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The Fort Wayne Air Show Features Thunderbirds
By Mike Heilman
The Thunderbirds diamond formation make a formation pass in their F-16 on Friday’s practice show at the 2019 Fort Wayne Air Show.The Indiana Air National Guard 122ndFighter Wing based at the Fort Wayne, Ind. International Airport hosted the 2019 Fort Wayne Air Show and Open House. The 122ndknown as the “Blacksnakes” is home to the Fairchild Republic built A-10C “Thunderbolt II” or better known as the “Warthog.” The 2019 show featured the United States Air Force F-16 Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds performed at both days of the show. Capt. Michael Brewer is the Right-Wing Pilot for the Thunderbirds and is in his first year. He explains his transition to the F-16C: “I use to fly the F-15E ‘Strike Eagle’ prior to flying the F-16 with the Thunderbirds. Both aircraft are multi-role fighters with air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, but they are two different types of flying. The F-15E is larger and heavier so there are some differences in that respect.
2017 Dayton Airshow Marred By Thunderbird Accident But Highlighted by Other Performers
By Mike Heilman
The Thunderbirds diamond practices upon arrival to 2017 Dayton Air Show. The Thunderbird arrived on Monday before the show but had to cancel their performances due to mishap with the team’s two-seat F-16D. (Mike Heilman)In 2106 the Dayton Air Show attendance suffered from a cancellation of the headline act two weeks before the show, when the U.S. Navy Blue Angels experienced a tragic accident at an air show in Tennessee. Once again in 2017, the show experienced another cancellation of the headlining act due to a near tragic accident of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The mishap happened at the Dayton International Airport less than 24 hours before the show was scheduled to open.
Thunderbird number 8, the two-seat F-16D “Fighting Falcon,” was conducting a crew familiarization flight in the Dayton area when upon return to the airport the jet skidded off the runway and flipped over trapping the pilot Capt. Erik Gonsalvas and Tech Sgt. Kenneth Cordova for almost two hours. The Thunderbird crewmembers were transported to a local hospital in good condition. There was heavy rain at the time of the mishap from remnants of tropical storm Cindy.
On Friday Michael Emoff, Chairman U.S. Air & Trade Show Board of Trustees, held a press conference to discuss the weekend’s show after the mishap. “When you first hear about something like this you pray that everything is okay and for the health of those involved. Once you understand that everything is under control, you then start working on what I can do. My job as Chair of the air show is to ensure that we produce a safe and quality show for our community.”
First-Hand Account of Thunderbirds Mishap at Dayton
By Mike Heilman
Capt. Erik Gonsalvas and passenger Tech Sgt. Kenneth Cordova taxi out in Thunderbird number 8 on Friday 23rd at the Dayton International Airport. (Mike Heilman)The United States Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team experienced a near-tragic aircraft mishap at the Dayton International Airport a day before the 43rd annual air show. The Thunderbird’s mishap occurred in very rainy conditions as remnants of tropical storm Cindy pushed through the Dayton area.
Lt. Col. Jason Heard, Thunderbird Commander, explains what happened: “The United States Thunderbirds were conducting a single ship familiarization flight Friday, June 23, 2017. Upon landing there was a mishap at the Dayton International Airport with our F-16D “Fighting Falcon” at approximately 12:20 p.m. The plane sustained damage. The pilot and his passenger, a tactical aircraft maintainer, were taken to a local hospital where they are receiving care and are currently in good condition.”
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.
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.