Once called ‘the Widow Maker’, the B-26 Marauder was a notoriously challenging aircraft to fly. The aircraft was especially challenging during approaches and landings due to its undersized wing. The World War II bomber flew approach speeds more like a modern airliner. At the time, approaches of 130+ knots were pretty rare. Add in a malfunction and it was a recipe for some ‘rodeo’-grade flying.
This video includes detailed exchanges on the aircraft systems and a very painfully long pre-flight checklist. It includes excellent acting by Don Porter. He was a fairly well known movie actor from the 1940s and 50s.
You Probably Won’t Be Able To Fly a B-26 Anytime Soon
While this video might prove interesting, its value today is pretty limited. The B-26 is one of the most rare American World War II bombers today. Only a few rare examples remain in museums.
After a crash of a Confederate Air Force’s B-26 in 1995, only one airworthy B-26 Marauder was left. Today, it is owned by Kermit Weeks and displayed at the Fantasy of Flight museum. His example hasn’t flown it in quite a while. Back in 2018, Warbird News mentioned that another partially completed B-26 project was for sale. No word on what happened to it. Platinum Fighter Sales makes no mention of the airplane or the sale on its site.
My visit to The Sands Aviation 747. Exclusive video aboard the Boeing 747SP included.
Over the years, there’s been curiosity into the operator of the untitled widebody aircraft at Las Vegas’s McCarran International Airport on the opposite side of the main passenger terminals. No, not the mysterious white 737-600s with a red cheatline, everyone knows who operates that fleet and where those planes travel to daily. I’m talking about the Sands 747!
Adjacent to AECOM, the operator of ‘JANET’, is the nerve center for Sands Aviation, located just off South Las Vegas. The building has no name, no titles, nothing to call attention to it outside of the matching stripes that its fleet wears.
Not secretive, just ultra-private operation
A Glimpse Into Sands Aviation's High Roller 747 5
Many have tried every avenue to get a glimpse into this operation and these aircraft, given the entire operations flies beneath the radar to the public eye. But this is a private operator – it neither runs passenger operations for the public, nor does it charter its aircraft to those interested.
Sands Owner Has Long Loved Aviation
It is owned by the Sands Corporation, of which the Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson owns more than 50%. Sheldon’s brief history is he was one of the co-founders of the COMDEX computer show, held in Las Vegas annually.
It was sold in 1995 to the tune of $800million dollars, but Sheldon had already begun his expansion outside of the show purchasing the Sands Hotel in 1989 and expanding its foot print with a convention center added to the hotel. Fast forward to today, and Sheldon’s Las Vegas hotels now include The Venetian and The Palazzo hotels & casinos.
His casino empire expanded internationally to include The Venetian in Macau, along with a Four Seasons and an exclusive invite only resort, the Paiza Mansions. The list of properties is extensive.
But Sheldon’s interest in aviation didn’t start with Sands Aviation. You can trace it back to 1984 when he ran a charter outfit “Five Star Airlines”, which he initially bought two TWA L-1011s to use during the winter months to fly attendees to his newly running COMDEX show in Las Vegas. During the summer months, Sheldon leased them back to TWA.
Sheldon’s empire is built with a number of interconnected companies. In the case of Sands Aviation, the aircraft are owned by Interface Operations, registered in Bermuda along with a series of subsidiaries. Sheldon’s company leases the aircraft to Sands Aviation, even though Sheldon owns the Bermuda based company.
The current aircraft in the fleet range from a series of Gulfstream aircraft (currently 9) along with 2 Boeing 737-300s, a lone Boeing 767-300ER, a solo Boeing 747SP (now that the second aircraft has been damaged and written off), and finally a single Airbus A340-500.
Exclusive Fleet Fills Many Roles…All For High Rollers
This fleet of aircraft is used for a variety of purposes, from shuttling executives of Sands to various locations and properties worldwide, celebrities, and of course high rollers from all over the world.
But these aren’t just any high rollers; they’re often referred to as “whales” because they gamble substantial amounts of money (think $50,000 USD per hand!).
When the author was visiting Sands Aviation back in 2016, one of the assistants was overheard telling an executive that “Mr. (David) Beckham doesn’t want to fly in an aircraft older than 10 years.” The executive chuckled and then responded “tell Beckham he’ll take what we give him” ending the conversation quickly.
During the height of recent wealth in China, Sands Aviation would fly over an empty Boeing 747SP to Macau or other parts of Asia, pick up usually five people (sometimes a high roller and their family/staff, sometimes multiple high rollers and their staff), and fly them back to Las Vegas.
Most of the time the 747SP could do the flights without fuel stops in Anchorage, Alaska. But occasionally, especially during warmer summer months and with stronger head winds, a technical stop would be required westbound regardless.
Eastbound the aircraft had no trouble flying non-stop. It wasn’t unheard of to turn the plane back around and fly it empty to Asia to pick up another handful of high rollers to bring back to Las Vegas.
L-1011 Was The Original High Roller Aircraft
It’s no surprise that one of Sheldon’s early acquisitions for the start of Sands Aviation was also an L-1011. With good range and an incredibly low acquisition cost, the L-1011 was the original high roller aircraft. It was rumored to have a casino-grade roulette table onboard so gambling could occur during flights.
This aircraft would shuttle high rollers from Asia to Sheldon’s properties in Las Vegas. The issue with the L-1011 was it didn’t have the range to operate non-stop to Macau or other parts of China and Singapore. Enter the first Boeing 747SP to arrive, VP-BLK.
The 747SP Hit The Sweet Spot For High Value Shuttles Around The Globe
What many people do not know is that there were two Boeing 747SPs, one which was used to shuttle passengers (VP-BLK), while the second aircraft (VQ-BMS) was Sheldon’s personal aircraft at the time.
Celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Kanye West have publicized their trips on Sands Aviation’s 747SP, but they were always on VP-BLK. VP-BLK got its start with TWA, before eventually becoming a VIP converted aircraft for the United Arab Emirates Amiri Flight. VQ-BMS started out with Pan Am, before eventually becoming an VIP aircraft for the Bahraini Government.
A Second Sands 747 Joins the Fleet
VP-BLK joined the Sands Aviation fleet in 2007, and outside of minor interior modifications removing the more native Middle Eastern decorations, was largely kept as-is. VQ-BMS joined a year later in 2008, and just like VP-BLK, had minor modifications to it but was largely kept as-is. All the SPs carry fly-away kits in case of a mechanical or technical issue.
A Glimpse Into Sands Aviation's High Roller 747 6
The floor plans for both aircraft are uniquely different, and the tour I got of VQ-BMS was absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately because the aircraft was Sheldon’s “home away from home.” I was not permitted to take photographs.
The front of the aircraft had two large couches that converted into beds, with the section aft of the main door featuring the equivalent of a large living room, complete with a massive chair fit for a king. Then again, this aircraft did fly for middle eastern royalty.
Aft of the living room, there was a small section next to the windows on the port side of the aircraft with a curtain that had two hammock beds (I was told that mechanics had slept there when traveling with the aircraft in case of issues), followed by a small business class section for, as I was told, “The guys with the guns” (Sheldon’s personal security detail).
Finally in the rear was a small coach seating section for additional staff as necessary. The upper deck of VQ-BMS had a private but simple looking bedroom with a king-sized bed with the headboard against the windows, and simple end tables with a private bathroom.
Immaculate jets, Immaculate Hangar
A Glimpse Into Sands Aviation's High Roller 747 7
The hangar of Sand’s was polished concrete and had a mirror finish. It was so clean and immaculate, you could eat off the floor! The general offices for the staff that keep Sands Aviation running are located both upstairs (pilots, staff, executives) and downstairs with those that maintain the aircraft, along with an area for spare parts.
Sands does maintain their own aircraft, but heavy checks / maintenance the aircraft are sent out to licensed facilities.
My Visit To Sands Aviation
When I visited Sands Aviation, it was with the notion to produce a documentary on the 747SP specifically, and a coffee table book about Sands Aviation.
Now, it took over a year of communication to get over the hump to even be invited in to discuss further. However, from the beginning, it was made very clear Sands Aviation is a lowkey operation, and senior executives of Sands Corporation were lukewarm on the idea.
As unfortunate as it is, the private aspect of the operation makes doing a film or book a non-starter. Sands Aviation gets requests all the time to do interviews from high end publications, but they always decline.
But some persistence at least resulted in a visit and a test flight for this lucky writer, along with a lifelong friendship with the Chief Pilot for the Airbus A340/Boeing 747SP, Captain Danny Burke.
What is amazing is that many of the key people at Sands Aviation that I spoke with all had a long history in the airline business, and just casually chatting with them brought forth unique and interesting stories from their past endeavors (hence the idea of a book).
Unique Stories Abound with The Sands Crew
A Glimpse Into Sands Aviation's High Roller 747 8
One of the mechanics that joined me on the test flight mentioned there’s a ghost on VQ-BMS, and that others in the company have seen it. They don’t know the origins of what or why, and it doesn’t really bother anyone, but can be unnerving if you don’t know about it.
Captain Danny Burke was the most jovial and friendly individual I encountered. He clearly loved what he did, and would talk your ears off on his history in the airline business. We stayed in touch and I learned he got his start as a pilot with TWA flying Lockheed Constellations, later working his way up to the Boeing 747SP. After he retired from TWA (aged out at 60) he kept flying for private operators, eventually landing at Sands Aviation after some stints flying royalty in the middle east.
The irony to end your airline career on a TWA 747SP, and years later reunite to fly the same aircraft that flew with the same airline.
One of the many stories Danny shared was flying the Convair 880-22, calling it “Smoke, noise, and speed!” He said they’d set the power to 103% for takeoff, then slowly bring it back during the climb and cruise so you wouldn’t ring the Vmo bell.
What he also mentioned was the bell rang a lot on a typical flight from San Francisco to Philadelphia, cruising at Mach .92, and that their aircraft had balance boards to allow the flight controls to move. The subsequent “M” models that Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific bought had a power rudder, but only when the flaps were extended he noted.
Sands Also Flies A Number Of Charitable Trips
Sheldon would donate the aircraft for a variety of charitable causes, covering the cost to transport whatever endeavor he was participating in. But these events were always kept on the down low, with nary a mention in the press.
One event he does semi-annually is flying up to 50 NFL Hall of Famers for a tour of the Holy Land (Israel). Additionally, he supported the military and would often engage in events including transport for veterans on Sand’s aircraft. Once the Airbus A340-500 arrived in the fleet, Sheldon preferred taking it because it could fly from Las Vegas all the way to Singapore with no technical stop.
My Ride in the Boeing 747SP
During my visit in 2016, when I met Danny, he mentioned they needed to take one of the SP’s (BMS) up for a technical flight, and invited me along.
The crew were great to watch, all having unique personalities and happy to share special stories from their careers. But once the aircraft door was closed, Danny ran a sterile cockpit meaning no talking or interruptions and everyone got down to business. [You can see snippets of this flight on my YouTube page: avgeektv]
We took off on runway 1L north bound turning over Sheldon’s hotels the Venetian and the Palazzo, heading westbound towards California. We climbed to about 10k feet while the flight crew immediately began running all their tests from their checklists, testing out every switch and all functions of the aircraft.
After about an hour and turning left making a complete circle around the Ivanpah Solar Electric farm in California we began our descent and landed again on runway 1L. When the aircraft isn’t scheduled to fly within 20 days, they’re required to take the aircraft up for a test flight and ensure everything is operating.
Danny maintained an apartment in Las Vegas when he was due to fly, but when he was off, he commuted to his home in Tahiti, where he and his wife became citizens. According to his wife, Danny had no plans to retire and planned to fly until the day he died.
That day unfortunately came on October 7, 2019 when Danny passed away. A wonderful and private service was held for him at his son’s home in California, where everyone shared stories of Danny.
Sands Flights Continue
Sands Aviation continues to operate with one less 747SP, VQ-BMS which received damage due to a hurricane, and has since been written off. High roller flights slowed (and even stopped for a while) due to the world economic turmoil that began in 2008 and continued for some time.
It was also rumored that China didn’t like its wealthy citizens running off to Las Vegas to gamble, taking money out of China and depositing it in another country. There have been lots of changes over the past years, including adoption of anti-corruption laws to limit gambling activities.
While there are rumors that Sheldon may sell his U.S. based corporation, nothing has happened as of today, nor is it clear what would happen (if anything) to Sands Aviation. But in the end, it’s clear why high rollers were flown in from China, and why Sheldon may continue to focus on Macau: it accounts for 63% of the revenue that the Sands Corporation brings in.
It must be nice to have a private 747SP pick just you and anyone else you designate to accompany you, and fly you nearly half way around the world.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Aviation photography captured the unique views during the shortened air show season of 2020, as aircraft vapor and rare aerial images spotlight the military and civilian performers.
Gathered are only a few of the incredible imagery related to the 2020 air show season. Each photograph tells a brief story of America’s strength as Covid-19 cancelled two-thirds of the air show season.
The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyovers of major U.S. cities to honor first responders provided a lift as America struggled with Covid concerns. During Operation: America Strong, thousands of on lookers in each city gathered to witness the two squadrons fly together.
The Air Force devised a plan to resume air shows under the “drive-in air show” format in July. Thunder Over Cedar Creek Lake will be remembered as the military’s first step to resume air show performances.
Cedar Creek Lake became the first drive-in air show on Independence Day. The Air Force sent a few aircraft to perform including the F-35A Lightning II and A-10C Thunderbolt II demonstration teams.
The 2020 Airshow Year in Review
The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, honored frontline COVID-19 first responders and essential workers with formation flights over New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia on April 28, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Hicks)U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute onto White House grounds to celebrate the nation’s 244th birthday during Salute to America in Washington, D.C., July 4, 2020. The event provided the Department of Defense with an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities and professionalism of the Armed Forces. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Kevin Roy)200817-N-YO638-2184 PENSACOLA, Fla. (August 17, 2020) The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, C-130 pilots and crew arrive at Naval Air Station Pensacola with the team’s new C-130J Super Hercules, alongside the Blue Angel delta formation. 2020 marked the team’s 50th year utilizing the C-130 as its lead logistics aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cody Hendrix/Released)U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, utilizes the raw power and thrust vectoring technology of the Raptor during a practice at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., March 31, 2020. The F-22 Raptor’s two Pratt and Whitney F119 Turbofan engines bring a combined 70,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the aircraft to takeoff straight into the vertical. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Sam Eckholm)The GEICO Skytypers air show team break formation during a rehearsal performance for the 2020 OC Air Show Aug 14, 2020, Ocean City Md. The Skytypers fly T-6 Texans in aerial performances at air shows across the country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kip Sumner)All four Air Combat Command Single-Ship Demonstration Teams fly together in a special formation in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nov. 20, 2020. Consisting of an F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and F-16 Fighting Falcon, this unique formation serves as a representation of all the men and women who serve in our Air Force all across the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Sam Eckholm)U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons wait to be refueled by KC-10 Extender crewed by Reserve Citizen Airmen with the 78th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, over the United States Nov. 1, 2018. The 514th is an Air Force Reserve Command unit located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)U.S. Air Force Capt. Kristin “Beo” Wolfe, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot, flies alongside Maj. Cody “ShIV” Wilton, A-10 Demonstration Team pilot, and Maj. Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, F-22 Demonstration Team pilot, fly in a three-ship heritage flight formation Aug. 14, 2020, Ocean City, Md. This rehearsal was one of the first times that vapor has been seen on all three aircraft during a heritage flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kip Sumner)An F-16 Fighting Falcon with the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team at Shaw Air Force Base, S. C., flies alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Columbus, Ohio, after being refueled near London, Ontario, Sep. 12, 2020. The F-16 was part of a demonstration team at Airshow London. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Mikayla Gibbs)Jerry “Jive” Kerby, and aircraft performer starts his T-28 Mad Dog at the Wings Over North Georgia Airshow in Rome, Georgia, Oct. 25, 2020. Kerby performed a demonstration during the air show and showcased the maneuverability of his aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sergio A. Gamboa)New York, NY, April 28, 2020–The military’s elite flight demonstration squadrons, the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, gave a salute to health care workers and others on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus. A total of 12 fighter jets, six of the Air Force’s F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and half a dozen F-18 C/D Hornets streaked over New York City, Newark, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island before heading to Trenton, N.J., and Philadelphia. (K.C. Wilsey/FEMA)
For many in the air show community, the name COVID-19 first came up in February with the F-22 demo team’s performance in Singapore.
2020 was highlighted by the America Strong flyovers. Not only by the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, but by local air national guard aircraft.
The Air Force F-16C Viper and A-10C demo aircraft received stunning new paint jobs. The first female to lead a single-ship jet team, Capt. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, became the F-35A demo team’s pilot.
The return of the Blue Angels Fat Albert as the squadron received a new C-130J Super Hercules. The Blues also officially upgraded from their legacy Hornets to the Super Hornets in November.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
NORAD is marking their 65th year tracking St. Nicklaus across the western Hemisphere. Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature allowing satellites and radar to detect Santa, code name Big Red One.
The tiny sleigh is expected to arrive over the east coast of the United States on Thursday at 11:10 p.m. EST, NORAD officials announced. Located in Colorado Springs, the North American Aerospace Defense Command will follow the jolly elf’s travels using radar, satellites, and aircraft.
“In addition to our day-to-day mission of defending North America, we are proud to carry on the tradition of tracking Santa as he travels along his yuletide flight path,” Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said. “The same radars, satellites, and interceptors employed on December 24 are used year-round to defend Canadian and American airspace from threats.”
NORAD Celebrating 65 Years of Tracking Santa
Aboard the International Space Station 250 miles above, astronauts will train high resolution cameras on Santa’s sleigh. Kate Rubins and Vic Glover will train 400 mm camera lens through the windows of the Cupola module to capture the holiday flight below.
Santa Claus visits the Air Force Thunderbirds recently in preperation for his Christmas Eve flight. (USAF)
NORAD’s multimedia website can allow children to follow Santa’s journey in real time. App stores also offer a special portable app NORAD Tracks Santa which allows users to download and track the holiday voyage.
Volunteers will be in place at NORAD operations center to answer children’s phone calls from across the globe. A special free number to call is 1-877-HI-NORAD, beginning at 6:00 a.m EST on Thursday.
Air Force officials will field questions in eight languages — English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese.
NORAD’s association with Santa began in 1955. NORAD’s public affairs describes how this holiday spirit took flight.
“A local newspaper advertisement informed children they could call Santa directly – only the contact number in the advertisement was misprinted. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty, U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, the predecessor to NORAD.”
“Col. Shoup was quick to realize a mistake had been made, and assured the child he was Santa. Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls. Thus, a tradition was born, and continued when NORAD was formed in 1958.”
NORAD officials remind children to fall asleep early on Christmas Eve to ensure a speedy trip by Santa. “We love the opportunity this time of year to be able to say to everyone, ‘Sleep tight. We have the watch’.”
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
SAS (aka Scandinavian Air Systems) has operated 4 engine aircraft ever since they first operated the Shorts S.25 Sandringham Mk VI back in 1948. Four engine service continued in one form of the other all the way through 2020. The airline operated the DC-6, DC-7, the DC-8, along with the Convair 990, 747 classics, and A340.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines have been retiring jets at an unprecedented pace. Over the course of 2020, we’ve seen the last major airlines flying the MD-80 and MD-90s, along with a ridiculous amount of Boeing 747s being retired.
Now we came across this video of SAS sending their final Airbus A340 to the desert. It’s the end of an era for SAS as this video represents their last 4 engined flight ever. While this doesn’t represent the end of SAS , it is a sign of the times that it is now a much smaller airline. Due to the corona virus, very few airlines still fly the A340. We’ll miss this 4 engined ‘hair drier’ plying the skies!
ATLANTA — Shopping for an aviation or space enthusiast, including for ones own list, can be a difficult task during the holiday season.
The military or civilian pilot, maintainer, or air show enthusiast will want something new and unique. The latest technology for the cockpit or the clothes blazoned with their favorite air show performer is a must.
As the Christmas shopping season builds, we have compiled a list of diverse aviation and space flight online stores. Most of the stores listed are based in the United States.
Be sure to shop early, and look for updated discount codes on each site. Look carefully for their estimated delivery time.
We also suggest the gift of air show tickets to your nearest location. Air shows are family friendly events, and inspires future generations in STEM technologies.
Military and civilian aviation theme gifts have become increasingly popular for AvGeeks. (U.S.A.F.)
AvGeekery.com’s List of Top Aviation & Space Shopping Sites
10. Aviation Megastore. This store is based in The Netherlands and they do ship international. Clothing, unique facemasks, and multimedia items are a few of the possible gift ideas for your list.
9. Pilot Outfitters. Great clothes for the AvGeek, a nice selection of aviation toys and gifts, plus beautiful art for the home or office. This site caters to the warbird lover and private pilot.
8. Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Company. Shop for equipment for both inside and outside your aircraft. Radios, novelty, multimedia, and a lot more. This site has literally everything a pilot or aircraft maintainer needs.
7. Space Center Houston’s Space Shop. Find exclusive apparel, toys, and jewelry plus a lot more for your gift plans. Located next door to the Johnson Space Center, this is where the astronauts shop for their gift ideas.
6. Aviation Shop. Aviation themed masks, watches, clothes, and a lot more make this a top site with creative gift ideas.
5. My Pilot Store. Great gift ideas for the aviator or aircraft enthusiast. Gifts for the cockpit, clothes, and training manuals will provide a huge gathering of ideas.
4. Naval Aviation Museum Store. Shop here for gifts for both children and adults from the five branches of service. Blue Angels fans will want to shop from here for top apparel and gifts.
3. Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex Shop. From NASA to SpaceX, popular space flight themed clothes, home, and office items will offer the perfect gift idea. Located a few miles from the launch pads, this is where visiting astronauts and employees shop for their gifts.
2. The Pilot Mall for aviation supplies and gifts. From the latest flight apparel, to top gadgets and flight charts, Pilot Mall is a must shop site. This store is also the only place to find exclusive gifts online from past Sun ‘n Fun Fly-in and Airshow events.
1. Sporty’s Pilot Shop. The Sporty’s gift catalogue was a special treat when it arrived in the mail. Today, their popular website is full of incredible gift ideas. Also, you can scroll down their home page for smart device apps plus tips and recommendations.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
LAS VEGAS — The U.S. Air Force flight demonstration teams released their performance schedules on Tuesday as they begin preparing for the 2021 air show season.
Headed by Air Combat Command, four single-aircraft teams and the Thunderbirds announced formal schedules. The F-22A Raptor, F-35A Lightning II, A-10C Thunderbolt II, and F-16C Viper teams will perform at an air show near you.
2021 Airshow Schedules
The Air Force Thunderbirds 2021 schedule was finalized on Tuesday. The squadron will cover America between March to November, including a few days in eastern Puerto Rico.
The Thunderbirds 68th season will launch with their traditional pre-race flyover of the Daytona 500 in February. Their six F-16C Fighting Falcons demonstrate highspeed passes and close formation flight.
(Air Force Thunderbirds)
“As the jets take to the skies and fly only a few feet from wingtip to wingtip, the crowd gets a glimpse of the awesome skills and capabilities that all fighter pilots must possess,” Thunderbirds spokesperson Capt. Remoshay Nelson said. “The solo pilots integrate their own loud and proud routine, exhibiting some of the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.”
(US Air Force)
The F-22A Raptor is scheduled to perform at show sites from coast-to-coast. They plan to visit 18 locations, including one stop in British Columbia.
Major. Joshua “CABO” Gunderson will return as the team’s commander and pilot. In a short message, Maj. Gunderson said, “Can’t wait to see everyone at a show near you.”
(US Air Force)
The F-35A Demo Team‘s schedule will take them across the United States, and include two stops in Canada. The team will also visit Eielson AFB in Alaska’s interior on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
“Capt. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe will be the F-35 Demonstration Team commander and pilot for the 2021 show season,” F-35 Demo spokesperson Capt. Kip Sumner told AvGeekery. “Our team roster will mostly be staying the same for the upcoming show season, since this will be only our third season as the F-35 Demo Team.”
(US Air Force)
The A-10C Demo Team is scheduled to thunder across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. in 2021. Two separate performances in England will be followed by two separate performances in Canada.
The Warthog will take flight with a new pilot behind the stick. Air Combat Command will announce in January a new A-10 commander and pilot once they have been certified.
(US Air Force)
The Viper Demo Team’s schedule supports performances at 21 show locations. The lead Viper aircraft known as Venom, will also travel to the countries of Colombia and Canada this summer.
Viper’s team commander and pilot Maj. Garret “TORO” Schmitz returns for his second season in March. His second season with the team will see Toro perform over his home state of Utah.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
LAKELAND, Fla. — The final American air show of the year will host performances by the Air Force’s F-35A and F-16C jets this week during the Sun ‘n Fun Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show.
Lakeland Regional Airport will host the holiday festival air show on December 4 and 5. Dozens of vintage planes, warbirds, and modern aircraft will also be on static display.
An evening air show will begin at 4:30 p.m. EST, on Friday, with a second show scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. A hot air balloon launch is also planned for Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m.
Top Performers to Highlight Last Airshow of 2020
Based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the F-35A Lightning II demonstration team will perform both days. Sun n’ Fun will mark the team’s 12th air show site during a season cut short by Covid-19 concerns.
“We had a great 2020 show season and have got a few ideas on how to make 2021 even better,” Capt. Kristin “Beo” Wolfe stated to AvGeekery.com on Tuesday. Wolfe is concluding her first season with the demo team and will return next season.
The F-16C Viper demonstration Team will also conclude their season over Lakeland. Viper commander Maj. Garett “Toro” Schmitz will pilot the jet aircraft to highlight its characteristic high speed maneuvers and climbs.
F-16C Viper Demo pilot Maj. Garret Schmitz performs over south Florida on Nov. 6, 2020. (SrA B. Ingold)
The World Famous GEICO Skytypers is also scheduled to attend the Sun n’ Fun Holiday air show. Officials note the squadron of World War II-era aircraft is scheduled to perform a few random flights and not their usual demonstration.
“We are very pleased to be able to attend and see our fans here in Florida,” GEICO Skytypers lead pilot Larry Arken expressed.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team is scheduled to open each show. Known as the Black Daggers, the team will display the American flag during a jump as the National Anthem is played.
Former Air Force F-15C Eagle pilot Jerry “Jive” Kerby will pilot his RV-8A known as Wild Blue on Friday. Jive’s fourth show of the year will be dedicated to America’s first responders.
“Being able to fly Wild Blue’s night show is especially significant this weekend for Sun ‘n Fun’s Holiday event,” Jive Kerby told AvGeekery. “It gives our Wild Blue Rodeo team a chance to say thank you to our local first responders who never stop working to care for our community.”
The Sun ‘n Fun Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show is free to the public. Tickets for parking are $20.00 and can be purchased online or at the Lakeland gate when you arrive.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Many sites are sharing a video of a man cooking a steak in a bathroom of a regional jet on what appears to be a Delta Connection flight. Occasionally someone lights up a cigarette in a bathroom and some have been known to try to hook up in one too. While rude behavior on commercial flights isn’t uncommon, lighting a fire in a toilet to cook a steak would be a first. This video first appeared on TicToc before it was removed. Here’s our disclaimer…don’t ever try this. It is dangerous and dumb, even if it is just a prank.
This so damn MUSTY!!!!!! Cooking a steak on an airplane toilet during a panny?????? pic.twitter.com/GDXNbdcSK6
Here’s the deal though. This video is clearly a fake. All bathrooms are required by the FAA to have smoke detectors. If he was really cooking a steak, the smoke detector would have gone off. Flight attendants and passengers also would have seen and smelled smoke in the cabin too.
What this appears to be is a pretty elaborate prank with a flickering fake candle and an uncooked steak along with a partially cooked one as props. It’s still really gross but it appears to be designed more as a commentary on the lack of food and drink options on airlines in light of the pandemic. Creative? Sure. Dangerous? Not in and of itself, but it is still a new low for passenger behavior just to get some likes. Either way…yuck!
“We have the meats!” didn’t really work for an airline. Great Plains Airlines tried to break the mold of a regional carrier. The short-lived airline from the early 2000s tried to shake things up with food and Dornier 328 jets. The airline failed pretty spectacularly from a legal perspective, but most travelers didn’t even notice.
Great Plains Airlines was a local dream for nationwide service
Great Plains Airlines was based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It acquired the certificate of the second iteration of Ozark Airlines with the intent to provide service to both east and west coast destinations for the local Oklahoma population by flying regional jets to bypass major hubs. The short-lived Ozark Airlines flew out of Branson, Missouri. When the airline failed in 2001, Great Plains Airlines took a series of tax breaks from the state of Oklahoma and investments from local businesses to acquire the operating certificate from the defunct airline and commence service under the Great Plains Airlines brand.
The airline grew rapidly, even if it lacked the infrastructure and aircraft to do so. The airline touted itself as a ‘hometown’ airline for both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. In 2002, the airline expanded rapidly to serve Colorado Springs, Nashville, Albuquerque, and the only non-stop service between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
A 2002 route map of Great Plains Airlines. Source: GPAIR.com
Just a year later, the airline added BLV (Belleville-St. Louis), Chicago-Midway, and even Washington, DC, as it expanded from two aircraft to four -328 jets and a single -328 turboprop.
Food: Great Plains Airlines’ Differentiator
The airline tried to differentiate itself by offering fast food. As major airlines cut back in the wake of 9/11, GPAir tried to add fast food to lure passengers. In the morning, they offered Krispy Kreme donuts and fresh fruit. In the afternoon, they initially offered Subway sandwiches, later switching to Arby’s market sandwiches. The airline also offered cookies, beer, wine, and soft drinks.
It didn’t work.
Great Plains Airlines Served Arby's and Krispy Kreme Donuts And Failed Miserably 30
Shut down in early 2004, but the legal battle with Great Plains Airlines didn’t end until 2015
Great Plains Airlines never made a profit during its short time flying. The airline’s goal of flying coast to coast was never achieved. Great Plains Airlines shut down in early 2004, but it was far from the end for the company behind the startup. The legal battle dragged on for years, though, after the airline failed.
When Great Plains Airlines started, they received up to $27M in financing to provide coast-to-coast service. That service never materialized. A number of local entities lost out when Great Plains Airlines went belly up. The City of Tulsa mortgaged property to the tune of $30M dollars to finance over $18M in loans to Great Plains Airlines, which was never repaid by the airline. The local paper also invested in the airline in exchange for stock that was worthless. Other suits claimed that the airline was insolvent for more than a year while it continued to pull in additional investment money from multiple sources. Eleven years later, the flurry of suits was eventually settled.
Today, there is no service between Tulsa and the coasts. Tulsa is a mere spoke to major hubs like DFW, Chicago, Atlanta, and Charlotte. Oklahoma City has fared a bit better. Prior to the pandemic, airlines offered service to Washington, DC, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, and Los Angeles.
It’s been a pitiful year for many reasons. COVID-19 laid a painful blow on the airline industry. As avgeeks, we’ve seen the mass retirement of the MD-80, MD-90, most Boeing 747-400s and A380s, along with a host of 757s, 767s, and A330s in just the past 9 months. That’s why when we came across this story, we shouted for joy…yes, really! A rare DC-9-20 is returning to service–in 2020! And it’s not a joke. Here’s video of the jet taxiing in September.
Skydive Perris is preparing to return their lone DC-9-20 back in service. For a number of years, Skydive Perris operated one of the only jet skydive service in the nation for civilian jumpers. Their service operated much like an airline in that passengers would board the jet and sit in an airline seat. Passengers even received a safety briefing. The one notable difference was that once the jet reached altitude, the exit at in the tail would open and the skydivers would jump out in an orderly fashion.
Here’s a video from a flight and jump back in 2007 that we found on Youtube.
DC-9 Modified for a special mission
Their DC-9 last flew in 2013. Prior to service for Perris Skydive, the jet operated for SAS and Allegiant Air. According to their website, the DC-9 can “take 80 jumpers in full airline comfort to 13500′ AGL in a well-appointed cabin with normal airline seats in 4 minutes!”
Some avgeeks have asked Skydive Perris whether they could ride on the classic jet without jumping out. According to Skydive Perris’ Facebook page, the admin responded to ask once it starts flying again. We wish the best for Skydive Perris. Maybe there’s a bit of hope for 2020!
*** Ahem ahem, Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please ***
Any Type rated DC-9 Pilots out there who want to fly the…
Are you a parent or grandparent looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your little avgeek? We’re here to help make your holiday shopping a bit easier this year. It’s never too early to encourage your little one to become a full-fledged avgeek. We’ve compiled a list of gift ideas for any boy or girl who loves airplanes.
Fat Brain Toys Airport Terminal and Jet Plane Playset
We put this toy first because it is the go-to play toy in our avgeek house. Every morning this talking plane (without engines–odd) is the first thing pulled off the toy shelf. The airport scene is remarkably interactive. It has a control tower, working baggage claim, and a lightup departures and arrivals board with announcements. It even has a security checkpoint for your little TSA-wannabe. It was worth every penny for our family. Order it here.
Green Toys Airplane and Board Book
Every boy and girl deserves an airplane for Christmas. If you’ve lived around a toddler before, you want a toy that is safe, nearly indestructible, and fun. This plane fits the bill. Made in the USA with BPA free PVC, the toy comes with a book that will hold up to even the most destructive tantrums. Click on the link above to order from Amazon.
LEGO DUPLO Town Airport
You can’t go wrong with building blocks! Everyone loves legos. Unfortunately, those little blocks are too small for toddlers. Instead, go for Duplos! These blocks are just like legos but bigger and safer for your little one. This airport set is pretty cute. It features a mini DC-9 (ish) jet, a tower, and enough little people to drive some creative play. You can buy this set from Amazon here.
Good Night Planes Book
Little kids love books before bedtime. And every little one in our family loves this book because it features big, colorful pictures of airplanes. Parents love this book too because you can read it quickly before bed! It’s a board book which means that it is really difficult (nearly impossible) to tear the pages. Order it here.
