Warbird Information Exchange

NAS Willow Grove PA will have there show in June, 17,18. Has anybody been to this show before. Will be a long trip for me and would like to make it worth my wild.
Dave

I went to Willow Grove last year for the first time in a while (I attended a number of Willow Grove events in the early to mid 90's). Definitely not a warbird intensive show. The only significant warbirds according to my records were Snort's F-86, the Red Bull Mig-17 and the Skytyper SNJ Team. Most of the show consisted of modern military and civilian aerobatic acts. The Blue Angels headlined. As usual, the local A-10's and C-130's put on demos. I don't remember the civilian acts but the "Show Copters" routine got a bit dull after the second or third repeat performance. As always, the crowds were huge and there was a massive traffic jam leaving. I thought there were insufficient concessions for the crowd attending and the paid seating grandstands blocked most of show when I was standing in the food lines .... I missed the Heritage Flight getting food. However, if you like modern military and civilian acts, it's a pretty good show. Since my wife is especially fond of "F teens", we may well be back this year (I don't mind the modern stuff myself). In past shows I attended, there was somewhat greater warbird attendance.... often a P-51 demo or other acts, so there may be more this year.

If you want a warbird intensive show, I recommend the WWII Days event in Reading the first weekend of June.

About 15 years or so back, Willow Grove had a great show with a bunch of heavy metal. They would have a B-17 a C47 some carrier types F6 F4 and F4u F3 etc and a Mustang or 3 with an occasional Jug and TBM. I got the chance to have my picture take hanging out of the pilots window of a B-52. That was an interesting story as they had to manage the fuel quite closely because of the length of the runway so when it came in from Barksdale , it was on fumes. When they left the took off with a minimal load and accordingto the pilot, were gonna hook up with a AF reserve KC 135 about 15 minutes out of NAS Willow Grove for the trip home.

I had the opportunity to meet George Gay at one show in the late 70s or early 80s there. Pappy Boyington made an appearance too.

It has become a very commercialized event now. 2 or 3 years ago there was a F-14 flying too low and too you know the rest and the pilot and rio did not punch out in time. It landed just outside of the base. It was a shame as the pilot was on the local TV stations broadcast the day before and I remember him talking about spending some time with his wife and infant daughter before he left Oceana for his next deployment.

I was thinking of trying to make it there this year. Some of the past shows looked good but I never was able to make any of them.

I've also already dropped the hint of NAS Oceana this year to my wife also . Between friends and family there I should be set.

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com

My last time at Willow Grove was the show on September 9, 2001. The weather was beautiful, as it was for the rest of that fateful week.

The Blue Angels were the headline act. We parked on the base, suprisingly in the parking lot of the PX very close to the ramp which made my wife happy. The show opened with a neat combined forces demo with Marine F-18's and A-10's softening up the field, followed by Marine Cobra gunships and CH53's dropping in equipment and C-130's with troops. Over the PA they had realistic radio chatter which gave it an authentic feel which I liked.

Other acts were a Yak 52, wingwalking, F-117, civilian aerobatics, F-15 Demo followed up by a heritage flight by Dale Snodgrass in his F-86. After that Dale did the full demo. BA's wrapped up the show.

The ramp is large but this show draws in the crowds big time and they always seem to run out of food and drink in the middle of the afternoon! Eat early and buy extra liquid for later. Of course you can't bring in any items yourself. As stated above the reserved seating eats up a lot of the show line.

One thing not to miss is the ME-262 which is part of the collection on the base. It was fully restored about 6 years ago and is a must see. They also have a nice F9F Panther.

A good show but not one for the die hard warbird fan. I'd much rather come up 2 weeks earlier for MAAM WW2 Weekend!

Peter

It's "worth my while"

I would recommend going, though I've never been there myself.

What is my reasoning you ask? I never met an airshow I didn't like.

I'm thinking it a Navy base and its a last chance to see a F-14 fly. I hope one or 2 show up. that is also my reason for wanting to go to Oceana this year.

I got to see one of the last A-6E squadrons get launched from the deck of a Carrier. I want to see an F-14 fly one more time. I'm a sucker for the Iron Works

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com

I love Willow Grove shows for the simple fact that the crowd line is VERY close to the runway. Plus the Me262, Cutlass, and Sea Dart are always nice to see

Don't forget that Choctaw !

Tim,


I hate to say it, but I think last year was the last for Tomcat demos anywhere!

I hope I'm wrong.

Jeff

Jeff
Looks like you are correct, After a bit more reading Oceana will not have a F-14 demo. I guess there will only be one Squadron left by then and within 2 weeks they are having the "last Tomcat flight".

Oh well.

Tim

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com

Maybe one of these guys will be kind enough to fly over and do a Tomcat Demo for us?

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-photo-iiaf-08.htm

Tim,


Look on the bright side ..... some new mint "warbirds"! Maybe they'll sell them cheap to deserving homes How many do you want?:wink:

Jeff