WWII Weekend at Reading, Pa.

phil65 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2018 6:50 pm

Anybody go ?

Phil

menards · **Joined:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:46 pm **Posts:** 543

I attended this years show. The MAAM really went to great lengths to put on a fantastic show this year. Being able to see Doc up close and tour the cockpit was a real treat. Tony Mazzolini was sitting under the wing talking to everyone who toured. They really did a fantastic job getting that plane airworthy. It was nice to have more planes on the ramp to supplement the planes that sell rides. Again hats off to the MAAM for really putting some amazing planes on the ramp. This was THE east coast show to be at this year....

TAdan · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2018 9:10 am

I was there with my family on Sunday. The cool temps and overcast were a pleasant surprise, much better than getting cooked in the sun.

I was very impressed with this years show. The encampments and reenactors seem to grow every year. A good group of WWII veterans in attendance too.

Great line up of aircraft this year, despite the few that couldn't make it due to weather or maintenance issues.

bmoran · **Joined:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:48 am **Posts:** 142

Enjoyed the show on Sunday. Extremely disappointed that they didn't put up DOC and FIFI together as that was one of my main driving expectations of choosing that show. So close to having a "Boeing Bomber" flight of the 2 17's and 2 29's...

Doesn't speak well of MAAM and WWII Weekend when they are essentially the only show to host both Fifi and Doc and not put them up together...

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2018 3:42 pm

Camped out there Friday morning to Sunday evening as a re-enactor. Really lucked out in terms of the weather, considering a day before it looked like it was going to be a literal wash out. Doc was never scheduled to fly (of course they didn't really want to advertise that!), it was in to give ground tours the whole weekend, except it did a very early Sunday VIP flight, so that was nice to see. It came in Friday early afternoon, just minutes after Fifi landed while giving some rides......was wishing they could of held Fifi up a little bit longer to have her join up and make Doc's arrival a really memorable one!

All in all, another good show. Only CAF's Corsair did not show, and not sure what happened with the SBD....it either came in late Saturday or was tucked away for a while.

bmoran · **Joined:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:48 am **Posts:** 142

Waltz41 wrote:

Doc was never scheduled to fly (of course they didn't really want to advertise that!), it was in to give ground tours the whole weekend,

Why not clearly advertise static display vs performing? Red text stating "Open for Tours" in my mind does not negate performing; the C-54 was "Open for Tours" and "Performed"...

Doesn't speak well of MAAM and WWII Weekend when they are essentially the only show to host both Fifi and Doc that explicitly planned not put them up together...

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2018 5:37 pm

From an extremely reliable source- there was never a plan to fly the two B-29's together. And it didn't make sense to me either. But I was told by the source that ground handling of the aircraft was so onerous and time consuming of man-hours that it was not practical. After seeing what it took to get Doc in place after the Sunday morning flight, that explanation became very clear. And it was neat to stand under Doc's port wing as it was moved into place.

It was a great show. If you haven't been, go! In 21 years, I have never had a disappointed person after I advised them to attend the show.

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2018 6:08 pm

Here's Doc on that early Sunday morning takeoff for the VIP flight.

phil65 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:56 pm

Thanks for the photo...

Life has been getting in the way of my airshow time lately.
No Osh, Reno, Belle or Reading....

H@ll, even the Meriden Ct. fly-in got cancelled due to rain... :roll:

Phil

menards · **Joined:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:46 pm **Posts:** 543

Did the VIP flight happen before the gates opened up?

martin_sam_2000 · **Joined:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:05 am **Posts:** 397

Waltz41 wrote:

All in all, another good show. Only CAF's Corsair did not show, and not sure what happened with the SBD....it either came in late Saturday or was tucked away for a while.

Did the P-63 show up? I heard the Corsair had maintenance issues and the SBD showed up around the middle of the show on Sat, landed and taxied in. Never saw or heard anything with regards to the -63.

Sean

TAdan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2018 1:17 pm

martin_sam_2000 wrote:

Waltz41 wrote:

All in all, another good show. Only CAF's Corsair did not show, and not sure what happened with the SBD....it either came in late Saturday or was tucked away for a while.

Did the P-63 show up? I heard the Corsair had maintenance issues and the SBD showed up around the middle of the show on Sat, landed and taxied in. Never saw or heard anything with regards to the -63.

Sean

I asked on the CAF Dixie Wing Facebook page and they said the P-63 couldn't make it due to a maintenance issue.

phil65 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2018 2:38 pm

How did the Black Widow look ?

Phil

TAdan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2018 2:59 pm

The Widow was impressive as always. Not many changes to see externally but it looks more complete every time I see it.

TAdan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2018 3:13 pm

Looks like Photobucket is working again!

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WWII Weekend at Reading, Pa.

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