The Quad Cities Airshow made its return this year after a two year hiatus and was held on June 28th and 29th at the Davenport Municipal Airport (KDVN).The Davenport Municipal Airport is located seven miles North of Davenport Iowa which is one of the Quad Cities, Bettendorf Iowa, Rock Island Illinois and Moline Illinois make up the other three. Davenport Municipal has a pair of Concrete runways, 15/33 the longest at 5,511 feet and runway 3/21 at 4,001 feet long. Davenport has no commercial airline service, all commercial flights are handled out of the Quad Cities International Airport, approximately sixteen miles to south in Moline Illinois. This is also where the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III and the Blue Angels staged out of. Davenport has hosted the Quad Cities Airshow since 1987, and is the largest airshow in the state of Iowa.
Davenport serves as a base for two Helicopter units of the Iowa Army National Guard. The 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment flies the Boeing CH-47F Chinook. The 1st Security and Support Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment flies the Airbus Helicopters UH-72A Lakota. The UH-72A flies logistics and support missions within the US for homeland security, disaster response missions and medical evacuations. The UH-72A entered service in December of 2006 and has replaced the Bell UH-1H/V and OH-58A/C Helicopters. Boeing CH-47F Chinook serial number 12-6867 and Airbus Helicopters UH-72A Lakota serial number 12-72243 were on static display.
The static displays featured a varied mix of general aviation, warbird, and modern military aircraft types. The Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing/ 169th Airlift Squadron based at the Peoria International Airport had Lockheed C-130H Hercules 93-2042 on static display. This C-130 departed on Sunday to open the airshow and flew several passes before departing the area.
The afternoon airshow included several top airshow performers such as Scott “Scooter” Yoak flying the beautiful 1945 built North American P-51D Mustang , NL51HY, better known as “Quicksilver”. Jim Tobul had 1945 built Chance Vought F-4U-4 Corsair, N713JT, better known as “Korean War Hero” on hand. Both aircraft flew separate routines and then joined for several formation pass as the “Class of 45”. The mission of the Class of 45 is simple, to preserve and honor the service of American military men and women then and now. Korean War Hero also flew a United States Navy Legacy Flight alongside Boeing T-45C Goshawk 163652 from Training Air Wing 6 (CTW-6) out of Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida.
The 437th Airlift Wing out of Charleston Air Force Base South Carolina flew a spirited airshow routine in Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, 50107. The C-17 flew several passes and demonstrated the C-17’s short field capability by landing on Runway 33 stopping in less than 2,000 feet, using reverse thrust to back down the runway, than take back off using only 3,000 feet of runway.
Air Combat Command was represented in the shape of the A-10 Demo Team out of Davis Monthan Air Force Base Arizona. A pair of Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II’s were on hand, 80-0275 and 81-0980, both aircraft featured an impressive array of mission markings on their noses. Major Cody “ShiV” Wilton demonstrated the A-10’s impressive maneuverability both days of the show.
The United States Blue Angels and their Boeing FA-18C Hornets flew their usual well polished routine and closed the show each day. However due to weather each day, the team flew a modified and shortened routine.
It was a hot end of June weekend in Iowa, but despite the weather this was another very successful year for the Quad Cities Airshow. This is definitely one show worth checking out. Until next time, “Blue Skies to All!”
