One Hot Event – The Vectren Dayton Ohio Airshow

By Mike Heilman and Joe Gust

Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger III and Brain Norris in the Extra 300 fly in formation over Dayton, Ohio. Team Oracle uses the Extra 300 for some airshows and to give media and VIP rides. (Mike Heilman)There is only one word to describe the 2011 Vectren Dayton Ohio Air Show – hot!  The temperature and the airshow lineup were equally heated. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the three-day event, which took place on July 22-24. This kept the attendance down about 15 percent as compared to the 2010 show, with an estimated 65,000 spectators coming out this year to brave the heat. 

Organizers opened the airshow weekend by hosting a free Friday night hanger party.  The public got a chance to preview some of the airshow acts during the party. Many aircraft crews and performers attended the party and it gave the public a chance to meet them.

The 37th annual event held at the Dayton International Airport is not only a favorite of airshow spectators, but it is one of the shows that many performers look forward to.  According to Sean D.Tucker’s operations manager, Brian Norris, “When I was a kid, I can remember every year looking forward to watching the Dayton show on Wide World of Sports. That is how big this show is, it was the only show I know of that was shown nationally.” 

“The Dayton show is one of the premier events in the country and it’s a huge honor to be invited here” added Norris.  “When we come to Dayton, it is almost like a vacation.  This show runs itself.  This show has been going so long. They have the same people doing the same job every year and that is why they have great continuity here.   I do not have to worry about anything at Dayton.  That is not the same for a lot of shows we go to. Dayton is a well oiled machine.”

The F/A-18F Demonstration team from VFA-106 NAS Oceana, VA demonstrates the power and maneuverability of the Super Hornet. VFA-106 is the Navy’s replacement and training squadron for the East Coast F/A-18s. (Mike Heilman)Tora Tora Tora Pilot Patrick Hutchins also agreed. “The Dayton show is great. These people know what they are doing. A longtime show like Dayton has everything put together.” A-10 East Coast Demonstration pilot Major Dylan Thorpe also added, “Dayton is the show we have been looking forward to all season.  It is really well run and it has great airshow acts.”

Headliner for the show was the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.  The Dayton show was the first show back in the United States for the Thunderbirds since their month-long European tour.  According to right-wing, number three pilot, Major John Gallemore, “It is great to be in Dayton, the birthplace of aviation, but it’s great to be back in the USA!” he commented with a smile.

The Thunderbirds had a week off before the Dayton show, but it would be a while before they went back to Las Vegas. “We had a week off, but we he U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 jets parked on the tarmac at the Dayton, Oho International Airport. Notice in the background a replica of the Wright B Flyer is performing a flyby. (Mike Heilman)are now back on the road again.  We will leave Dayton and then go straight to Cheyenne and then to Travis Air Force Base in California. This will be a two week trip for us” explained Gallemore.  The Thunderbirds got a short break because Sunday’s show was cancelled due to thunderstorms in the Dayton area.

A new tradition was started this year by the Thunderbirds, according to Major Gallemore, “New this year at any stateside show we are honoring a fallen hero from the local area.  The name of Cpl. Adam Jones from Germantown, Ohio will be on the number one jet during the show this weekend in Dayton. He was killed this past April in Afghanistan.  This is a way to honor Cpl. Jones and his family.”

The U.S. Air Force B-1B and B-2 bombers made appearances at the show.  The B-1B was on static display and also was part of the flying portion of the show.  The B-1B launched from the Dayton show and made NASA’s unique looking Super Guppy transport plane was designed to carrier rocket components. The transport can carrier two T-38 jet trainers. (Mike Heilman)three passes before flying off to two other air shows. On Saturday the B-2 stealth bomber made three passes in front of the crowd as the B-1B was set on the runway to take off.  It gave the Dayton crowd a chance to see both heavy bombers at the same time.

The Air Force A-10 “Warthog” East Coast Demonstration Team showcased the A-10’s attack capabilities.   The team is located at Moody Air Force base in Georgia.  The U.S. Army Golden Knights “Gold” Parachute Team made several jumps at the airshow.  The Golden Knight also made a night jump with pyrotechnics at the Friday night hanger party.

2011 marks the Naval Aviation Centennial of Flight and the U.S. Navy celebrated the 100-year anniversary by sending the F-18F “Super Hornet” Demonstration Team to the Dayton show.   The “Super Hornet” demo team flew an impressive power show.  The F-18F was joined by an F4U Corsair for the Navy’s Legacy Flight.   The F4U then performed a solo A replica of the Wright B Flyer opened the 2011 Dayton Airshow each day. (Mike Heilman)demonstration after the Legacy Flight.

Sean D. Tucker was the headliner for the civilian portion of the show.  Tucker performed his “hard core” aerobatics in his new Oracle Challenger III. Brian Norris describes the Challenger III,  “Every year we do significant changes to the airplane. This new airplane that Sean is flying is so close to perfect in his mind, he didn’t want us to change anything on it. The Challenger III is the most awesome airshow plane in the world today.”

Team Oracle Challenger III has more than 400 horsepower and can reach speeds of more than 300 mph.  It also uses eight ailerons instead of four to increase the airplane aerobatic capability.  The tail of the Challenger III is also modified after the high performance, remote control airplanes.

The Tora! Tora! Tora! team recreated the Dec. 7,1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.  Team pilot Patrick Hutchins explains the show: “We reenact the attack on Pearl Harbor. We have ground based pyrotechnics with about 70 explosions during our eight minute act.   Our narrator will tell the story of the attack and dedicate our show to all veterans and active military.  It is also a living history lesson for the kids at the airshow.”

The airplanes used in the show were built by Twentieth Century Fox for the movies Tora! Tora! Tora! and Midway.  Hutchins explains how the team got the planes: “Private collectors bought the planes after the movies, and the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) got 13 of them.  We always take eight planes to every show site.”  The CAF planes are replicas of the Zero fighters, Val dive bombers and Kate torpedo planes the Japanese used in the surprise attack.

Dayton had two new acts this year, the Tombstone Riders and the Red Bull Team.  The Tombstone Riders are the only all-woman wing-walking act on the air show circuit.   Wing-walker Carol Pilon and pilot Melissa Pemberton performed their show in a 1940 Boeing Stearman bi-plane.  Pemberton also flew a solo aerobatic act in her Edge 540 plane.

The Red Bull Team also performed. Red Bull pilot Chuck Aaron few an impressive aerobatic routine in his BO-105 Helicopter. Aaron performed loops and rolls that many thought only airplanes could do.  Aaron is the first and only American civilian pilot that is licensed to fly aerobatics in a helicopter.  The two-man Red Bull Air Force Parachute Team also performed during the show.

 A North American B-25J Mitchell Bomber made several passes in front of the spectators.  The B-25J nicknamed Panchito is part of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Flight Team.  The team raises money to help veterans and their families. 

The School Time Jet Bus also performed at the airshow.  It looks like a normal school bus from the outside, but this bus is equipped with J-79 jet engine. It is the same engine that was used in the F-4 Phantom jet fighter. The bus never leaves the ground but it can reach speeds of 350 mph. A replica of the Wright B Flyer opened the airshow each day with a flyby. 

On static display was one of aviation’s unique aircraft, NASA’s “Super Guppy” transport plane.   The Super Guppy was used by NASA to carry oversized components for the space program.  The current Guppy flying is a fourth generation aircraft and is the only one still in active service. The aircraft is powered by four Allison 501-D22C turboprop engines.  

There were several military and civilian aircraft on static display.   U.S. Air Force aircraft on static display were a C-5A, C-17, KC-135R, KC-130H, B-1B, F-16 and the OC-135B “Open Skies.”  U.S. Navy and Marines static aircraft included C-2, F/A-18C, P-3 and a Marine CH-53E Sea Knight helicopter. The U.S, Army also had a UH-60 Blackhawk and AH-64D Apache helicopters on display. NASA also had an F/A-18B on display.

“I want to thank the spectators, sponsors and volunteers for making the 2011 show a success,” stated Michael Emoff, Chairman of the board of the United States Air & Trade Show Board of trustees that produces the airshow.  “In addition, I want to say how delighted we are to announce the Blue Angels for 2012. We are looking forward to another great airshow next year” said Emoff.   Next year’s show will be moved to an earlier date, taking place on July 7-8, 2012 at the Dayton International Airport.