Bomb Town Genny

Story and photos by Shawn Byers

The National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, New York held its annual “Greatest Show on Turf” air show on the 11th and 12th of July 2026.

Although I live out of state, this is my hometown show. It is one of three annual shows I attend among the ten or so I take in every year. Genny is the one that is different, and that’s not just me saying so…

First, the turf. There aren’t many shows featuring a turf field. The backdrop is a tree lined farm field offering very clean backdrops. Watermelon fertilizer is traditionally applied every July (wink).

The lighting. The sun comes up early and the aircraft look great. Since flight operations continue after the show, the late evening offers something different as the sun sets on the other side of the Runway 05/23 turf.

The hometown, small air show feel. This is the only air show where you can talk to the pilots right after engine shutdown. Hot ramps are rope temporary, lined by the local Boy Scouts. Although I am an insider and camping on site, anyone can stay after the show has concluded. They can walk around a bit, catch up with the performers, enjoy late evening flying with the setting sun, or even buy tickets to a Friday or Saturday night dinner. The performers often dine next to the paying patrons.

The F-22 Demo Team loves Geneseo! I heard it directly from them and not for the first time. They always have a great time in the relaxed atmosphere that is Genny.

Let’s get to the actual show, shall we?

The guests of honor were the B-17G, “Sentimental Journey” and B-25, “Maid in the Shade” visiting from Mesa, Arizona on a national tour. It has been quite a few years since we had a B-17 on the turf. We thank them for visiting and were thrilled to have them.

Sometime after 0900, trainer and liaison aircraft start flying circuits along the runway as the vehicles filter in to park. What I like about this is that at any other airshow, these aircraft would just be parked for static display. Speaking of displays, this is a good time to highlight that the WWII Reenactors were relocated and now are the first thing you experience from the general parking zone.

The next pair to fly are aircraft based at Genny. Rob Gillman flies his Vultee BT-13 and Pete Treichler flies the Museum owned Beechcraft UC-43 “Staggerwing” in Royal Air Force livery.

The B-17 took off for a mini solo display. After a few flybys, it dropped the traditional load of watermelons on the target area near show center. We were treated to a few more flybys including a topside pass before landing.

Rick Volker, now the retired dentist, a Genny regular and fitness idol for us all, flew aerobatics in his black and gold Marchetti SF260.

Another solo performance was the C-45, “Canadian Queen” entitled “The Smoke Show”. Upon takeoff, the smoke generators are activated in each engine while the C-45 was flown in flat Cuban Eights.

Cargo planes continued in the next slot, featuring the Museum’s Flagship C-47, “Whiskey Seven” and joined by C-47, “Placid Lassie”.

During a break in this display, a single P-51 “Jacqueline” and a Harvard Mk IV “Jay’s Bird” launched with Thom Richard and John “Skipper” Hyle at the controls, two Genny Regulars. Thom would return with more P-51s in a few moments.

Around Noon, the traditional Veterans Salute occurs when my friends, Paul and Steve lead the Patriot Riders and muscle cars to show center in Paul’s restored Jeep. A parachute drop featured the flags of our neighbor, Canada and the United States as the individual national anthems are played.

Taps is played for the fallen and four P-51s appear out of the north to execute the missing man formation.

Everybody recovers from center stage as Thom Richard buzzes the field prior to landing.

Once the Air Boss gives the OK, “Skipper” flew his basic WWII training maneuvers routine.

The Jack Aces P-51 Demonstration Team then takes the aerobatic box direct from the airport in Dunkirk. Led by Lou Horschel of Western New York, Ariel Luedi of Switzerland and Marco Rusconi of Canada complete the three-ship team. Although they did not get the cover photo this year, they still get a lot of inclusion photos as one of my favorites.

Jim Beasley snuck in with his P-51, “Bald Eagle”. This put the number of P-51s on the turf at five. Jim is the Heritage Flight Guy on the East Coast and flies direct from his home near Philadelphia.

The USAF F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team once again visited Geneseo. Genny is legendary with the team. Every team tells the next team that they have to put Genny on the schedule. They base out of Rochester International Airport to the north, approximately 30 minutes driving time and they always make it down for dinner or just to hang out or ride in airplanes. It is like no other air show they do. “Laz” ripped up the country sky with his demo and then joined up with “Bald Eagle” for the Heritage Flight.

A red CJ-6 towing a glider launched and both would return later.

Trevor Rafferty, a newer Genny regular, usually flies a red and white Pitts Model 12 that suffered a blown engine recently. So, he borrowed a friend’s Christen Eagle for his high energy aerobatic display.

The Glider returned and looped around Genny before landing it on the turf. While the glider was being recovered by a vehicle, the tow plane swooped in for an aerobatic display.
The unusual pairing of the Curtiss Helldiver and a C-45 performed next with simple left to right circuits.

Thom Richard performed a solo routine in the P-51. It was supposed to be a P-40, but a maintenance issue caused a switch. Thom celebrated thirty years of performing at Genny. He knows where all the trees and obstacles are and always puts on a great display. A small pyrotechnic element was employed in his routine, but it was further down from my vantage point and not a good photograph.

The Bombers completed the flying portion of the show. The B-17 and two B-25s flew circuits with simulated bomb runs. “Champaign Gal” was the other one B-25 in attendance. Thom held high cover of the bombers.

The flying concluded around 2:30. It seemed earlier than other air shows, but it was 6 hours of flying. I know that there were a few cancellations but it felt like a complete and satisfying show.

As I mentioned, this is not the end of the happenings. A lot of aircraft offer rides so they continue flying. There is usually a break around dinnertime which is held in the large tent near the museum.

Then planes fly again until dusk. A vendor selling ultralights took off from the vendor area and demonstrated it near the museum.

One plane that was missing was the Corsair owned and flown by Lou. I joked that they should hop in a two-seater and go get it (at Dunkirk). That is exactly what they did, and the Corsair flew on Sunday.

Sunday’s show had only a few differences. The Corsair flew between the Staggerwing/Vultee and the B-17 Watermelon drop. The Jack Aces P-51s launched from Genny and the Helldiver flew minus the C-45.

I cannot possibly document everything that happens on Geneseo Weekend, but it is the most immersed show I attend. It is sun up to sun down, it is a home coming, it is reconnecting with my Genny Family and adding new members. It is so much fun and I laugh so much. It is truly the unique air show in my portfolio.

I need to shout out two things I saw. First to Wegmans Food Markets. As a sponsor of the show, they provide free water bottles all weekend. Who does that? The other item was the addition of cooling fans in the Veterans Tent. A small detail someone thought of that makes the experience much better for the Veterans on the hot air show days.

Of course, I thank my Genny Family, all the volunteers from food service, flightline and reenactors. Volunteers are always needed so if you’re interested… Individually, Tina Treichler did a great job as the new person in charge and the Wadsworth Family and the staff for all they do behind the scenes, off season and publicly to bring this show home year after year for more than 40 years.

Let’s do it again next Summer!