Thunder Over Michigan 2010

[mazdaP5]

Drove past the YAM on the way home from work today, Yankee Lady landed right over my head. Life is pretty good.

[svengi]

I'm from kalamazoo, mi, and a few days ago on my way home from the supermarket an olive drab b-17 went right over me while waiting at the stoplight by the airport. The guy in the truck next to me had his windows down too and said the same thing as me at the same time: "Holy &$*%! A B-17??" as the giant shadow went over us, really made my adrenaline go. Looking forward to thunder this year, last time i went was 06 i think, i put a bunch of the videos on youtube and still get a kick out of them. That lineup was amazing with the emil, hurricanes, f4u, p-38, p-47's... that was a great time and i just had a grin all day. The following week i got my a+p license so i have doubly fond memories maybe! Can't wait to see all those birds in the sky this weekend!

[bmoran]

Drove by Willow Run and saw some of the activities:

7 or 8 B-17s
4 Mustangs
1 B-24
2 B-25s
F-100
2 Migs
KC-10
KC-135
F-16s
T-43
Stearman
Carabou

[Rod Schneider]

I flew up from Atlanta today with Don Brooks in his turbine Bonanza. We got here just in time to get on board Liberty Belle and launch for a photo flight with 5 other B17's! Of course, the good camera was still packed........

[WIXerGreg]

Here are some pictures from the parade for those who missed it.

[bomberflight]

A great day at Willow Run thanks to the wonderful organisation by the Yankee Air Museum and their friends.

Here's three from my point and shoot camera .......







Thanks for a very memorable Friday

[kidjim25]

if anyone needs 2 general admission tickets for saturday or sunday or two grandstand tickets for saturday and a parking thing for either day feel free to email me at kidjim25@aol.com Turns out that since I'm on a restoration crew here with B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat I get an aircrew wristband and vip parking pass.

(these are all face value)
prices are 25 for each general admission ticket
grandstand for saturday is 20 each
parking one is free
Or if someone from the show can somehow cancel these that would work too

thanks

James Binder
Desert Rat Restoration Team

[Pogo]

Keep those cards and letters coming from Michigan, y'all!! All of us B-17-less Texans stuck back here at home are depending on you!!

[Glen]

First of all ...........hats off and one Big to the Yankeee Air Museum and putting on Thunder !! Wow it was wonderful show. Being that I am TEXAN and we pride our selves on doing everything Big ! We can take some Lessons from Yall. I really injoyed they way that it was laid out with the WW2 Re Enactors and all of their rolling stock.
I was kinda bumed out that I didnt find but one WIXER I know that the crowd was Huge and I am sure that I might of bumped into you and just didnt know it.
Was Bumed out that All American(B-24) didnt get to Parade with the B-17's Dose anybody know what happen two #1 Engine ? Also Why was Texas Raider flying with Wheels Down ?..............she was not listed in the Program either.
Many memories on my way back to Texas hope to post when I get back ................PS is their going to be a offical DVD of the Show ?

[WIXerGreg]

Was Bumed out that All American(B-24) didnt get to Parade with the B-17's Dose anybody know what happen two #1 Engine ?

Witchcraft lost the number 2 oil cooler and that's why she landed. They worked on it all afternoon and did two runups just before 4:00 and all the oil stayed inside the airplane, and was airworthy again in time for the 4:00 flight which was awesome!

I'm going to opologize up front...my camera battery took a huge dive this morning so there is alot of stuff that I didn't get pictures of today. I wanted to save what little battery I had left for the Witchcraft ride. There are alot of planes on the ground I didn't get pictures of and I didn't get anything in flight yet.




























I have no idea what happened to the quality of this one.

[CrewDawg]

I absolutely second Glen, congratulations to the entire crew at the Yankee Air Museum and all of the B-17 crews for putting on an outstanding air show! Seeing 8 B-17's in the sky at one time was breath taking! I know how much work goes into getting one B-17 in the air, so it's incredible amount of work to multiply that times 8! I couldn't help but think of Doc when the missing man formation flew by and Taps played. Here's a link to my photobucket album from Thunder, I'll post another one of the pictures I took of the re-enactors on the re-enactors forum. I hope that there is another Gathering of Fortress's in a few years so that we can have Chuckie there this time.

http://s568.photobucket.com/albums/ss129/bgorin/Thunder%20Over%20Michigan%202010/?albumview=slideshow

[Bill Kistler]

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Last edited by Bill Kistler on Sun Aug 08, 2010 12:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

[rcaf_100]

Well, I'm recovering after day two of my 'Thunder Experience'.

Got here about 11ish Friday morning and it's been non-stop ever since.

Here's the F-100 during one of his numerous passes on Friday:


And the line up with not a soul in sight:




-note Yankee Warrior in the distance-


I took too many shots today to go through so here's my favourite that I could remember:


Got to meet up with Wixers Eric, Chris and Jeff and hopefully I'll meet some more tomorrow.

If anyone is around these birds in the morning that's where you'll find me.

And if you stick around for the mass start-up just after noon you may even see me hand-cranking one. (I've done it twice this weekend already)

Shane

[seabee1526]

WOW, what a great day! 83 degrees, bit of cloud cover, breeze, really made up for the weather over the past two years.

I'd like to give a hats off to the guys who have been doing all the work on the Privateer at the air park, the plane was open with no charge and the kids absolutely LOVED it!

The show opened with an awesome WWII show with many vehicles and reenactors, had Old Crow giving air support.

All the people at the static displays were great, and the folks that brought display and parts for the 3 B17 restoration projects were very nice and it was great to have them there. Really gives the public appreciation of what it takes to bring old metal back to life.

The DC7 is beautiful.

At noon a skydiver was "bombed" from the Yankee Lady and displayed a large American Flag as the National Anthem played.

Great flyover from a B52.

Gotta tell you, the Horsemen are OUTSTANDING. I'm sure the only reason they did a breakaway at the end of thier routine is to prove that they were not attached somehow. Also loved Mohr and the Stearman. What an aviator and showman.

The 9 trainers were great to see and hear, I love the sound they make.

The F16 and F18 thrilled (cant wait for the Blues next year).

2 P51's and an F16 heritage flight.

8 B-17's in the air making pass over pass and finally 2 waves of 4 abreast over the croud. What a sight and sound, all eight are beautiful and their crews should be proud. Missing man formation with 3 forts and a Mustang pulling out.

Well done to all involved, the place was packed with people the area was clean the entire day, traffic control was great this year, thank you to YAM and all the vendors and participants. Air show people are great, the cops never needed to do their job, they got to enjoy the show as well.

[krlang]

Just finished packing, we are getting ready to head to the airport.
We are giving some other addicts a ride to the show from the hotel.

Look for us, I will be in my green WIX shirt, Shannon will have an SJ shirt on .