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The Pylon Place - June 2013
Another Great Planes of Fame Airshow and PRS Preview
By Marilyn Dash
Five P-38 Lightnings in Formation – Amazing. (Rob “Phred” Miller)Ignoring the naysayers, Planes of Fame goes right ahead and puts on an amazing airshow – again. Nearly 40,000 people were in attendance to witness history and a terrific show.
This year, the airshow celebrated the history of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. There are only seven airworthy P-38s in the world today, and five of them were in the skies over the Chino Airport. Another P-38 on display, a photo-recon variant, made up the sixth P-38 at the show that weekend.
The formation of five was breathtaking. I don’t think we’ll ever see something like that again, sadly.
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.
Miramar Air Show 2010
Never Fails To Impress
By Russ Albertson
Blue Angels beautiful Echelon formation. (Russ Albertson)The Miramar Air Show is always something to look forward to, even if it means the end of summer here in San Diego. This year it took place on Oct. 1, 2, and 3, and although we had a little fog and drizzle, it was still one of the best shows on the West coast.
Wings Over Pittsburgh Thrills Steel City Airshow Fans
By Hayman Tam
Thunderbirds four-ship diamond flies over Pittsburgh, PA. (Hayman Tam)The significance of September 11th was not lost on the minds of the airshow fans gathered that day in Pittsburgh to attend one of the largest airshows on the East Coast. This annual event is traditionally held on Father’s Day weekend to ensure good weather but after a one-year absence, organizers moved it to 9/11 with a strong patriotic theme.
Hosted by the 911th Airlift Wing, based at Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, the “Wings Over Pittsburgh” two-day event drew record crowds this year. An estimated 175,000 folks got into Saturday’s Wings Over Pittsburgh show before the gates were closed, frustrating drivers who traveled from far and near only to be turned away when parking capacity in the local township of Moon was reached. Many fans ended up watching the performances from their cars stuck on the clogged highways. Another 120,000 fans showed up Sunday, with the Steelers football season opener helping to thin the crowds a bit.