Dayton Air Show Came Back Strong With Fantastic Performer Line-Up
It has been two years since the CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show took flight due to the cancellation of the 2020 show. The organizers had planned a “drive-in” show format for 2021, but in May with COVID numbers declining in Ohio they decided to go to the traditional full show. The traditional show included performance acts, static aircraft, concessions, and open seating for fans.
Headlining the show were the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds were excited to get to perform in front of fans after last year’s show season was cut short. Major Michelle Curran, Thunderbird Five, Lead Solo explains how the 2020 season began: “It was strange, we were packed, already to go to our very first air show. Our advance pilot had already left to go there, so we had trained all winter to get ready for this. It was super exciting and then it’s just cancelled. Then, it went from being cancelled to you are all going home, and we don’t know when you are going to fly again, and you are going home and quarantining.”
The Thunderbird’s kept practicing as Curran continues: “Much like everyone else, we were in shock trying to figure out what was going on, but we rallied, and we got to put the jets to use and our skills to use by doing the America Strong Flyovers. We went all over the country, as did the Blue Angels. We got to really support the front-line workers. It was really challenging flying, but it was super rewarding.”
In 2020, the Thunderbirds experienced a special opportunity with a flyover of the Indianapolis 500 in August. Major Curran explains what that was like: “That was cool, because we do a lot of stuff with Daytona, but Indy is harder for us to do because it is in the middle of our show season normally. When that worked out with our schedule, it was super cool. A lot of us have never spent time in Indy. The people were so welcoming, and the city was so amazing. We got to peak around the curtains because there were no fans and we got to see all the things at the race. That was just awesome, I wish we could do that every year.”
Major Curran was excited to perform for a second time in Dayton, which is rare for Thunderbird team members: “I didn’t expect to be here a third year. It was supposed to be a two-year assignment and here I am, my second trip to Dayton. We have an extra year on the team for a lot of us just to bring the experience over since we didn’t have a show season last year. It’s good to be back. I have a bunch of family coming in because I am from the Midwest. We are back to having a normal season at this point. Interaction with the fans is really motivating to us. It’s where we can really connect with people.”
The Dayton Air Show was a homecoming for Major Kyle Oliver, Thunderbird Six, Opposing Solo. Major Oliver was born at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and graduated from Beaver Creek High School in Dayton. Oliver explains why he decided to be a fighter pilot. “I grew up in the Air Force. My dad served honorably for 20 years, so I assumed that I would follow in his footsteps. I really didn’t know there was anything to do other than joining the Air Force. I watched Top Gun too often as a kid and I went to too many air shows and I said that was something really cool that I would like to do.”
Major Oliver also explained what affect the Dayton Air Show had on him: “We came out to the show in 2005. That was the first time I took it seriously, when I saw the team fly that day. That was kind of the turning point, when I said that being a fighter pilot is not some phase I’m going to grow out of. That is something I want to go do and dedicate myself to. I started making the dream happening from there.
“To be back here now, hopefully I will be part of some little kid’s story and that is an absolute honor. I could not be more thrilled to be back here in my hometown to get to show other kids that they can do everything that I did. I was an average high school student, I would say, nothing spectacular, but I had that ‘Ah Ha’ moment. I then dedicate myself to making something incredible happen. To have friends and family back out here in my hometown is really special for me,” said Oliver.
Oliver was excited to show his hometown what a U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot does. “My favorite part of the job is to get to share what I do with so many people. As a fighter pilot most of your job happens far away from people. You are taking place in missions that are hundreds of miles away from where you take off and land. My family, for instances, I have been flying for ten years and until I joined the team, all they have ever seen me do is take off and land. They have only seen me do that a handful of times, so to be able to bring what I do and my mission to my friends, family and the American public is definitely my favorite part of the job.”
The C-17 Globemaster III West Coast Demo Team from Lewis-McChord Air Force Base, Washington, performed both days of the air show. The C-17 is a heavy lift cargo plane that transports personnel and cargo all over the world. The Globemaster III demo team displayed many of the highly maneuverable capabilities of the C-17 at the 2021 show.
The United States Navy premier fighter, the F/A-18F Super Hornet, flew a power demonstration at the Dayton show. The Super Hornet, flown by Lt. Joseph Kirksey from VFA-122, is based at Lemoore Naval Air Station, in California. The Super Hornet was joined by Scott “Scooter’ York flying a World War II F4U-4 Corsair to perform the Navy’s Legacy Flight. The Legacy flight demonstrated the past and present of naval aviation.
United States Army Elite Parachute Team, known as the Golden Knights, also performed at the show. The Golden Knights “Black Team” performed their full show both days of the event despite light rain and clouds. The Fort Bragg-based team performed four separate maneuvers to demonstrate the maneuverability of the team members while falling at 120 mph.
Headlining the civilian portion of the air show was the awarding AeroShell Demonstration team. The four-ship aerobatic team performs their demonstration in the World War II era AT-6 Texan. The AT-6 was used as a basic trainer beginning in 1938. The team has won many air show awards, including the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship.
National Aerobatic Champion Michael Wiskus made his Dayton Air Show debut in his Lucas Oil S-1-11B Pitts biplane. Wiskus flew a high-energy routine in his highly-modified Pitts. The veteran air show pilot has accumulated more than 25,000 flight hours in 40 different aircraft. Jacquie B performed a highly maneuverable routine in her Extra 300 at the show. Jacquie B began her air show career at the age of 50.
There were several military and civilian aircraft on static display at the CenterPoint Energy Air Show. Highlighting the static aircraft was the U.S. Air Force KC-46A “Pegasus.” The KC-46A is the next generation of refueling aircraft that uses a fly-by-wire refueling boom. The “Pegasus” on static display was from the 97th Air Mobility Wing, based at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
The two-day event drew an estimated crowd of more than 40,000 spectators. The show numbers were good despite rain and clouds both days. In a press release, Scott Buchanan, Chairman of the United States Air & Trade Show Board of Trustees, that produces the show commented, “We are pleased with the outcome of this year’s show overall. The lineup was fantastic, and we came back strong, but the weather hampered turnout especially on Sunday. We are thankful to our loyal fans, sponsors and volunteers who help make this show a success each year.” The 2022 show will feature the United States Navy Blue Angels and will be held July 30 and 31.
