West Michigan Fly-In 2007

[kalamazookid]

On Saturday, I attended the West Michigan Fly-In at Allegan, MI, a small local airport. Typically, the small fly-in draws a couple of interesting aircraft, but to be honest, I wasn't expecting what I got! Easily the best warbird turnout in the fly-in's short history. As I arrived, Nathan Davis was orbiting the field in his Checkertail Clan P-51, and the Indiana Aviation Museum F4U-5 was being pre-flighted on the ground. I hurried in and got to see the F4U-5 start-up and take off. The P-51 and F4U-5 each made some individual passes and then made a couple formation passes before departing for an airshow in Gaylord. This was followed up by a couple passes from an L-39 that was on its way to the same show. A few other warbirds were also in attendance, a T-28 from South Haven that I had not seen before, along with Tim Hibiskie's T-34, a T-6 and the SNV-1 "California Girl" which was giving rides. Some other attendees included the Meyers OTW owned by Ted Heckman and based at Allegan, a 7/8 scale SE5a replica, and a few Aeroncas, Sinson Voyagers and Ercoupes. An Army UH-60 Blackhawk also came in and did a demo and was open for tours. Needless to say, I had a fun Saturday!

This is really a great little fly-in and very friendly for warbirds. They set up a temporary tower for the day and offer $.40 per gallon discount on fuel for warbirds. It's also great seeing warbirds at these types of fly-in's because of how close you are able to get to the aircraft. Anyway, enough chatter, on some pics!

















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Last edited by kalamazookid on Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[kalamazookid]

I apologize if the pics are too big.

[Taylor Stevenson]

What is that last Bi-Plane?

[K5DH]

What is that last Bi-Plane?

1941 MEYERS OTW-145

Cheers!

[Trey Carroll]

Kalamazoo Kid,

Nathan wasn't flying, that was Mark Watt and I, I rode in the back.

Sorry about the blurred pics, the air was pretty rough.













Hope you enjoyed the show!

Trey

[warbirdguy]

Trey,

Was that Mike Schiffer flying Jim's Corsair?

[Trey Carroll]

Dave Folk

[warbirdguy]

Thanks. I know Mike Schiffer flies it every now and then.

[Steve Nelson]

Dang..I was sitting over here in Battle Creek doing nothing. Had no idea it was going on. Oh, well..only a week-and-a-half until Thunder!

Great pics, everybody!


SN

[kalamazookid]

Nice pics Trey!

[Jack Cook]

The T-28B is B/N 138347 N83AW which was previously owned by a close family friend Boyce Thelen and based in Roseville, CA. I got my first T-28 ride in this a/c and It's a nice one with ALL the mods and bells & whisles. I never did understand the autopilot though

Boyce Thelen & my dad in N83AW over the Willamette Valley 2003.