Breckenridge Airshow 2017
There was the usual vendors, food, souvenirs, etc. But a kid pleaser (kids of all ages) was DreamBig Entertainment. DreamBig brought their nose section of A-7D Corsair II, S/N 71-0295. The Corsair is used for “hero” photos of customers in the cockpit. The booth was aptly manned by owner Dewey “JellyFish” Larson, Odie Sethman and the lovely Heather Lodge. My favorite was the Waco YMF5D that Scot Warren of Warren Aircraft, brought. Warren Aircraft is an authorized Waco dealer. Scot also brought a Great Lakes. Both of these immaculate planes are on the market, and would be most pilots dream aircraft.Saturday was arrival and practice day, and like some airshows in the past, west Texas was a furnace at 100 degrees. Flying warbirds in these temps is no picnic! You have to realize that the warbirds are not air-conditioned and the canopy is a greenhouse. Even with the canopy open, it feels like a blast furnace!The various acts practiced, and the Devil Dog Squadron were selling paid rides in their PBJ-1J “Devil Dog,” the Naval designation of the B-25. Scott Glover and Andrew Kiest were flying the Mid America Flight Museum’s C-47 “Sky King.” On Saturday, they flew out to the WASP Museum in Sweetwater Texas and gave free rides. On Sunday morning they gave a free ride to airshow staff and volunteers.
The populace of the area woke up to unseasonal low temps Sunday morning! With mostly cloudy skies and a good breeze, the temps never got above 84 degrees and felt more like the mid 70s! It was a tradeoff, the cloudy skies made a good challenge for photographers, but for most everyone else, the cool weather was a welcome relief from Saturday’s oven temps!We even had a few rain drops from area thunderstorms. The brief rain in itself did not create any problems, but the lightning in the area did demand a brief delay. Neither the delay or the rain dampened the spirits of the crowd.The featured act was the Commemorative Air Force’s “TORA TORA TORA” Squadron. They reenacted the Dec. 7th attack on Pearl Harbor. They always bring goosebumps to my arms as the air raid sirens go off and the Japanese strike package of Zekes, Kates and Vals peel off to attack. During the raid, a lone P-40 growled into the sky to do battle with enemy aircraft. With the pyrotechnics the “Blastards” provided, it was a complete recreation with fiery explosions! TORA TORA TORA lived up to the main attraction billing and wowed the crowd.According to my circle of friends, and the people in my vicinity the mother popular demos were (in order of appearance):Lewis Air Legends Grumman F7F-3P Tigercat Here Kitty, Kitty! put on an awesome display! Here Kitty, Kitty, one of five flying Tigercats in the world exhibited the power that comes from 2 X Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W Double Wasp 18 cylinder radial engines! The CAF’s SB2C Helldiver pleased the crowd with a display more like a fighter! The Big Tail Beast is the only SB2C flying today.The final display started with Scott Glover flying the Mid America Flight Museum’s B-25J God and Country leading a formation flight composed of a Wildcat, TBM, P-40, Mustang and Spitfire. After a few passes by the formation, the aircraft broke formation and individually attacked the field with the Blastards providing more pyro. Scott, flew the B-25 like a fighter, simulating strafing runs and skip bombing. The Blastards explosions produced an orange glow of the highly polished bomber, providing a fitting ending to a great show that entertained, educated and honored our countries fallen heroes on this Memorial Day weekend.The airshow staff, volunteers, pilots and crews hard work paid off with a memorable airshow. And somewhere above, Howard Pardue, the founder and driving force of the past Breckenridge Airshows was smiling.
Breckenridge Is Back Again… 2018
Tickets are now on sale for the Breckenridge Airshow 2018. The show will take place on Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27 in Breckenridge, Taxes. Sponsored by the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce and Ezell Aviation, the airshow provides affordable family entertainment, a positive impact on the local economy, and an inspiration for generations to come. Access tickets and more information online at breckenridgeairshow.com.Highlights for the 2018 show include the following:• The AeroShell Aerobatic Team, which has been performing for more than 25 years, amassing thousands of hours in front of airshow fans all over North America• Carl Best in his North American T-6G Miss Texas. Watch him perform loops, Cuban 8s, reverse Cuban 8s, barrel and aileron rolls along with other amazing maneuvers in the sky• David Martin’s performance will leave you breathless! Enough said!• In motion and up in the air will be Mid American Flight Museum’s airplanes. The museum is known for restoration of great aircraft and the fact that they keep ‘em flying!• SRC Airshows is owned and operated by Stephen Covington. Prepare yourself as Stephen amazes everyone with his aerobatic performances in his highly modified Pitts S2S named The Raptor• “Tora, Tora, Tora” is the Commemorative Air Force’s recreation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that signaled the beginning of the American involvement in World War II. Designed as a living history lesson, “Tora, Tora, Tora” is intended as a memorial to all the soldiers on both sides who gave their lives for their countries.For more information, including static display opportunities, volunteering or attending, visit the airshow website at breckenridgeairshow.com.
