Wings Over Wine Country

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:28 pm

Attended this show yesterday in Santa Rosa, CA. Not suprisingly, as this is a Ca show, we had nine P-51 Mustnags in attendance, of which eight of them flew in the show. Only Mike Coutches H model remained on static. Dan Vance flew as the pull-out pilot in a missing man formation flight for his father, Art Vance, followed by a nice smooth aerobatic flight in the Mustang. in tribute to his Dad. It was nice, as the announcer remained silent, and there was no music played, just that of the sound of the P-51.

AIRIC · **Posted:** Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:26 pm

Roger, more photos please :wink:

Eric

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:28 am

And if you thought the sun was bad at Thunder.............

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Some of the more interesting aircraft from last weekend's airshow at Santa Rosa.

How's this for an unusual one - a Shinn 2150-A, forerunner of the better-known Varga Kachina.

For more info, see here.

The T-6 Texan II, the first time that I'd seen this PC-9 development displayed. Quite an impressive performer, it also did a couple of 'Heritage Flight' passes with the wartime T-6 (in this case, an SNJ).

CDF firefighting demo by a Conair Firecat (turboprop S-2 Tracker firebomber) and OV-10 Bronco spotter.

You mean other countries build airplanes too? Nah, just paint it as 'Navy'!

You mean other countries build airplanes too? Nah, just paint it as 'Navy'! (part deux)

Eddie Andreini and his 'Super Stearman' routine with (absolutely barking) wingwalker.

This Beale-based U-2 made a flypast......

....as did this C-5 Galaxy from nearby Travis.

Nice shiny Twin Beech.

Very impressive routine from March-based C-17.

Locally-based gun-nose B-25 'Sunday Punch'

This USN F/A-18C Hornet flew a demo.

Tom Camp flew his FM-2 Wildcat in the warbird section. He's entered it for Reno again this year - perhaps they should give him a couple of laps head start and at least let him make a race of it!

Kent Pietsch flew a very nice engine-off aerobatic routine in his 1941 Interstate Cadet.

This Stinson L-5 is ex-Frank Tallman (featured in the movie 'Catch 22' - anyone remember the 'decapitation' scene?)

Gorgeous Travel Air - I want one!

Locally-based Will Whiteside's new Reno Racer 'SteadFast' (cool name!). This is a new-build (in Romania) Yak-3U, engined with a twin-row R-2000. Up for sale, yours for $650k (presumably post-Reno). A very quick-looking machine in the air.

The Hiller Museum brought their immaculate DC-3 flagship for static display.

A long way from home - Linton-on-Ouse is THAT way!

One for Patty - remember at Duxford last month you were telling me about how the wingtip-mounted smoke pots tend to catch fire if you leave them on too long? Well, 'Getch' and his crewman were very busy with the speed tape just before the Sea Fury flew in the display!

And lastly, one of the very nicely presented aircraft from the local Pacific Coast Air Museum, an F8U Crusader. I need to take another trip up there to photograph their collection on a less busy day. They've got a really nice selection of types.

http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/20 ... raftPg.asp

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

As a friend who used to fly them often said to me, "When you're out of Mustangs, you're out of fighters!"

No shortage of Mustangs at Santa Rosa at the weekend, fortunately. Nine were on the airfield for the Pacific Coast Air Museum's 'Wings over Wine Country' airshow.

Many had come together as a tribute to Art Vance, killed in the Planes of Fame F6F Hellcat last October. Santa Rosa was his home field, and a missing man formation was flown.

This was followed by his son, Dan, flying his first public aerobatic routine in the family's P-51,Speedball Alice'.

Chuck Hall flew in the 'Heritage Flight' pairing with the A-10.

Mike Coutches' very rare P-51H 'Lightweight Mustang' variant was on static display.

Beachy · **Joined:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:20 am **Posts:** 1104

Lovely photos. Thank you all for posting them!

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:54 am

GReat photos guys, mind if I snag some for the registry?

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Scott WRG Editor wrote:

GReat photos guys, mind if I snag some for the registry?

Help yourself Scott

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:10 am

As always, go right ahead............

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