb burst, and other maneuvers are tactical maneuvers which the military still uses.”
Their silver aircraft can create huge messages across the blue skies. Flying in a line abreast formation, the planes create unique messages using an environmental friendly smoke.
The aircraft can “type” 25 letters in two minutes. Each dot-matrix letter is 1000-feet in length and can allow massive messages to be read nearly 15 miles away.
In addition to performing, the Skytypers visit education centers and hospitals with their public outreach programs. The pilots and maintenance members also host student groups at the airport for a plane side discussion.
GEICO Skytypers 2021 Air Show Schedule
Apr 17-18…… Cocoa Beach Air Show, Fla. May 8-9………. Ford Lauderdale Air Show, Fort Lauderdale, Fla May 30-31….. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, NY Jun 19-20……. Ocean City Air Show, Ocean City, MD Jul 3-4………….. Kansas City Air Show, Kansas Jul 17-18……… Greater Binghamton Air Show, New York Jul 26-Aug 1… EAA Air Venture Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI Aug 18………….. Atlantic City Airshow, Atlantic City, NJ Aug 28-29……. New York Air Show, New Windsor, NY Sep 18-19…….. NAS Oceana Air Show, NAS Oceana, VA Oct 16-17…….. Lockheed Martin Air and Space Show, Sanford, FL Nov 6-7………… Warbirds over Monroe Air Show, Monroe, NC
(Charles A. Atkeison reports on aerospace and science. Follow his air show updates on social media via @Military_Flight.)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four non-astronauts were introduced to the public on Tuesday as the first all-civilian space crew selected to spend three days in Earth orbit this autumn.
Businessman and jet pilot Jared “Rook” Isaacman will lead the rookie crew. A physician’s assistant Hayley Arceneaux, geoscientist and pilot Dr. Sian Proctor, and former Air Force airman Chris Sembroski round out the crew.
Dr. Proctor, 51, will become the first woman of color to pilot an American space flight. She will be only the third American woman to pilot a space craft.
The crew is scheduled to lift-off a top reflown Falcon 9 booster on September 15 aboard the Crew Dragon known as Resilience. The Inspiration 4 crew will lift-off from historic launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center.
Resilience to Travel Higher with a New Dome Window
Unlike recent Crew Dragon flights, this one will not dock to the International Space Station. Instead, its mission is to orbit the Earth at a high point of 540 km (335 miles) in a 51.6 degree inclination.
This voyage will mark Resilience‘s second space flight, having flown during the current Crew One mission to the space station. This Crew Dragon is scheduled to splashdown on April 28 off the coast of Florida.
In June, Resilience‘s docking hatch will be removed and a glass dome will be installed. This will provide a 360-degree view of the universe for the crew.
A dome window will be added to the Crew Dragon Resilience providing a full view of the stars. (SpaceX)
“Inspiration4’s goal is to inspire humanity to support St. Jude here on Earth while also seeing new possibilities for human spaceflight,” Mission commander Isaacman said. “ Each of these outstanding crew members embodies the best of humanity, and I am humbled to lead them on this historic and purposeful mission and the adventure of a lifetime.”
Four Non-Astronauts to Undertake Historic Flight
Isaacman, 38, flew at air shows during the early-2000s as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team. He also co-founded Draken International to train pilots for the United States Armed Forces.
Dr. Sian Proctor’s father worked at the Guam spaceflight tracking network during NASA’s Apollo space missions. She is a trained pilot and will serve as the mission’s pilot who will also back-up the commander.
“It is such an honor to be apart of the Inspiration 4 crew, and to go on this journey,” Dr. Proctor said on Tuesday. “I am so thankful and appreciative to be able to share my inspiration and my goal of prosperity through creativity with all of you.”
Hayley Arceneaux will serve as a mission specialist aboard the Crew Dragon. A cancer survivor, today Hayley works at St. Jude – the very place that saved her life – as a PA with leukemia and lymphoma patients.
“It’s an incredible honor to be a part of this mission,” Arceneaux said. “Not only raising crucial funds for the lifesaving work of St. Jude, but also introducing new supporters to the cause and showing cancer survivors that anything is possible.”
Chris Sembroski served as a U.S. Space Camp counselor before earning a degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle. He will serve as a mission specialist during the flight.
“Although I’ve been fortunate to have spent years in the aerospace industry, I never imagined having the opportunity to reach the stars,” Sembroski said. “I am honored and look forward to using this platform to encourage everyone to be generous to others in whatever ways they are able.”
The crew members will begin formal training with SpaceX on Wednesday. Once Resilience is refurbished for this flight, a formal launch date will be announced.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
The Team’s Performances Were Lower, Faster, and Louder Than Ever During This Tour
The United States Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, now known as the Thunderbirds, was first formed in 1953. Beginning in 1956 the team went supersonic when they began flying the North American F-100C Super Sabre. Each time the team switched aircraft their routine changed to showcase the strengths of their latest jets. The Hun era brought lots of low-level, high-speed flying to crowds around the world. One of the maneuvers the team began flying during their F-100C days was the Crossover- essentially the four jets converging on a pre-arranged spot with just enough offset to avoid occupation of the same piece of sky simultaneously. The video, entitled “Crossover”, highlights the 4520th Air Demonstration Squadron performing the Crossover and more during their 1961 Latin American Tour. It was uploaded to YouTube in two parts by Periscope Film.
The Latin American Tour began in November of 1961 and came to a close during January of 1962. The tour was even given a code name: Operation Long Legs II. Although supersonic flight by the Thunderbirds over the United States in those days had to be prearranged and preapproved, there were no such restrictions in Latin America. As a result the cheering throngs of fans were often treated to booming zooming airshows- and many had never seen one before. Even more of the fans hadn’t seen an airshow anything like the Thunderbirds’ performance. And remember- it wasn’t until later in the 1962 show season that the two opposing solo jets (5 and 6) were added to the routines.
The film, produced by the 1352nd Photo Group (part of the Military Air Transport Service- MATS), contains some beautiful color air-to-air footage of the Thunderbirds flying their Huns. The use of recognizable backdrops for some of the footage definitely establishes the location of the shots. There’s plenty of crowd footage and quotes from the Chilean, Guatemalan, Brazilian, and Paraguayan fans in attendance. Crowds were massive. And the Crossover maneuver was a crowd favorite. Nowadays the Thunderbirds (and the Blue Angels for that matter) don’t get anywhere near as close to the ground when performing converging maneuvers like the Crossover. It’s truly a different, and probably safer, time…just not quite as impressive.
Thunderbirds F-100Cs. Image via Bill Larkins
Thunderbirds Trivia
During their 1959 Far East Tour, which took the Thunderbirds to Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and Hawaii, the team parked their F-100Cs and flew F-100Ds instead. Why? Because the C model had no inflight refueling probe- a required piece of kit when transiting the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in single-seat-single-engine fighter aircraft. The team’s travels across the wide expanses were supported by Boeing KB-50J tankers. Refueling probes were added to the team’s F-100Cs in 1960. The team didn’t fly F-100Ds again until after the short (and disastrous) F-105 experiment in 1964.
Image via US Air Force
Bonus Thunderbirds Trivia
1960 was also the years the team did away with the laborious and time-consuming practice of scrubbing the exhaust soot from vertical stabilizer on the number 4 (slot) jet. It wasn’t painted black. It was just not thoroughly cleaned after every show. On 6 April 1961 team commanding officer Major Robert Fitzgerald and narrator Captain George Niel perished when the F-100F Fitzgerald was flying, with Niel as a passenger in the back seat (AF serial 56-3875) crashed 50 miles north of Nellis AFB during a training flight.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA announced on Tuesday a target date for the first powered flight by an aircraft on another planet.
The small helicopter known as Ingenuity is expected to lift-off from the surface of Mars no earlier than Thursday, April 8. The copter remains attached to the belly of NASA’s new rover Perseverance, receiving electricity, warmth, and a ride to its launch zone.
NASA will have only one month to perform a series of flights once the copter is dropped from the rover’s belly. It’s deployment next week will start a 30 day clock on how long the team will have to fly the craft.
The flight path of NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity now scheduled to fly NET Aptil 8, 2021. (NASA)
Deployment of the helicopter will take six days, four hours to complete. The tissue box-size aircraft will be cut loose on day six and drop five inches onto the Martian surface.
“Ingenuity is an experimental engineering flight test – we want to see if we can fly at Mars,” Ingenuity project manager MiMi Aung explained on Tuesday. “There are no science instruments onboard and no goals to obtain scientific information.”
Scientific and Historic Significance
Once NASA controllers are ready to fly Ingenuity, updated information will be relayed to Perseverance. The rover will then relay those new commands to the helicopter.
If the Martian winds are within limits, Ingenuity’s twin rotors will rotate up to 2,537 rpm. The copter will then lift-off and rise at three feet per second.
It will then hover at an altitude of 10 feet for 30 seconds on this first flight. The craft will then descend to a landing in a planned zone.
NASA understands the significance of this historic first flight. When Ingenuity takes-off, it will carry a small section of fabric from the wing of the Wright Brothers’ Flyer 1 aircraft.
Like the 1903 Wright Flyer, Ingenuity is expected to perform a series of first flights. Each flight longer in duration and higher than the previous.
Apollo 11 flew a different piece of the material and a splinter of wood from Flyer 1 to the Moon. It is currently on location at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
“Mars is hard,” said Aung. “Our plan is to work whatever the Red Planet throws at us the very same way we handled every challenge we’ve faced over the past six years – together, with tenacity and a lot of hard work, and a little Ingenuity.”
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his Mars Ingenuity updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Airlines exist to make money. They establish new markets to serve business opportunities. In some cases, they add new service to cripple other competitors on the same route (case in point American vs Legend). In some cases, airlines even shift major parts of their network away from existing hubs. TWA used to have a large presence in Chicago. They shifted much of their network to St. Louis with the acquisition of Ozark. What makes this story unique is never has an airline completely abandoned its namesake airport. That was until the second incarnation of Midway Airlines came around.
Midway Airlines and its reincarnation
Midway Airlines Boeing 737-700 (Photo: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt GFDL 1.2)
The original Midway Airlines came about at the dawn of airline regulation. For years, Midway Airport was the busiest airport in the world. The landlocked airport limited growth though. The newer and more spacious O’Hare opened in the 1960s leaving Midway Airport nearly abandoned. The founders of the original airline saw opportunity in the nearly abandoned airport on Chicago’s south side. Midway started service with used DC-9s in 1979.
The airline grew and prospered over the next decade to become one of the top 10 airlines in the nation. The original Midway was loved for their attention to detail and quality service. A poor business decision to purchase Eastern’s Philadelphia operation combined with the economic downturn in 1991 led to the airline’s demise.
That wasn’t the end of the Midway name though. In 1993, a group of investors, led by one of the original founders of Midway Airlines, sought to resurrect the name and the airline’s former glory. Armed with investment capital, they leased a pair of Fokker F-100s and began service to New York LaGuardia. They eventually added service to Washington DC, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, and Allentown, PA. The new Midway had nice jets with leather seating, hot towels, and sandwiches on flights just like the original.
The airline struggled though. The market had changed drastically in just the two years since their namesake dominated the south side airport. After the original Midway went out of business, Southwest Airlines swooped in to purchase rights to a sizable amount of gates. By time Midway restarted service, Midway Airport was full of competition from the likes of Southwest, ATA, US Air, and Northwest Airlines along with upstart competition from Kiwi International Airlines, Air South, ValuJet, and other. With a limited budget to spend on advertising, half-full flights, and limited prospects for a profitable expansion from Midway Airport, Midway Airlines made a very unique next move.
Midway moves its hub, then abandons its namesake airport
In January of 1995, Midway made one of the most unique moves in the airline industry. They signed a deal with American Airlines to take over American’s Raleigh Durham hub. As part of the agreement, Midway would gain access to more sustainable east coast north south routes. They also would gain access to the lucrative American AAdvantage frequent flyer program. The airline ceased all but one route from Chicago Midway. The flight that remained was a non-stop flight from Midway to RDU.
As part of the move, the airline added Airbus A320 service to Cancun and Los Angeles to compliment their fleet of Fokker F-100s. Midway would later add CRJ-200s and Boeing 737-700s and completely server ties from Chicago as they dropped all service to the city and moved their headquarters to the Research Triangle region. They even added connecting service to Raleigh under the Midway Connection brand through a partnership with Great Lakes Airlines.For a few years, Midway was profitable. That was until Southwest Airlines once again came to spoil their party.
That Time An Airline Abandoned Its Namesake Airport For An Entirely New Hub 51
In 1999, Southwest announced that they would add RDU as their first service to North Carolina. Just a few years earlier, Southwest had unlocked the Florida market to great success. Southwest had beat back competitors with lower operating costs that translated into lower fares. Midway, with higher operating costs and faltering economy, was hit hard. To shore up their balance sheet, they planned to remove the Fokker fleet from service.
In August of 2001, Midway declared bankruptcy and cut service to most west coast cities. Just a month later, September 11th struck. Midway announced that they would cease service but still applied for a loan under post 9/11 legislation. When they received the money, they began service again with just the Boeing 737-700 fleet. In 2002, the airline suspended their own-brand service for a second time. The airline then provided service for US Airways Express utilizing their CRJ-200s before finally folding for good in 2003.
The Real Head Scratcher–Why Did They Keep The Midway Name?
While Midway moved from its hub in Chicago, it was always kind of odd that they kept the Midway Airlines name. To our best research, it was the only airline ever to fully abandon its namesake hub. Why did they keep it? Some former Midway workers we talked to mentioned that the name had a solid reputation for safe and quality service. Some people joked that the airline kept the Midway name because it was halfway between New York and Florida. At the end of the day, it came down to a business decision.
As much as the original employees of Midway II loved their hometown of Chicago Midway, the airline was unlikely to be successful at its original home. The move to RDU gave Midway II new life for a time. And while the airline eventually succumb to external economic forces, the yellow tails made an impression on people on the east coast for their Carolina Class service.
Editors note: The original article stated that Midway II moved to the Golden Triangle region instead of the Research Triangle region. This has since been corrected.
A Video Two-For Featuring the Last and the First A380
On 17 March 2021 the very last Airbus A380 Superjumbo took to the skies at the Airbus Assembly plant the Toulouse Blagnac airport in Toulouse, France. The jet, Airbus A380 serial number 272, is destined for service with Emirates. The jet is deceptively large and incredibly slow (looking) in the air. The forces in play when anything this big (and this heavy) flies are simply incredible. Predictably the event was captured by hundreds of cameras. Below we bring you what we think might be the best of the bunch. The video of SN 272 taking off and flying over the Airbus facility was uploaded to YouTube by Eurofilms – Aviation.
The A380 flew for the first time on 27 April 2005 but didn’t enter service (with Singapore Airlines) until 25 October 2007. The challenges Airbus overcame on the way to getting the A380 into service were daunting. Sheer scale dictated the aircraft had to have more thrust available to it than any other passenger aircraft before it. A380s are powered by a quartet of Rolls-Royce Trent 970-84 or 970B-84 turbofan engines. Each one of these power houses produces up to 84,000 pounds of thrust. That’s somewhere between three and four times the thrust provided by the trusty CFM-56. Capable of carrying up to 856 passengers (usually more like 575 of them), the A380 is in a class entirely by itself.
Image via Airbus/A Doumenjou
BONUS VIDEO- The First A380
Ten years after its first flight, Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier said the A380 was “almost certainly introduced ten years too early.” While Airbus is no longer losing money on each jet they sell, the aerospace titan admits the $25 billion investment made in the A380 project will never be recovered. On 24 January 2021, A380 serial number 1 (F-WWOW ) wearing the familiar Airbus white demonstration paint scheme flew out of Toulouse Blagnac Airport. This video of SN 001 was also uploaded to YouTube by Eurofilms – Aviation. Enjoy!
Operators of the A380 include Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Lufthansa, Korean Air, China Southern Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, British Airways, Asiana Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and All Nippon Airways. However, Singapore Airlines and Emirates (the first two operators of the A380) are the only two operators not currently storing, planning to store, or planning to retire their A380s entirely. Air France, Hi Fly Malta, and Aerolineas Estelar are also former A380 operators. Because of the COVID virus, several operators have cut back flights on routes that have seen lower passenger traffic. As a result, several A380s have been scrapped before their time.
BURNET, Texas — The power of the U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog plus a World War II-era B-25 bomber will soar over central Texas on Saturday during the Bluebonnet Air Show.
The event will be held at the Burnet Municipal Airport. Show officials ask guests to wear masks on the shuttle buses and as they enter through the gates.
The A-10C Thunderbolt II jet will headline the air show located a short drive northwest of Austin. Known as the Warthog, it is the Air Force’s premier close air support aircraft and provides protection for troops on the ground.
Air Force Capt. Haden “Gator” Fullam is the team’s new pilot, and Bluebonnet is the their first public show of the year. Capt. Fullam, whose two grandfathers served as combat pilots during the Vietnam War, carries a heartfelt appreciation for the Americans who served.
This year, the Warthog wears the colors of the Vietnam War. The aircraft’s new paint honors the names of 97 Airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice or became a prisoner during that war.
Based at Arizona’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the A-10 Demonstration Team will perform a nearly 20 minute flight. If time permits, members of the team will meet-and-greet with guests in the air show crowd.
Civilian Aircraft to Thrill Bluebonnet Airshow Guests
The Texas-based Falcon Flight formation team is also scheduled to perform. The pilots of the eight single-prop planes perform tight formation maneuvers including with smoke-on.
The historic B-25 Mitchell bomber “Devil Dog” taxies out during a 2020 air show. (Devil Dog Squadron)
The 52-foot long aircraft has a wingspan of nearly 68 feet, and supports two Wright 14-cylinder engines. The twin engines provide a maximum thrust is nearly 3,400 horsepower.
Tickets for the single day event can be purchased online or at the gate. Free parking for guests will be located on the east side of Highway 281 behind Cecil Auto. Gates are scheduled to open at 9 a.m. and the first air show events will begin about 12 p.m.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
The Two A-10C Demonstration Team Jets Make a Great-Looking But Rare Duo
As most Warthog fans know by now, the US Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team has a new demo jet for the 2021 airshow season. The jet, painted in a retro Southeast Asia (SEA) camouflage scheme as a tribute to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) who were killed in action or became prisoners of war, took to the skies with the other Demo Team Warthog and a Douglas A-1H Skyraider warbird during the Heritage Flight Conference at Davis-Monthan AFB. We’re told this was the only time both the WWII-themed and Vietnam-themed Warthogs will fly together. The video was uploaded to YouTube by AirshowStuffVideos.
The “new” A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team aircraft is A-10C AF serial number 81-0962. The jet was built as an A-10A in 1981 as constructor number (CN) A10-0657. In 1994 the jet was assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron (FS) Buzzards of the 52nd Fighter Wing (FW) based at Spangdahlem Air Base(AB) in Germany wearing the SP tail code. In 1995 the jet went to the 81st FS Panthers also based at Spangdahlem. In 2009 962 was converted to an A-10C variant. In 2013 the jet moved to the 354th FS Bulldogs of the 355th FW at Davis-Monthan and wore the tail code DM. The jet debuted with the new SEA colors for the Demo Team just before the recently-concluded Heritage Flight Conference.
we’re unlikely to see this formation again. image via us air force/DVIDS
That One With the Invasion Stripes
The “old” demo team aircraft, the one that wears the WWII ETO paint scheme, is A-10C AF serial number 80-0275. Built in 1981 as CN A-10-625, 275 first went to 1982 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) Vultures of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) based at RAF Bentwaters in the UK, wearing WR tail codes. In 1987 the jet was converted to an OA-10A. 1990 saw 275 with the 103 FS Black Hogs of the 111th FW Pennsylvania (Air National Guard [ANG]) based at Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Willow Grove and wearing PA tail codes. There the jet replaced the retired Cessna OA-37 Dragonfly in the Airborne Forward Air Controller role. In 2008 275 was converted to an A-10C variant. 2009 saw service with the 81st FS Panthers / 52nd FW at Spangdahlem AB. In 2019 the jet became a Davis-Monthan DM bird with the 355th FW.
image via us air force/A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team Facebook page
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Air Force Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager pushed the envelope of aviation throughout his career including some airtime during prime time television.
On 12 March 1966, then-Colonel Chuck Yeager made a guest appearance on NBC television’s I Dream of Jeannie. The episode “Bigger Than a Bread Box and Better Than a Genie” was filmed in early 1966.
Lead fictional Air Force astronaut Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) stands over the cockpit of a Lockheed F-104B Starfighter as the scene opens. Chuck Yeager and fictional Colonel Bellows (Hayden Rorke) approach the jet to greet Tony.
‘I Dream of Jeannie’s’ fictional astronaut Tony Nelson (R) meets Col. Chuck Yeager in 1966. (File)
“Colonel Yeager was one of the pioneers of the space program,” Nelson states during their meeting. Colonel Yeager replies, “I had a good airplane in the X-1.”
Although Jeannie herself (Barbara Eden) and Yeager did not share screen time together, the pair did pose for a few publicity shots. Filmed in black-and-white, the episode has since been colorized, and today airs on Prime and Crackle TV.
“I had the thrilling honor of first meeting (Yeager) back in 1965 when we were promoting I Dream of Jeannie,” Eden recalled last December. “Chuck was the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound at 700 miles per hour on Oct. 14, 1947! Without a doubt he launched the space age.”
Yeager’s Comments Mirrored Real Life
The F-104 Starfighter, which served as a backdrop for Yeager’s appearance, was a familiar sight for the test pilot. Two years earlier, Yeager had begun piloting a brand new NF-104A, which served as a supersonic training vehicle for astronauts.
On 10 December 1963, Yeager had to eject over Edwards AFB during another of his test flight’s aboard the NF-104A.
Near the conclusion of his half-minute of screen time, Yeager hints to Tony Nelson of his future plans. “Where are you off to next, sir,” Nelson asks.
“Oh, going down to Panama to look over our jungle survival school, and just wanted to drop by to say hello,” Yeager acknowledged. His comment came as America’s involvement in Vietnam was heavily increasing.
A few weeks following the airing of the Jeannie episode, Chuck Yeager was made commander of the 405th Tactical Fighter Wing at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.
“I last saw General Yeager at his 93rd birthday when my husband Jon and I were honored to be among those who joined him in celebration,” Eden added.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
