Kokomo, Indiana’s Fifth Annual Wings and Wheels Air and Car Show

By Mike Heilman & Ed Wells

Cliff Robinson races a motorcycle down the runway in his modified PT-17 Stearman. Robinson, an airshow veteran, has appeared in more than 300 airshows during his career. (Mike Heilman)It was the little show that could. The 5th annual Wings and Wheels Air and Car show was held June 8 at the Kokomo Indiana Municipal Airport (OKK). The one-day event was billed as the largest airshow in the state of Indiana in 2013.  Kokomo can make that claim since the Indianapolis and Gary airshows cancelled due the Congressional sequester. The event drew an estimated 4,000 people.

The annual event is used as a fundraiser with proceeds from food sales and VIP seating going to local charities.  The Event Coordinator, Pam Wild, explains “Our show is completely free, no admission at all.  The pilots are not monetarily compensated in any way.  All they get is a T-shirt and breakfast and lunch. They get gas for the show and the trip to get here. It is an all-volunteer show.  We have the support of the City of Kokomo and they are our biggest sponsor.”

four-ship Warbird formation performed a fly-by at the fifth annual airshow at the Kokomo Indiana airport. The Warbirds were on static display before the show. (Mike Heilman)The airshow lineup included the event’s organizer, Dr. Mike Wild, performing a high-energy routine in his Pitts S2B.  Airshow veterans Greg Aldridge and Billy Werth also flew aerobatic routines.  Aldridge flew a routine in a Super Decathlon and in a L29 jet.  Werth performed in his Pitts S2C.  Cliff Robinson demonstrated the capabilities of his modified PT17 Stearman 450 bi-plane and then raced a Motorcycle down the runway.  Ty Lingo raced his Piper J3 Cub against a Model-T.  Patrick McAlee performed in his Pitts S1SS.

Event organizers were able to get a nice mix of warbirds for static and flying display.  Included in the flying portion of the show was a T6 Texan, T34, PT26, L2, L-19, YAK52 and a TBM Avenger.  The highlight of the static display was Nathan Davis’ “Checkertail” P-51 Mustang.  There were four warbird jet acts that flew at the airshow. Kurt Arnspiger performed an aerobatic routine in his CASA H200 jet. The jet acts includes Greg Aldridge in the L29, – Zach McNeil flew his British built de Havilland “Vampire” jet at the 2013 Kokomo airshow. The “Vampire” jet was designed during World War II as a jet fighter. It was built too late to see service during the war. (Mike Heilman)Marty Tibbits in his TEMCO Pinto jet and Zach McNeil in his de Havilland “Vampire” jet.

The Kokomo airshow has grown over the last five years.  The attendance almost doubled from 2012.  The quantity and quality of the airshow acts continues to grow.  The addition of the VIP viewing is another sign the event is growing.  The 2014 Wings and Wheels will be held June 7.  The little show that could is growing into the big show that can.