13th Annual Olympic Air Show
Story and Photos by Paul Tannahill
Despite less than ideal weather conditions the 13th annual Olympic Airshow went on June 18-19 without any major incidents. Hosted by the Olympic Flight Museum, and held at the Olympia Regional Airport, in Olympia, Wash., the show has become a Fathers day weekend tradition for many aviation enthusiasts in the Northwest.
Aerobatic performances this year included Will Allen who sang the national anthem from the cockpit of his American Champion Super Decathelon, Brian Reynolds flying the Olympic Flight Museums L-39ZO, Bill Shepherd in his Globe Swift, Noel Jones in his Yak 52 and Renny Price 
flew his Sukhoi SU-29. Bud Granley was a busy man all weekend flying multiple routines in multiple aircraft including his Fouga Magister and the Olympic Flight Museums P-51D Mustang as well as flying his Yak 55 in a routine with his son Ross Granley in his Yak 18.
Flight displays were flown in a number of the Olympic Flight Museum’s helicopters and aircraft including the HH-43 Huskie, AH-1 Cobra, HH-1K Huey as well as a mock dogfight with the Tora Zero and the P-51D Mustang.
The highlight of the show this year was the Air Force’s West coast A-10 demo team, who provided a touch of modern military power to the line up. The crew put on a spectacular show Saturday, but Sunday’s display was cut short when a non-critical section of the right wing departed the aircraft. Fortunately the precautionary landing that followed was uneventful.
