So I managed to get away to go see an airshow at the airbase in Cheyenne yesterday. As they go its was not particularly big, but what was nice is it was not crowded, and you could get right up to the planes.
There was a whole bunch of static aircraft, including a B17 they let you crawl through, but also some aerobatic planes I had never seen. A guy was flying a MXS-R, what a hot rod that was.
Another was this bipe, When I 1st looked, I thought it was a pits model 12, but it was bigger than a Pitts. I only was able to get this pic.
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/wybipe.jpg)
Turns out it had a great story.
The pilot an owner Danny Sorensen, had put 6000 hrs into building aerobatic biplane BF9-2 from plans, got it all done, but in 2018 was flying it from Longmont CO to Airpark UT, failed to fuel and/or check it, managed to dead stick almost successfully just outside of Evanston WY on 1-80, but hit a semi and crashed them both. No one hurt. He then rebuilt it and now flies an airshow circuit. I guess like RCs once you get the crash out of the way they fly great?
Many more to come as time permits.
I was on the crew that recaulked the runway expansion joints at that airport. C-131s constantly testing engines, feathering props, what a great job! The main runway at Cheyenne was the emergency strip for 747s for Stapleton at the time, it took us all of one summer. Sounds like a great time.
I mowed.
They had a B17 they let you crawl through, :disturbed:
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17noseart.jpg)
This is how you got in :icon_smile:
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b172.jpg)
Virtual tour, front to back
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17bombardier.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17cockpit.jpg)
Looking out the pilot window
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17pilotseat.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17panel.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17radio.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17bombbay.jpg)
Honestly I don't know how they did it, I could not see out the window without being bent in half, couched down, no way I could have done that for any long amount of time, much less be effective. What did they crew in those things, hobbits?
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17waistgunner.jpg)
Ball turret ammo feed. his not the 1st time i have seen a ball turret, and every time I am astounded how small they are.
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17ballturretfeed.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17balltrurret.jpg)
Tailgunner is almost the same cramped space as the ball gunner, except you have to crawl the entire length to get to it.
Looking up from the hatch.
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17tail.jpg)
tailgunner seat
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17tail2.jpg)
The scale, my cousin, who is roughly my size compared to the tail gun section.
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/b17tailguns.jpg)
More stuff
A L-17, I don't know what that is, but I want it.
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/L-17.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/L-17b.jpg)
No airshow is without an SNJ or 2, and there were a couple
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/SNJ2.jpg)
Also a BT-13 which is unusual
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/bt13.jpg)
As well as the PT22, hard to see, but he had "TRUMP" painted on the bottom of the wing. :icon_lol:
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/pt22.jpg)
Also had an A-26. I have always wanted to see one,
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/a26.jpg)
certainly did not spend much thought on comfort, I mean heck they will only being it for 8 hours a pop right?
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/a26cockpit.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/dc3b.jpg)
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/dc3.jpg)
Very, very cool! Glad you got out to do some meaningful "guy stuff"
Yeah, its been a long while since I have done any airplane stuff, or anything that wasn't related to fixing something or the farm. It was a nice change, despite the sunburn. :icon_smile:
Couple more I forgot to add.
A very nice Extra 330x, its name was Bob
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/extra330.jpg)
Big ol nice super stearman
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/superstearman.jpg)
These guys were a hoot, the Rocky Mountain Renegades. Formation flying with a gaggle of RV-4s and a Giles 202 as a wildman They were pretty good too, some good tight formation loop and rolls
(http://www.fubarhill.com/2021airshow/rkymternegades.jpg)
This was an totally free airshow by the way. Not sure how they made that work, but even the private performers didn't get gate money/
In about a month CO will have one at the Loveland airport.
Gonna be a big one, the Blue angels are coming, the F35 show team, an A-10 demo, but most of the private performers we just watched are going to be there.
Last one I went to there was the year I did my leg, and was still in a wheel chair. I don't recall it cost anything either, but they had not planned on the attendance, which was something like 50k people(vs maybe a 1000 last Saturday if that). It was crowded to say the least and toilets were backed in lines 40 people deep, all the roads were lined with cars besides their designated parking, it was a mess. So this time they have made it a by ticket and reservation affair, which is smart.
Tickets, which are already sold out for the general admission are $55, the VIP box seats are $85, but all the reserved parking is already full. :eek5:
https://www.greatcoloradoairshow.com/performers/
Unusual that it was free......but a good thing for those that attended.Last airshow I attended was 3 years ago.....we got in for free as exhibitors....having a static display of model airplanes...
The weather was terrible, so it was not really enjoyable......
Having said that, I have been to many great airshows over the years. I am planning, and hoping to get to Oshkosh next year.....it is a bucket-list item!
Williams AZ, between Flagg and the G Canyon, had a show every year by Planes of Fame out of CA. I think we saw it in 2001. They had a A/B26, B25, P40, P51A, B and D, a number of WWI bipes, Eisenhower's Connie, the Bataan, C47, a Ford Tri-motor, etc. We sat 10 feet from the taxiway and I'll never forget the low-low-LOW flybys the fighters, a few of them in practically nose-to-tail, pretty much just a couple feet from right over our heads. Lots of static displays, a MiG15, Jap Kamikazi rocket, Bf109...I don't remember paying to get in, but then this morning's breakfast is a toughie for me...
Good times.
Very cool stuff!
The L-17 is the military version of the Navion, a North American built light plane in the late 40's. Any resemblance to the P-51 is purely intentional. "Texas Raiders" is based here in Houston with the CAF and has been a regular airshow performer for many years. I did a photo walkaround on this one many years ago, here it be:
http://www.arcair.com/awa02/1001-1100/awa1056-B-17-Carreon/00.shtm
The Lone Star Flight Museum used to do two shows a year, one in the spring and another in the fall. They weren't advertised and were the best airshows I've ever been to. After the flying, the pilots would open up the airplanes and stay around to answer questions and if you said please, you'd be in the cockpit. That all stopped after Ike and the move to Houston.
Wings over Houston airshow coming next month...
I guessed you probably had seen it, I chatted a little with one of the crew and they said it was out of Houston. Thanks for sharing it!. :)