My lone encounter with a large “wildfire” occurred  five years ago while I was visiting Southern California.  Watching a steady stream of tanker aircraft shuttle to and from a huge unnatural-looking cloud on the horizon, their bellies red-stained and streaked with fire retardant, fueled my interest in aerial firefighting.  The 2012 Aerial Firefighting International Airshow and Conference, held at Sacramento’s McClellan Airport on January 25th and 26th, offered me a great opportunity to learn more about this unique segment of aviation.

The event was sponsored by the British company Tangentlink whose aim is “Connecting Business through International Events and Targeted Networking”.   There’s long been discussion of convening a formal international  aerial firefighting organization to network and address common concerns; meetings like this support that idea.  One hundred fifty delegates from 13 countries attended a full day of presentations, while a second day was set aside for viewing a large aircraft static display, watching demonstrations of a pair of firefighting helicopters, and touring the nearby California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) aviation maintenance facility.  Delegates were both “thinkers” and “doers” , including airplane owners and operators, pilots, firefighters and officials, government managers, engineers, researchers, and sales representatives.  A two-day trade show was central to networking, and displayed innovative ideas from 22 exhibitors.  Fire retardant mixtures, radios, headsets, night vision goggles, command and control systems, displays for several time-tested and new air tanker projects, and numerous water/retardant delivery systems were displayed.

Wednesday January 25th was a full day of informative presentations led by Royal Navy Rear Admiral Terry Loughran, who introduced the speakers and moderated questions and answers.  Terry noted that technology is “doing more with less” and that you can’t manage what you can’t measure.  He stressed the importance of the initial attack of a wildfire – that 5% of all fires (usually those are the ones not initially controlled) create 80% of all damages.  His observations were key points throughout the conference, noted by many subsequent speakers.   Chief Ken Pimlott, the director of CALFIRE, opened the conference with an address that included a review of plans for replacing the eleven effective but increasingly expensive to operate Super Huey helicopters used by CALFIRE.  Noting that “nothing’s off the table” as far as new aircraft and technologies are concerned, he said that using less costly “public use” aircraft (former military helicopters) was just one option.  Chief Pimlott also noted that nighttime aerial fire fighting is a “reality”, and his organization is developing a policy to allow night ops… but CALFIRE currently doesn’t have that capability.

Tom Harbour, the  US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Director, Fire and Aviation Management, gave the keynote address that centered around the National Cohesive Fire Management Strategy, that is the framework for communities and agencies to work together in planning responses to wildfires.  He stated that there are one billion burnable acres of land and forests in the 50 US States and its 7 Territories, and that the possibility of loss of life and property from wildfire has become the “most severe situation in this country than ever before”.   He also stressed the need for the industry to be able to show solid returns on air tanker operations to Washington analysts, to insure government funding for future firefighting contracts during times of fiscal cuts.

Jim Coyne, former US Representative and now-president of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), spoke about the need to effectively communicate to Congress the aerial firefighter’s needs so future decisions wouldn’t be made without their input.  He agreed that a national organization for aerial firefighting would be beneficial and that NATA could help their cause.

Ana Maria Canut Cunha, a coordinator for firefighting efforts in Brazil, outlined her country’s issues and responses to wildfires.  There is a large problem with land burning to clear acreage for agriculture, that often leads to massive wildfires.  A coordinated national response program to these fires has only been in existence for 3 years, and contains few aircraft.  Brazil has not enacted any regulations allowing the use of fire retardants yet,  so only water can be used for fighting fires.

Colonel Yoram Ilan-Lipovsky presented lessons learned  from Israel’s 2010 Mount Carmel  fire as well as last year’s Japanese earthquake and tsunami, identifying the need for a robust and realistic command and control response to natural disasters.  He also hinted at the possible 2012 roll-out of a game-changing method of controlling wildfires with solid pellets (rather than liquid) delivered from the air.

Randall Stephens discussed the issues that need to be resolved to allow at least two effective firefighting aircraft to operate in the U.S. – the Russian produced Kamov KA-32 helicopter and Beriev BE-200ES scooper tanker.  Bilateral agreements between government agencies are needed to allow these aircraft to operate during the U.S.’s  fire season, and Mr. Stephens noted that Canada has already allowed the helicopter to work in its’ timber industry some years ago.

John Finnerty,a  retired helicopter pilot from the Los Angeles County Air Operations Section, spoke of the use of night vision goggles (NVGs) and their possible use for firefighting at night.  He discussed the limitations of NVGs and advances made over original models, as well as his preference for a hybrid NVG/synthetic vision system for the future.

Richard Alder, outlined aerial firefighting operations in Australia, and discussed a report on the devastating 2009 Victoria fires.  He also briefed on the International Fire Aviation Working Group, formed under the auspices of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction program. Sharing information between countries  on aircraft capabilities, operating standards and procedures, and deployment processes will be addressed within this work group.

Russian Helicopters was the largest sponsor of the conference, and made an in depth presentation on the KA-32 helicopter.  As a firefighter, it has impressive performance capabilities; one KA-32 dropped almost 77,000 gallons of water on a wildfire in one day in Spain.  A presentation of  the capabilities of the jet-powered BE-200 jet scooper tanker was shown too.  A U.S. operator would have to present the FAA with a detailed operational proposal to be reviewed, and any concerns addressed, before any of these aircraft could be used as aerial firefighters here in the U.S..  That being said, there are many multi-lateral agreements in use today around the world that allow these helicopters and jets to  be used as firefighters outside of Russia.

CALFIRE Special Operations Battalion Chief Ray Cheney spoke about integrating military and other air assets into aerial firefighting operations.  Chief Chaney has first-hand experience working alongside military units assisting with fighting large wildfires.  How military assets were integrated into the civilian firefighting structure, and under what laws and Letters of Agreement , were examined.  In 2003, the Cedar Fire was the first example of the use of Navy helicopters; that squadron had routinely fought fires for the Navy on San Clemente Island’s gunnery ranges off the California Coast.

Captain Justin McKinney is a test pilot for VX-22, the Marines Osprey test squadron.  He outlined for the delegates how he and his crew tested various configurations of the MV-22 aircraft using a Bambi Bucket for airborne water drops.  Noting that the MV-22 is “essentially a small C-130 or a C-12 (Super King Air) that can hover”, he outlined how much water can be hauled, and  at what speeds it can be delivered.

The last presentation for the day was by a panel of pilots who interacted with the delegates on various subjects.  There were reports on jet air tanker conversions of the BA-146 and MD-87 airliners.  A pilot spoke about flying the Evergreen B-747 air tanker to Israel in 2010, make two drops at the Mt. Carmel fire, and continue ’round the world back to the U.S..  Finally, the team discussed some of their wishes for improved flight safety: a synthetic  vision system aboard aircraft to combat smoke and other visibility obstructions, and a dependable power line detection system.

Day two was a more interactive meeting with pilots and operators of many of the seventeen aircraft arranged on  static display, which ranged from a small (relatively speaking) Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle to a pair of former Aero Union P-3s.

The CALFIRE aircraft on display included their three main types.  The Super Huey helicopters are used for inserting firefighters near a blaze, and for rescue, resupply and as a water/retardant delivery system.  The S-2T Turbo Tracker tanker aircraft have been rebuilt from earlier piston-engined airframes, and are expected to soldier on for another decade and a half before being replaced.  The OV-10A Broncos are tasked with more of a command-and-control role, however the trio of newer OV-10Ds that will soon become operational may act as lead aircraft for the newest generation of turbine-powered tankers (such as the DC-10 and B-747) due to its increased speed.

A highlight for me was the tour of CALFIRE’s twin maintenance hangars, where many of the 53 aircraft they operate during the busy fire season were undergoing maintenance.  DynCorp is a major contractor for this aviation operation, providing maintenance personnel for all three airframes and pilots for the OV-10 and S-2T aircraft.

Military aircraft on static display included a Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter and an Air National Guard C-130J transport equipped with a MAFFS II air drop system, both from California.  A Marine CH-53E helicopter displayed its Bambi bucket water delivery system.  Some of the privately owned aircraft on display came from British Columbia… Conair brought a Convair 580 tanker and Fire Boss AT-802 amphibian, while Coulson Flying Tankers brought their Sikorsky S-76 derivative Firewatch76 helicopter that operates as a bird dog leader for the huge Martin Mars air tankers, and can operate as a command and control aircraft for all fixed wing and helicopter operations around a fire.

Other domestically registered aircraft included a U.S. Forest Service Super Kingair and a Piper Cheyenne equipped with sensors and communications gear integrated from a trio of companies that offered a “Unified Command” aerial intelligence platform.  Both the Bell UH-1 Huey from Withrotor Aviation and the Sikorsky SH-3H conversion from Croman Corporation flew during the day, displaying their water pick-up and dropping capabilities.  Finally, a pair of ex-Aero Union P-3 turboprops were parked on the ramp, one opened for inspection.  Aero Union ceased operations last year; their eight P-3 tankers along with spare parts and Aero Union’s intellectual property will be auctioned off on February 28, 2012.

While I entered the conference with very little knowledge about aerial firefighting, two days later I had learned quite a lot about its many challenges, including flight safety, contract and regulatory issues and roadblocks, and growing financial pressure to “do more with less”.  There are promising improvements from emerging technologies though, including jet powered tanker aircraft, more comprehensive command and control systems, and maybe even nighttime aerial firefighting operations.  The aerial firefighting industry will change quite a bit in the near future, and much of it was on display here in Sacramento.

Thanks to Tangentlink for allowing me to cover the Conference, and to the many CALFIRE, DynCorp, and other personnel who took the time to explain their missions, methods, and products to me.

Story and photos by Ken Kula

On January 14, 2012 just before noon the only flight-worthy EC-121 Warning Star throttled up its four 18-cylinder R3350’s and sent this Connie barreling down Camarillo’s runway; destination:  Yanks Air Museum, Chino airport.  Sliding the four throttles forward symbolized the completion of a seven year project to get this super constellation back into the air.  Completing the flight from Camarillo to Chino in about an hour, the Connie made one pass above the runway before entering the pattern and making a smooth touchdown.  Taxiing to the Yanks hangar seemed to take forever, like the crew and Connie wanted to savor the greatness for as long as possible.

Lockheed, including the legendary Kelly Johnson, sought out to meet the airlines’ challenges to provide a 40-passenger transcontinental aircraft – design on the Constellation began.  With the outbreak of WWII, Constellations were converted to C-69s for military transport.  In 1954 the EC-121 was introduced to provide airborne intelligence gathering, much like the AWACS role in the modern era.  The EC-121s could be immediately identified from other Connies by their two large radomes, one on top and one on the bottom.  While the Constellations provided dignified military service, civilian Constellations were very successful airliners setting many records; some that still stand today.

Yanks’ EC-121, now N548GF, was delivered to the US Air Force in the summer of 1955 to be part of the 552^nd Airborne Early Warning Wing at McClellan AFB in California.  Through its career, the aircraft spent time in Florida, Taiwan, South Korea, Iceland, and finally to Davis Monthan for storage in 1978.  The aircraft was acquired by Yanks in 2004 and underwent restoration to flight worthy status into 2012.

Walking up the airstairs and crawling through the forward door into the airplane felt like an once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Everything about the inside of the aircraft was very interesting; so many things on that airplane just aren’t seen anymore.  A flight engineer station has gone the way of the dinosaurs, including its separate throttle levers from the pilot’s throttles.  A navigator’s station has been replaced in most aircraft by a small screen that receives a satellite signal.  The electrical intelligence equipment all was dated and had a nostalgic 50’s and 60’s look to it – radiation hazard warnings and all.  Everything about this constellation screamed cool nostalgia; even the smell – if smells scream.  In an era where things get smaller, simpler, cleaner it is refreshing to see firsthand the complexities of the past:  racks of electronics with all the exposed connectors, switches galore, lots of boxes with lots of buttons, and the quintessential circular yellow screen radar display.  The complexity isn’t better shown than by the 18 member crew – in some cases the crew was in excess of 30.

As usual, being near a radial engine monster is a moving experience – walking over after shutdown with the smell of exhaust and oil lingering in the air, watching museum workers scurry over to place pans under the engines to catch the oil from the engines, and just basking in the sheer excitement of the crowd upon seeing this Connie.  During flight it seems as if engine three decided to leak a little more oil than normal from the otherwise steady streaming radials.  A close inspection of the pictures shows a brown wavy line down the fuselage – that’s oil, and a lot of it.  But who cares?  It’s a radial, they leak oil, that’s life and a mighty fine one at that.  The little intricacies like that made this event really special; all too often are we concerned about noise abatement, lowering CO₂ and NO_x emissions, higher fuel consumptions, and more passengers per flight; while these are all noble pursuits, once in a while it’s refreshing to throw that all to the wind, burn tons of fuel – the louder the better, leak oil, make a low pass, and firewall the throttles.

The arrival of N548GF to Chino adds the largest aircraft to the Yanks collection of more than 170 aircraft.  The Yanks collection is the largest private collection of American WWII aircraft; many of their aircraft are the last surviving examples of their kind.  All aircraft are restored to original condition and are flight worthy, the only non-factory modifications are those required by the FAA to fly the aircraft in the national airspace system.  This EC-121 is another exemplary piece of aviation history that fits well in the Yanks collection.  Big thanks go out to Yanks for hosting the arrival of their aircraft so a small group could stand in awe as tons of fuel was burnt and oil spilt in the name of bringing this lumbering beauty home.  The Yanks Air Museum can be found at:  http://www.yanksair.com/

You can contact the writer, Matt Shinavar, at matt.shinavar@gmail.com

On January 14th the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, hosted  ”A Legacy of Honor, Valor and Pride: A Tribute to the Tuskegee Airman” . Several hundred people turned out to honor the service and sacrifice of the warriors known as the Tuskegee Airman. On hand were several Tuskegee airmen from the Archer-Ragsdale, Arizona Chapter of the TAI.

A presentation of colors was performed by re-enactors portraying Buffalo Soldiers. Mesa, Arizona Mayor Scott Smith gave opening remarks, followed by a moving memorial prayer by Chaplain Porter, to honor those brave warriors who have gone west.  Mr. Richar Toliver, of the Archer-Ragsdale chapter, spoke about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee program. The success of the Tuskegee airmen opened the doors for future generations of African Americans, who wanted to serve their country. The sacrifices made by the men of  the Tuskegee breaking down racial discrimination, helped to inspire both men and women to serve.

This was very evident by the evenings key note speaker and award presenter Major General Marcia Anderson (The highest-ranked woman of color in the U.S. Army).  During the award ceremony Mr. Mel Rohden spoke the words of  Martin Luther King. The event was very moving and a wonderful way to pay tribute to the legacy of these great men.

After a short meet and greet with the honorees, we took our seats and enjoyed a screening of the movie “Double Victory”  Tuskegee Airmen tell their story,  a George Lucas  documentary companion to the upcoming Red Tails film. Red Tails Directed and produced by George Lucas, will be in  theaters January 20th 2012. http://www.redtails2012.com/

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/RedTails?sk=wall

Honorees:

Fred Archer  (1921-1988)

Natahiel Carr, Sr. (1921-2005)

Vernon Haywood  (1920-2003)

Lincoln Ragsdale,Sr. (1926-1995)

Luke Weathers (1920-2011)

Bob Ashby

George Campbell

Charles Cooper

Thurston Gaines

Ivie Giles

Asa Herring

Rudolph Silas

Howard Williams

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SEATTLE— Santa Claus ditched his sleigh Saturday and flew in a 1952 de Havilland Beaver.

Santa and Mrs. Claus fly past the Seattle Space Needle. (Photo by John Harrell)

The Jolly Christmas icon arrived at this city’s Museum of Flight aboard a restored single-prop aircraft dubbed “Santa One,” greeting eager children and their parents with Mrs. Claus on a visit from the North Pole.

Santa decided to travel by plane instead of his traditional sleigh because his reindeer are unavailable during daylight hours, he said, and also because they need to rest for next week’s midnight marathon around the world.

“Rudolph and Dancer and Prancer and the rest, they’re resting up because they’ve got a big night” on Christmas Eve, he said.  “And it’s daytime, and they can’t fly in the daytime,” he said.

Santa waves to his adoring fans. (Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren)

Santa and Mrs. Claus had smooth sailing on approach to runway 13-R at King County International Airport (KBFI, “Boeing Field”), whose tarmac abuts the museum, on a chilly, partly-cloudy morning.  The clear air afforded the Christmas couple wide views of the Puget Sound region on their approach past downtown Seattle and the Space Needle.

Santa Claus is familiar with Seattle from the air, since he sees the city from his sleigh once a year.  But a mathematical analysis by NYCAviation suggests that his customary airspeed on Christmas Eve is far faster than the Beaver flew en route to the museum, in order to allow him to visit the countless houses of the world in a single night.

Santa One passed by the downtown core at only about 120 miles per hour, according to Douglas DeVries, vice chairman of the board of trustees for the Museum of Flight and the pilot of Santa One.  While that’s a minuscule fraction of the average speed of Santa’s sleigh, DeVries called it “rocket-speed for a Beaver.”

The aircraft’s 59-year history has taken it to Hawaii, the Sound region, British Columbia, and points north, said DeVries.

It was badly damaged in Hawaii while a production piece in the 1998 feature film Six Days Seven Nights, said DeVries.  The plane’s cockpit was compromised, he said, and its starboard wing had folded back toward the fuselage.

DeVries purchased the aircraft from a wrecking yard in Colorado, he said, and spent six years restoring the plane to airworthiness.  He replaced almost all of its fuselage skin, except for one piece of the original, which he retained as a memento of the plane’s former life.

He also gave it its new tail number—registry N67DN—as a tribute to the movie it had helped make, DeVries said.

Santa Claus could almost have hopped aboard the airplane in 2008 when DeVries attempted to fly it to the magnetic north pole.  DeVries’ trip was hindered by an iced-over waterway at a refueling stop, which prevented the ski-equipped airplane from landing there.  DeVries finished the 12,000-mile arctic trip, but he would have to wait to speak to the North Pole’s chief resident in person.

Such a meeting took place Saturday, with Santa and Mrs. Claus seated in the mid-cabin row aboard DeVries’ restored Beaver.  Removing their headsets, the Clauses climbed out of the plane to the welcome of their young admirers, who had turned out in scores for their arrival at the museum.

Moments later, the queue to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus inside the museum wrapped around much of the lower-floor exhibit.  Elves in bright red and green ushered children forward to meet them beneath the cut-out USAir fuselage that forms part of the museum’s collection.

Santa’s helpers had been dispatched ahead of Santa One on an advance team, said Alexa, a 14-year-old elf, while ushering the long line of children awaiting their turn with Santa.

Alexa’s presence was “part of an elf exchange program,” she said.  “I’m sent down here [from the North Pole] to make sure which kids are naughty or nice, and then I report back to Santa.”

She prefers Seattle to the North Pole.  “It’s always cold up there,” she said.  “Yeah, I like snow, but I don’t like it constantly cold.”

“My favorite part was sitting on Santa’s lap,” said Christopher, 5, of Puyallup, Wash., after his turn visiting Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

News of DeVries’ North Pole attempt in 2008 made its way to the Claus workshop, said DeVries.  “Santa heard that we were trying to get to his house three years ago in the Beaver,” which helped inspire the Claus couple’s interest in stopping at the museum, DeVries said.

“What Doug wants for Christmas,” joked wife Robbi DeVries with Santa present, “is his fuel back.”

The fuel, all 2,400 pounds of it, is still waiting to be reclaimed from the unreached stopover point, the pilot said.

Santa Claus did not immediately comment.

Santa checks out the de Havilland Beaver prior to departure. (Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren)

Notes – Character actors Clyde Bock and Mary Jane Donaldson contributed significantly to the unfolding of this story.

PhotoRecon.Net recently attended the 2011 Alliance Air Show located down in Ft. Worth Texas. The event is held at the Alliance Ft. Worth airport about 15 miles West of Dallas.

The show, which was estimated as bringing in a crowd of around 100,000 people over the two-day event, was cut in half after a thunderstorm came through Saturday night and dumped about a inch of rain that turned the grass parking lots into mud lots.

The main attraction at the show was the United States Air Force Thunderbirds; a team of 6 F-16’s. The Air Force also sent F-15 demonstration team led by Major Mike “Cash” Maeder. For the statics the Air Force sent F-16’s based in San Antonio, A B-52 from North Dakota and a Texas Air Guard C-130 also from San Antonio.

The NAVY sent VFA-122 F/A-18 to wow the crowd and one for a static display along with a couple of SkyHawks. The Marines brought in 2 Ospreys for statics from the VMM-161 based in Miramar Marine Base in Southern California.

Also on hand was BAE Systems with their new training aircraft, the Hawk, which they plan to put together a bid packet for the USAF who is planning to replace the T-38. The Hawk is set up for 4th and 5th generation air fighters that the Air Force is flying in the F-22 and F-35. The two birds on hand were on loan from the Royal Air Force, who currently uses the aircraft as a trainer. They also took the plane to the skies to give the first ever demo of the aircraft in its history.

Alliance is also home to a maintenance base for American Airlines, they brought in Flagship Detroit, a classic DC-3, the Susan G. Komen Boeing 777-223ER (N759AN) and had its regional partner American Eagle, bring in an Susan G. Komen ERJ-145 (N691AE). FedEx was also on hand with a 727 along with Orbis, a DC-10 that they use to fly across the world to teach doctors in under developed and funded countries about eye surgery.

PhotoRecon.net would like to specially thank  Major Maeder of the F-15 demo team and Lisa Hillary-Tee from BAE for the help with getting out on the hot ramp to get even better shots of the team. Also would like to thank Katie Kuczek with the Herb Gillen Agency who approved PhotoRecon.net for media access, we hope to work closely with them in the near future!

F-15 Team Site- http://www.acc.af.mil/aerialevents/strikeeagle/index.asp

BAE Hawk Facebook Fan Page- http://www.facebook.com/HawkforUSAF

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The F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team was performing at the Alliance Air Show in Fort Worth,  Texas over the weekend and our own Brandon Farris was there to record the event.

We had worked in the past with the flight crew after the Chino Air Show back in May. The Demo Team had put on quite a show in the semi-humid coastal region of Southern California and the jet was enveloped many times in thick vapor producing many wonderful shots of the super fast jet flying thru cloud-like conditions. We are excited to be able to visit with them again.

Major Michael “CASH” Maeder, Air Combat Command’s Strike Eagle Demonstration Team pilot and Commander and his WSO Captain Steven “BUDA”  Bofferding  put on a wonderful show where ever they perform.  They traveled to Texas after having recently done shows in Moscow, San Fransisco Fleet Week and Sacramento.

Visit the team here..

http://www.acc.af.mil/aerialevents/strikeeagle/index.asp

http://www.facebook.com/f15edemo

Presented by  Bell Helicopters

Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Finalizes 2011 Lineup

Argyle and Ponder Natives Will Perform with USAF Thunderbirds

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (September 15, 2011) – The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will take
to the skies at the 2011 Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Presented by Bell Helicopter on October 22 and 23
at Fort Worth Alliance Airport.  The show also will feature an amazing lineup of military and civilian
performers as well as an aviation festival on the ground with static displays, interactive exhibit booths,
fun food and more.  General admission remains free.
The show will be a homecoming for Lt. Col. Case Cunningham and Lt. Col. Jason Koltes, both
pilots with the Thunderbirds.  Cunningham, Commander/Leader of the Thunderbirds is a native of
Argyle, Texas, and Koltes, Operations Officer of the Thunderbirds is a native of Ponder, Texas and a
graduate of the University of North Texas.
“I can’t wait to come home to the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show in October,” said Lt. Col.
Cunningham.  “I look forward to seeing everybody there.”
“I’ve got a lot of friends and family that are looking forward to seeing the show,” said Lt. Col.
Koltes. “We’re excited to show our hometown fans the pride, professionalism and precision of the
United States Air Force like they’ve never seen it before.”

In addition to the Thunderbirds, the show will have a strong military lineup including the U.S.
Navy F/A‐18F Super Hornet Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force F‐15E Strike Eagle Demonstration
Team, and the U.S Air Force C‐17 Globemaster III Demonstration Team.
The show will feature an unprecedented lineup of world‐class civilian performers headlined by
air show legend Sean D. Tucker, flying the Oracle Challenger III.  Also returning to this year’s lineup is
civilian aerobatic superstar Michael Goulian and his Extra 330 sponsored by Goodyear Aviation Tires.
New to the air show is Kyle Franklin and his Wing‐Tip Draggin’ Comedy Act and the exciting Aerobatic
Racing Challenge which is compromised of pilots with high‐performance aerobatic aircraft racing against
each other on a vertical race course. The performance is sure to bring eyes to the skies as the pilots
swiftly fly through a number of maneuvers while racing side‐by‐side.  The Bell‐Boeing MV‐22 helicopter
will open the show. Jan Collmer and the ShockWave Jet Truck will complete the civilian lineup.
Warbird fans will get their fill as the Cavanaugh Flight Museum will bring a number of its
historical military aircraft to the show.
There will be plenty of on‐ground static displays for fans to see.  Fans will be able to interact on‐
site with pilots and crew by asking questions and participating in tours of military and civilian aircraft.
After performances, air show attendees will have the chance to obtain autographs from some of their
favorite pilots and take home souvenir photographs.  Pilots will be available along the crowd line after
their performance and at the new autograph booth located in exhibit row. A schedule for the autograph
booth will be posted on the event website closer to the show.
The show is designed for family entertainment and there will be exciting, fun activities for kids
of every age.  Back by popular demand is the KidZone where children can enjoy several aviation‐themed
inflatables in between air performances for a $10 all‐day‐access wristband.  Families also will  enjoy
several hands‐on simulators where they can test their aviation skills on aircraft including the F‐4
Phantom II Thunderbird Simulator, M‐4 Top Gun Simulator, M‐4 Flight Simulation and an A‐7 Cockpit
Tour.

“We are thrilled with this remarkable lineup this year,” said Christina Carey, manager of special
projects at the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show. “We are especially excited to welcome home two of our
hometown heroes to perform with the Thunderbirds. The air show is one of the most affordable
activities in the area for a family of four,” said Carey. “You can’t beat the free admission, and there are
plenty of activities here that the whole family will enjoy.”
Gates will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with performances scheduled from
approximately 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday’s line‐up of performers is a repeat from Saturday. A
schedule of performers will be available in the air show program.
General admission for the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show is free; however, there are several
premium seating options and VIP parking passes available for purchase in advance at
www.AllianceAirShow.com.  General admission parking is $20 per vehicle and is payable upon arrival at
the show. For more information about performers, parking information and tips for a great day at the air
show, visit www.AllianceAirShow.com.

The  Fort Worth  Alliance  Air  Show  Presented  by  Bell  Helicopter  is  held  annually  at  Fort Worth
Alliance Airport, which  is  the centerpiece of  the 17,000‐acre AllianceTexas development housing 265
companies,  30,000  employees  and  more  than  7,400  single‐family  homes.  The  2011  air  show  will
feature  the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and will  take  to  the  skies October 22 and 23.  The
airport is managed by Alliance Air Services, a subsidiary of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas.

Below is a list of static display currently scheduled for the 2011 show. Check back often as we will be adding more.

AD-5 Skyraider
A-10 Thunderbolt
AH-1 Cobra
American Airlines 777
American Eagle ERJ 145
Bell OH13 Helicopter
Bell-Boeing MV-22
CAF Red Tail Squadron
C-2 Greyhound
C-130 Hercules
Cessna 172
DEA
E-2C Hawkeyes
EA-18
F-16 (4)
F-18C Hornet (2) FedEx
HH-65 Dolphin
KC-135 Stratotanker
ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital
OV-1D Mohawk
P-51 Mustang
PT-19 Fairchild
Sheppard AFB Explosive Ordnance Disposal
T-1 Jayhawk (2)
T-38 Talon
T-39 Sabreliner
T-45 Goshawk
T-6 Texan
T-6 Texan II
UC-35
UH-1 Iroquois

A full day of daring aerobatic performers is scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. Aerial performances begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. and last until approximately 4:00 p.m. The same line-up is scheduled for both days, including featured performances by:

USAF Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds are a team of Airmen representing the best of the US Air Force and the highest standards of integrity, service and excellence to the American public and the world. They are the face of the US Air Force – your Ambassadors in Blue.

Aerobatic Racing Challenge – Tony and Julia Wood, Texas
The Aerobatic Racing Challenge Series (ARC Series) is a praticed and choreographed racing format featuring pilots with high-performance aerobatic aircraft “competing” against each other on a vertical course.

Bell-Boeing MV-22
The Bell-Boeing MV-22 is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

Cavanaugh Warbirds
See the historical flights of warbirds from the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. Seeing these beautiful planes in the sky will take you back to years gone by or provide you with a glimpse of what it must have been like. A definite must see for the historical aviation enthusiast.

F/A-18F Super Hornet Demo Team
The Tactical Demonstration (Tac Demo) team flies a two-seat F/A-18F and a single-seat F/A-18C as close to the “edge of the envelope” as safety and prudence allow. The routine highlights the maneuverability and slow-speed handling characteristics and has been very well received around the country.

F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather.

Jan Collmer FINA EXTRA 300L
The FINA EXTRA is sponsored by ALON USA, headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and the 1,600 FINA gasoline stations throughout seven states. Today, well-known air show pilot Jan Collmer of Dallas, Texas flies the FINA EXTRA 30 L.

Kyle Franklin Comedy Act – Wing-Tip Draggin
This one-of-a kind wild and crazy comedy act puts Kyle Franklin as Ben Whabnaski, the annoying drunk who wants his airplane ride that was promised to him. Franklin puts his wingtip on the ground so often that his cub needs skid plates taped on the wingtips!

Mike Goulian – Extra 330, brought to you by Goodyear Aviation Tires
With over twenty years of focused competition and training, there are few flyers in the world that can captivate an airshow audience like Mike. Goulian Aerosports is proud to perform during the Alliance Air Show with the support of Goodyear Aviation (www.goodyearaviation.com). For over 100 years, Goodyear has been a leading supplier of high performance tires for airline, general aviation, and military aircraft.

Sean Tucker and Team Oracle
Sean has received all of the airshow industry’s highest honors. Additionally, Sean has been named as one of the Living Legends in Aviation, recipient of the Crystal Eagle Award, the inductee at the 2001 USAF Gathering of Eagles and named as one of the Living Legends of Flight.

Shockwave Jet Truck
The ShockWave Jet Truck runs over 300 mph racing airplanes; holds the Guinness World Record in a quarter mile for trucks at 256 mph and for full size trucks at 376 mph. At 36,000 horsepower, the ShockWave has enough power to accelerate at 3 Gs vertical, which is as much as the Space Shuttle!

Skytalker – Danny Clisham
Known for fresh, lively, knowledge-based commentary, Danny is one of America’s most popular air show announcers.  In the course of his career, he has entertained millions of attendees at air shows throughout North America.  He repeatedly puts on performances that thrill audiences and keep them coming back year after year.

Air Boss: Ralph S. Royce
Sound: MACH I Productions

For more Media Releases go here:

http://www.allianceairshow.com/Portals/0/PDF_Files/Fort%20Worth%20Alliance%20Air%20Show%20Finalizes%202011%20Lineup.pdf

Weather Grounds Much of NAS Oceana’s 2011 Air Show

The 2011 NAS Oceana air show was a roller coaster full of ups and downs… though no fault of the organizers and participants.  Tropical moisture invaded the Virginia Beach area, and remained a major impediment to flying for the entire weekend.  During Friday afternoon’s practice show, dark and foreboding thunderstorms raced just north of Apollo Soucek Field.  The storms crept closer, finally affecting the airport as the Blue Angels were in the middle of their practice show, and ultimately deluged the grounds only a few hours before the evening’s twilight show was to commence.  Amazingly, there was a break in the rain, and a limited evening air show occurred.  A vivid rainbow appeared for a moment across the city of Virginia Beach, too.  The skies remained waterlogged, and a rare “vapor show” by the Blue Angels’ C-130 (Fat Albert) at sunset gave room to be optimistic, although the weekend’s weather forecasts  weren’t calling for  ”prime” conditions.

Saturday morning, an elderly C-9B Skytrain II and a modern Boeing C-40A Clipper were to open the show with a series of fly-bys.   Although the morning dawned with a high ceiling and decent visibility, conditions deteriorated soon after sun rise, and ugly, low-based clouds rolled in before the flying was to commence.  The decision was made to have each jet make an IFR approach to allow it to pass in front of the crowd.  Both crews performed a PAR approach to get below the cloud base, perform a touch and go landing, and then depart the area.  The air show operations personnel and announcer Rob Reider somehow patched ATC’s PAR frequency into the show’s public address system, and the spectators had front row seats to listen to both jets being “talked down” through the PAR approaches, complete with some “edge of your seat” audio from ATC (“well right of course, correcting…”, “on course, on glide slope”, and so on…).  Both jets’ landing lights came into view just short of the runway, exactly on course for their touch and go.  The synergy of sight and sound proved to be quite entertaining, and offered a bit of intrigue as one wondered where you’d first see a jet break out of the clouds.

Soon, rain began to fall, and for the rest of the weekend, intermittent stretches of flyable weather gave way to rainy and misty conditions, with lots of low scud in the area.  As safety was paramount, there was much coordination between the air boss, base weather officials, and performers as to what the next 30 minutes worth of weather would bring… such as if there was any lightning nearby or heavy precipitation on the doorstep. Some acts did fly, although the airfield attack sequence and fleet flyby were cancelled on Saturday.  All was not lost though, for a few of the pilots in their solo jets were able to fly (Air Force F-16, Marine Harrier, and Navy F-18 Hornets), and some serious vapor was squeezed from the air.  If you dared to expose your camera to the elements, some great opportunities for action photos were present.

The static display ramp was rather full, containing aircraft ranging from a triple-kill New Orleans-based ANG F-15C and various Centennial of Naval Aviation “throwback” schemed planes to local flying schools’ civilian aircraft.  Representatives from most of the numerous Navy and Marine flying units based in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach areas were congregated within a long row of tents, creating a shopping mall for squadron memorabilia.  You could purchase anything from “challenge coins” to shirts, DVDs, models and a multitude of other mementos.  You could talk to a wide range of Navy and Marine service members at the same time, and even with some of the service members’ spouses who staffed the booths while their opposites were deployed around the world.

Most of Friday’s practice show and part of the evening show was completed, but the much of the remaining weekend’s flying display was curtailed.  Those pilots and aircraft that could fly gave spirited performances though, complete with loads of vapor.  Both a pro and con, for some spectators it meant getting “up close and personal” with a plane, even though it meant standing under its’ wing while waiting for the rain to stop.  For others, instead of turning their gaze skyward to watch aircraft in flight, it offered a chance to talk with the people who live and work aboard the base.  There was still a lot to do at the NAS Oceana air show, even if the flying was condensed by some up and down weather.

Ken Kula

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Thank you Ken for a Great report hope your gear is dry once again. Joe ………………………………………………………………

Here Dr. Sky speaks with owner Steve about his aircraft

Watch this video to see an insiders look into the Golden Age of Air Travel!!

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Manufacturer: Spartan

Model: 7W Search all Spartan 7W

Year built: 1937

Construction Number (C/N): 11

Aircraft Type: Fixed wing single engine

Number of Seats: 5

Number of Engines: 1

Engine Type: Reciprocating

Engine Manufacturer and Model: P&w R-985 SERIES

Aircraft

Registration Number: N20200

Mode S Code: 50315742

Certification Class: Standard

Certification Issued: 2004-01-14

Air Worthiness Test: 1956-09-24

Last Action Taken: 2008-11-18

Current Status: Valid

Owner

Registration Type: Partnership

Address: Danville, CA 94526

United States

Region: Western-Pacific

Vacations are to unwind and relax; nothing can relax me more than being in the company of great people and historic aircraft. This is why I always perform an online search for any museums and airfields in the area I will be visiting. With a family vacation to Florida planned for the last week of June 2011. I started my search and soon found the Valiant Air Command in Titusville, FL. The Valiant Air Command Warbird museum has exhibits, displays, artifacts and vintage warbirds from WWI through the present. A visit to the VAC would work out great as Titusville is located near the Kennedy Space Center, and I would be heading to the space center as part of my travels. I contacted the museum and spoke to Colonel Terry Yon, USA (Ret) and current VAC Public Relations Officer. I explained the website and the topics we cover, Colonel Yon said he and his staff would be happy to show me around, along with a behind the scenes tour of the restoration shop. The museum is located on the Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX) in Titusville, FL. The airport is between I-95 and U.S. 1 off the 405 (Columbia Boulevard/NASA Causeway) just look for the BIG sign announcing Warbird Air Museum and follow Tico road to the Museum, located on the right as you drive in.

Once inside, I met my tour guides, Joe Hall and Sean Wilkin, the separation in age of the tour guides was interesting. Joe is a retired Air Force Veteran who maintained Century series aircraft including the F-106, and from what I understand he’s quite a good photographer to boot. He made reference to his massive slide collection, one can only dream of the rare photos he must have. Sean on the other hand is a young man in his early 20’s with plans for a career in the Air Force; he is currently performing a summer internship at the museum. We toured the over 30,000 sf  main hanger, with its collection of classic and rare  aircraft, Including an F-5E fighter jet with a modified fuselage. The Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstrator (SSBD), an aircraft designed to demonstrate the relationship between the shape of a supersonic aircraft and the strength of the sonic boom it creates. Another aircraft that caught my eye was an F-86 in the colors of the USAFE Sky Blazers acrobatic team. The team was organized in Europe In the spring of 1949. The first flights of the Skyblazers Air Demonstration team took place in the skies over Europe at the airbase in Furstenfeldbruk, Germany. By 1952 the team had flown some 260 demonstrations in 12 countries before an estimated 10 million spectators. The F-86F was used during the 1955-56 seasons. This F-86 takes in the annual VAC “TICO” warbird air show and is expertly flown by the legendary Dale “Snort” Snodgrass. Dale is the highest hour F-14 pilot in the world and also a member of the Heavy Metal Jet Demo team. With all the great aircraft located in the main hangar, it was hard to believe we had 2 more hangars to visit.

After the tour of the main hangar we moved on to the 2nd hangar, the door was partially open and the very familiar nose of a C-47; named the “Tico Belle” was glistening in the Florida sun. This aircraft # 42-100591 is a World War II veteran that participated in some of the most important battles of the war. From the Normandy invasion to Cherbourg,  Arnhem,  Bastogne, to the Berlin Airlift, it was there. In August 1945  591  returned to Baer Field, Indiana and was placed in storage, as many other perfectly good aircraft were being sold off for scrap. With one of the first major international crises of the Cold War brewing  591  was called out of storage to carry supplies to the people in West Berlin, during the famous Berlin Airlift. With the help of this very aircraft  591  the largest humanitarian relief mission in USAF history was a success. The result was over 2.3 million tons of food, fuel and supplies being delivered to beleaguered West Berlin Residents. After serving in this historic event, 591 was once again, no longer needed in USAF service. In 1950, 591 was acquired by the Norwegian Air Force under a lend-lease program and served with honor. In 1956 the aircraft began service with the Royal Danish Air Force, with the prestigious role of transporting the Royal Family of Denmark. With a total of 13,500 hrs on the aircraft the Royal Danish Air Force retired 591 in 1982. In the mid 80’s the Valiant Air Command had the unique opportunity to acquire  591 . With the help of VAC members and a few Royal Danish Air Force Pilots, she was ferried to the United States. During the remaining years of the 80’s and all through the 90’s,  591  became an air show star, touring the nation as a flying museum. She soon acquired her WWII nose art and became known as the “Tico Belle”, named after her home base Titusville/ Cocoa Airport.

In 2001 while returning from an air show  591 was landing in very high wind conditions. The landing gear collapsed resulting in extensive damage to the engines and airframe. The volunteers at VAC contemplated the long and expensive repair process, debating whether it was worth undertaking such a task. That debate did not take long, considering the history of this aircraft the decision was made to proceed with repairs. After many years of dedicated volunteer work she thundered to life in July of 2008 and once again  591 took flight, and soon began to appear on the air show circuit once again.

The aircraft is now available for that once in a life time flight experience, YOU can experience all this history as a special and unique present for yourself, or someone you love. Call 321-268-1941 or email (vacwarbirds@bellsouth.net) for additional information, or to get on the reserve list and they will notify you of the flight schedule. Getting some time to see this great warbird first hand was the highlight of my visit to the VAC. located in the same hangar is the VAC’s very nicely equipped restoration shop. At the time of my visit the aircraft ranged from a Sopwith Camel nearing completion, to an F-4J Phantom II being readied for paint. All restorations are done in-house and are the result of many dedicated hours of work by the VAC volunteers.

After touring the first two hangars we were off to the New Vietnam Memorial hangar, the  28,000sf  hangar officially opened on June 16th 2011. The collection in this hangar honors Vietnam era aircraft from all branches of the United States Military along with a lone Mig-21. Aircraft from the F-8 Crusader, A-6 intruder to the OV-10 Bronco are displayed along with many others from that era. The Vietnam hangar has it’s own memorabilia room with artifacts, uniforms, prints, medals and a variety of other exhibits and displays. This is truly an awesome display honoring the brave individuals who served proudly along with honoring the more than 58,000 who gave all.

What would a visit to such a great museum be without a stop in the gift shop. Here you will find some very unique collectibles and t-shirts to commemorate your visit. While browsing the gift shop I had the great honor to meet Mr. Bob Frazier the VAC Procurement officer. Bob is responsible for arranging the procurement of most of the aircraft on display at VAC. Bob explained some of the more interesting stories of the effort that goes into becoming a caretaker of such national treasures. So if you ever find yourself on the Space Coast area of Florida and you love classic aircraft, a stop at the Valiant Air Command is a must. Please check the VAC website www.vacwarbirds.org for information about the Valiant Air Command annual TICO Warbird Airshow that takes place every March.

I would like to thank, Colonel Terry Yon USA (Ret) VAC Public Relations, Mr.Bob Frazier VAC Procurement Officer, and all the volunteer staff at the museum. To my tour guides, thank you for the personal stories and history behind all the aircraft. Joe Hall Thanks for your service to this great country. Sean Wilkin, best wishes as you start your career with the USAF.

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