Genny in June…Again

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Story and photos by Shawn Byers

The National Warplane Museum held their 42nd Annual Airshow, also known as “The Greatest Show on Turf”, on June 3rd and 4th, 2023. Traditionally held in mid-July, this was the second year it was held in early June and running concurrently with World War II Weekend in Reading, PA. Since I try to be in both places, I give one day to Reading and the rest to Genny but I still haven’t figured out a good way to do it and feel that I didn’t miss out on something.

Fokker-2

The Greatest Show on Turf is not a Warbirds show, although we have many on hand. It is a variety show, from a World War I Fokker and Rob Holland to the C123 Thunderpig and the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team. “Genny” blends the generations over her picturesque turf strip with a tree lined background.

Attending this show is a coming home for me as a native Western New Yorker to a familial experience like no other Airshow I attend. Aside from my list of friends turned family, I camp onsite, wake up to a pancake breakfast rubbing elbows with Rob Holland and enjoy a catered dinner under the big tent meeting “Rebel” Fiedler. In between, I take photographs from morning to night when the opportunity presents itself and help out where needed. That family aspect plays into the Airshow which I will illustrate later. I do not expect our readers to have the same type of experience I do but you can have a piece of it and grow into it when you volunteer to help with the Airshow. The Museum welcomes all and can always use more helpers. It takes a large group of dedicated people to get this show together.

Before the show even started, there were some notable cancellations. The PBY Catalina could not make it in due to a maintenance issue and both Corsairs cancelled which also cancelled some two-ship performances. Two Mustangs couldn’t make it due to the schedules of the pilots.

By the time the weekend arrived, a cold front had come in creating some strong winds and cooler temperatures under sunny skies. Wind was definitely a factor for the show. The organizers, for the first time, gave us a great Media Perch on an elevated trailer very close to the Announcers Stand.

WACO

Under those breezy, blue skies, the first group of aircraft to fly were the early trainers like the Stearman and Liaison Birds. Additionally, Craig Wadsworth, whose note in my phone is “The Hangar Master”, flew a new addition to the Museum, a 1929 WACO in the red and cream livery of Mohawk Airways that seats three.

On Sunday only, as the winds subsided a bit, the World War I Fokker DR-VII Replica was flown. Needing assistance onto and off the runway due to the tail skid, it flew differing patterns, never venturing off the airport boundary. I was excited to see that fly. 

The husband and wife team of Steve and Juliet Lindrooth alternated flight demonstrations in their SNJ in a fetching three tone, blue and white, U.S. NAVY marking scheme.

Jason Flood performed in one of two demonstrations that we would see over the weekend. This first one was high energy in his Pitts aerobatic Biplane. The second, which we saw on Sunday was a comedy routine in his yellow Bellanca Decathlon as a student pilot who stumbled onto an Airshow and dreamed of performing in one.

On Saturday, Lou Horshel performed a solo routine in an early slot with his TP-51 Mustang, “Mad Max”. On Sunday he would perform in the “Fighter Finale”.

The lumbering Antonov 2 took off with parachutists for the noon gathering of Veterans and Patriotic National Anthem with a missing man formation. Rob Holland circled the jumpers. The Canada Flag landed first while their National Anthem was performed. This Airshow is well attended from both countries. The American flag followed.

On the ground were Veterans and flag bearers from both countries and all branches of service led in by The Patriot Guard motorcycle riders and vintage vehicles. The missing man formation was accomplished with the Canadian Harvard Association Team and Skipper Hyle in T-6s.

Rob Holland performed his short teaser routine as the grouping rolled out. Prior to doing so, they had a very good view of his performance.

The Canadian Harvards reentered the box from a hold point and performed their three ship routine.

The C-123 Thunderpig was another performance I looked forward to seeing. I have photographed her before arriving for static display but never as a performance. The Thunderpig fell victim to the aforementioned winds as it landed. A minor but scary mishap occurred as the big wing lifted up under a gust and the Thunderpig left the designated surface of the turf strip. Fortunately, the edge of the turf strip is still grass, just uncut. No one was injured and no damage was incurred by the aircraft.

Manfred Radius, a Geneseo regular, launched with his tow plane and then returned later for his performance. On Saturday, his parachute deployed early but it did not affect his landing. The photograph I had of it was too far away to be usable but it was something I had not seen before.

During the show, we will usually see the Museum’s Flagship and D-Day Veteran C-47A, “W7” doing multiple takeoffs and recoveries but due to the winds, all rides were canceled as well as the round canopy drop. So, with no one on board, W7 and the Vultee BT-13 flew circuits for the crowd.

Trevor Rafferty performed in his Pitts Model 12 Biplane. What is interesting about his presence is that he was called less than 24 hours earlier to be a performer in the show. Somehow, he got his Canadian self and his plane across the border and to Genny. He was recognized in the Air Boss meeting.

Rob Holland performed his full performance. He is also a longtime Genny regular even as he became the best aerobatic performer in the world.

Skipper Hyle performed a solo act in his T-6 depicting the training of a WWII cadet. When out of the airplane, Skip can be seen around the grounds in his 4th Fighter Group art leather jacket chomping on a cigar.

The F-16 Viper Demonstration Team brought the noise to the turf in the afternoon. Captain Aimee “Rebel” Fiedler keeps the routine tight around the airport grounds showcasing the speed, power and maneuverability of the Viper. They base the jets out of Rochester but the whole team attends the steak dinner under the big tent.

The final performances of each day is the Fighter Finale. I believe Thom Richard coined the phrase. This is where the family aspect comes in. With the multiple cancellations, the regular fighter pilots like Thom, Lou, and “Scooter” Yoak, make a plan and execute it. On Saturday, Thom and Scooter launched and performed solo performances with two ship formations in between. The next day, Thom and Lou traded slots and Lou was in the Fighter Finale.

A final note about Saturday night. Normally, I could secure a seat on W7 in an organized air to air shoot but the winds were too great. It did happen though, with the fighters and a single photographer in a T-6. Something to hope for and look forward to next year.

Despite the cancellations and the winds, it was another successful Airshow at Genny. I wish to thank all those hard working members of the Museum who are on duty way before I arrive. The list of friends is long. Show Organizer, Dave Cooper, in his official final show, worked his magic to get the acts there and get them up in the air. Well done, Coop! See Y’ All next year.

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