Warbird Information Exchange

Would C-47s draw the people in?

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Michael Luther
Michigan Flight Museum's
Air Show Director
THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN

I think it would be cool but I dont think you would draw the high crowds that you would want Mike. Now you could have a two themed show...Navy & C-47s.

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

I voted navy since the ToM's I've attended have been more AAC orientated.

As a possible future theme might I'd like to see Russian or other less common foreign aircraft. Yak's, I-15/153's, I-16's, Migs (3 and up), would be neat to see and if not enough throw in Japanese and German etc aircraft.

For the aviation/ military enthusiast C-47's would be great, but for the general public the C-47 isn't as exciting as fighters and bombers.

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"Keep 'em Flying!"

I agree that C-47s in themselves would probably not draw a giant warbird fan crowd, but with the WWII Army or WWII Navy theme C-47s/R4Ds could be an integral part. Not to mention that we want the BAHF C-54 back either way, because it fills the role of a C-54 or an R5D Skymaster.

Just as an aside for a future theme beyond the two being considered for 2008, how about a Post-WWII (Cold War/Korea/Vietnam era) Warbird Theme. All Vintage fighters/bombers/transports/trainers/helicopters, etc. that served in the late 40s into the 70s or so could be the central theme. With vintage jets, and a myriad of other restored piston warbirds that served in the years after WWII, there are lot of airplanes to choose from. Think F-86, FJ-4B, T-33, F-100, F-4, HU-16, C-123, B-26 Invader, C-131, AD/A-1 Skyraider, F8F Bearcat, just to start to scratch the surface.

How about a F-86 Gathering? Although it would expensive to get the Sabres there, I think it might draw some big crowds.

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"There are two types of people here; airshow whores and airshow prostitutes. The whores, like you and I, do airshow stuff for free, whereas the prostitutes are paid" - Reg Urschler

They probably wouldn't draw in the masses, but they have their appreciators. I'd really like to see a general gathering of DC-3s and C-47s one day to just celebrate the type. Maybe it's not a Thunder Over Michigan style event, but I have to imagine there are enough enthusiasts for the type around the country to support a gathering. (Was anything special done for the 70th Anniversary a while back?)

I know I'd really like to see a C-46 fly at Thunder some day. Maybe there could be a transport flight during the show, with a C-45, C-46, C-47, and C-54. Or maybe a transport heritage flight, with a C-47 and a C-130. I'm not sure how one could arrange that, however.

For me, one of the highlights of the 2003 show was seeing the C-121 fly. Too bad that particular aircraft is now sitting in Korea, never to fly again.

C-47s probably wouldn't draw enough people. I mean it's not uncommon to see a DC-3 at your local airport still hauling cargo. However, they could be a big part of a D-Day theme. Get a bunch of AAC aircraft that participated in D-day like Mustangs, Lightnings, Thunderbolts and then add in maybe 8 C-47s, as many as you can with D-day stripes and do a mass fly over. That would be pretty cool!!