Warbird Information Exchange

We are starting to look at themes for THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN 2012, and wanted to propose some potential options.

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

I voted for the Korean War/F-86 Gathering for the 2012 theme. This would be an outstanding theme for this period that marks the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War. If not selected as the theme for 2012, I think it should definitely be the theme for 2013, the last year of the 60th Anniversary period.

The F-86 Sabre is one of the most dynamic and interesting vintage jet warbirds out there, and with a number of flying examples existing and more under restoration to fly over the next year or so, a gathering would be outstanding. Supplemented by T-33 Shooting Stars (to represent the F-80), the MiG-15 and other jets, a vintage jet warbird gathering at Thunder is over due.

Prop enthusiasts would have a number of terrific Korean War era vintage warbirds to be represented at TOM, including the F-51/P-51 Mustang, B-26/A-26 Invader, B-29 Superfortress, C-47 Skytrain, C-54 Skymaster, C-45 Expeditor, T-6 Texan, F4U/FG-1D Corsair, AD Skyraider, Grumman Albatross, Hawker Sea Fury and others.

I voted for the Korean War gathering as well. The Korean War is so overlooked historically that I don't think most of the general public even knows it existed, or they just think of it as "that war between WWII and Vietnam." I think because of that, it's time we pay tribute to the veterans and sacrifices made by those in that conflict, especially since they're getting up there in age.

There's a lot of good potential for different warbird types as well, as Jim pointed out. I think the F-86 idea would be great, throw in a few MiG-15s for adversaries and a few T-33s for companion and it would be a great vintage jet lineup. Also throw in later-model Corsairs, Skyraiders, Sea Fury, Tigercat, Yaks, P-51s, etc. and it would be a very good lineup.

I think the British theme could hold off another year or two so more of the important British aircraft under restoration could attend, like the Fighter Factory Mosquito for example.

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Matt

Korean / F-86 gathering all the way!

It would be very cool to see a few F-86s together. Plus the Piston line up would cover most WW2 stuff and post war

It is to bad there are no Panthers, Banshees, F-80s or F-84s flying. It would be very cool to see some flights with those types.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Korea...by the way things are going you may need to call it Korea I, I hope there is no Korea II by 2012.

I still like: THUNDERbolts and lightnings OVER MICHIGAN

Same here, I would prefer Thunder and Lightning Over Michigan. Of the three I picked WWII Commonwealth/Spit Gathering, but how many UK birds are flying in North America? Could you get enough to fill up the ramp? It would be cool as just about everything would be new to me. I've seen one Spit fly in my life and that was last month.

I voted for the WW2 Commonwealth/Spit Gathering as well. Would be great to try and arrange a formation flight with Jerry Yagen's Mossie and FM213. That would be something to see!

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Ryan Orshinsky
Windsor, ON
CH2A - Engineering
rorshinsky@ch2a.ca
http://www.ch2a.ca

An F-86 Gathering/Korean War Theme could be an opportunity to recognize the veterans of the conflict at the 60 year anniversary point and to showcase a wide variety of aircraft. Looking at some of the aircraft Matt mentioned in this thread above, here is a list of potential flying warbird types (that come to my mind right now) out there in the U.S. today that could come to Thunder in 2012. Not absolutely sure there is a current flying example in every case (such as the C-119), but others may know. I think most actually served in the Korean War, on or in the immediate vicinity of the Korean Peninsula, but definitely all Korean War Era aircraft.

F-86 Sabre
F-51 Mustang
T-33 Shooting Star (stand in for F-80, but T-33's also actually served in Korea in 1952-53 timeframe I believe)
B-26 Invader (as A-26 was designated at that time)
B-29 Superfortress
C-45 Expeditor
C-46 Commando (not sure about Korean War status of this one)
C-47 Skytrain
C-54 Skymaster
C-119 Flying Boxcar
SA-16 Albatross
T-6 Texan
F4U/FG-1D Corsair
F7F Tigercat (Marine night fighter)
AD Skyraider
Hawker Sea Fury
MiG-15
Yak-9
Polikarpov Po-2 (biplane)

One I would love to see available on this list is the currently not flying F9F-2B Panther owned by the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. It hasn't flown for several years, but seems to be maintained in a condition that would allow it to return to the air. Apparently there is no interest in this by the CFM , but it would have been a terrific gesture for the Centennial of Naval Aviation and the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War.

Yup. http://www.korean-war.com/KWAircraft/US ... s_c46.html

Doubt there will be any flyable C-46s next year though.

Add the following possibilities:

PB4Y Privateer (isn't there an old H&P airframe flying?)
Hiller OH-23 (any flying?)
Lavotchkin La-9- Would be really cool to see the Fighter Factory example
P2V Neptune- think I remember reading somewhere they were used in Korea
Seafire
AF-2 Guardian- Wasn't Jimmy Leeward going to have one flying soon?
TBM Avenger
Fairey Firefly

And don't forget the spotters and liaison aircraft: L-4, L-5, L-16, L-17, Beaver, L-19, etc.

Lot of cool possibilities for honoring the veterans who I don't think have ever really gotten their due for what they did in Korea.

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Matt

I did like option 1 and 3, the trimotor gathering is perfect for that area.

Great work boys, see you in a few months.

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"Hindsight is usually 20% off!"

I left early both days was there any mention of what next year's theme will be?

I don't think anything was mentioned regarding this at the end of the show. I look forward to hearing what the theme will be sometime in the not too distant future. I hope it will be the Korean War/Gathering of Sabres theme, but there are other potential great themes also.

I picked F-86 gathering. Although I'd rather it just be a jet warbird show. Just think of the increasing jet warbirds in the U.S. . Add a couple Migs, and that soon to be flying F-84, F-104's, and a bunch of others and that would be a good show!

Now, how about a C-45 gathering!

Actually for years I've been wishing someone did a 1941/early 1942 U.S. aircraft gathering focusing aircraft only with this insignia:

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

What, no helicopters!
Sikorsky H-19's are still out there as well as Bell 47's and some Hiller's.
Lets not forget the vertical lift guys if you do a Korean War theme!
You should also get the American Military Medical Impressions from Maryland to do a M.A.S.H Unit Field Hospital with a Bell 47 sitting right outside!

Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."