Warbird Information Exchange

Incorrect information was printed in this year's Souvenir Program relative to Thunder's 2011 Air Show. It was noted as being on July 16 - 17, when in fact it is one week later - July 23 & 24. Sorry for any confusion. The 2011 Web Page is up, and we are accepting reservations for the Photo Tour, Photo Pit and the Friday Taxiway Photographers at this time.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

Thank you, Navy theme in 2011? Love a heritage flight with Blues #7, Hellcat, Corsair, any Panthers still flying?

Heard a rumor that 2012 would be THUNDERbolts and lightnings OVER MICHIGAN...

Crud! Looks like 2011 will be a "no go" for me. The weekend before AirVenture is a bit busy for me. Shoot!

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Curator - EAA Aviation Museum, Oshkosh, WI
"Let No Story Go Untold!"
http://www.timelessvoices.org

Fury! Mauler! F-14! oops sorry on the last two! I wished!

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JACKPOT! Just told Berni we can do nine straight days at airshows next July. Thunder will be a stepping-stone to Oshkosh for us.

Eric

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The air resounds from the Rolls-Royce roar!
To an enemy the warning is dire: here only eagles soar,
and the last thing he'll see is a mirrored Spitfire!

That was my plan, you read my mind!

Tim

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Did somebody say LIGHTNINGS?
Don't be gettin' my adrenalin going with rumors.

Mudge the "Lightning" bug (Sorry...couldn't resist. )

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Land of the free because of the brave

All:

If you thought the last several T.O.M. Show's were impressive, prepare to be blown away in 2011.

I've been around this game for 36 years and have become, at times, somewhat jaded about the business.

But I have to tell you, it's been a very long time since I have been this excited about an upcoming Air Show.

As it comes together, we will keep you apprised.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

I would LOVE to see a Panther back in the air for 2011, but unfortunately the only near flyable Panther out there is the beautiful example at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Texas and they are apparently pretty firm on not putting it back in the air anytime soon

But I am sure there will be a LARGE number of WWII and POST-WWII vintage naval warbirds at TOM in 2011.

For even further down the road, "Thunderbolts and Lightnings" would make an outstanding theme for TOM in 2012 or another year.

Tom, I was already excited about the prospects of Thunder Over Michigan in 2011, but you sure know how to whet our appetite for a show 11 months in the future.

It will be a fantastic show I am sure, and the lead-in weekend to Oshkosh should not hurt one bit the ability to draw in a truly exceptional grouping of classic naval (and other) prop and jet warbirds.

Looking forward to hearing how things develop over the coming months.

I have already sent in my Photo Pit money for my wife and I for two days!

Yes... I sent in money for a show almost a year away where the only thing CONFIRMED was the Blues lol

-Nathan (and Erica)

Really looking forward to this. I like the Navy birds... more radials, less pointy noses .

I'm definitely going to go the whole weekend next year. I've only been able to go both days once before and next year looks like it's going to have to happen again. The fact that it's the weekend before Oshkosh should help a ton with the aircraft turnout since a lot of aircraft will be heading to the midwest anyway.

As always, looking forward to another great TOM.

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Matt

I'm trying to figure out what this show will look like...what types and quantities of Naval aircraft are still flying? (and could feasably attend)

There are a LOT of potential vintage civilian owned former U.S. Navy/Marine aircraft out there that could attend. Some are single examples and some are multiples. Some that come to mind are:

F4F/FM-2 Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F7F Tigercat, F8F Bearcat, F4U/FG-1 Corsair, FJ-4B Fury, AD/A-1 Skyraider, A-4 Skyhawk, Dauntless, Helldiver, Avenger, PV/PV-2 Harpoon, T-33/TV-2 Shooting Star, T-1A/T2V-1 Seastar, T-2 Buckeye, SNJ Texan, T-28 Trojan, T-34 Mentor, JRB/SNB/C-45, R4D/C-47, C-1 Trader, S-2 Tracker, PBY Catalina, J2F Duck, UH-34D Seahorse

I believe most of the above exist in vintage Navy/Marine markings. There are also some potential flying vintage aircraft out there which although possibly former Naval aircraft, may not be in naval markings, such as:

PB4Y-2 Privateer, Grumman Goose, Grumman Albatross, P2V/P-2 Neptune, R5D/C-54 Skymaster, R6D/C-118 Liftmaster, R4Y/C-131, PBJ/B-25

The Collings Foundation F-4D Phantom should be included to represent Naval F-4 Phantoms, since other than the Air Force markings it is nearly identical in many respects to the Navy/Marine F-4B or F-4J version.

Currently serving Navy/Marine aircraft that have been around a long time and which may be near the end of their service life that should definitely be included are the EA-6B Prowler, T-39 Sabreliner, CH-46/HH-46 Sea Knight, P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules (of course not near the end of its service life).

An aircraft I can think of that certainly could be brought to flying status for the 2011 Centennial if there was the will to do it (which I DON'T believe there is, unfortunately) is the Grumman F9F-2B Panther owned by the Cavanaugh Flight Museum.

I know there are some other former naval aircraft out there that in flying or near flying status, but that is all I can think of for now. I am sure the Yankee Air Museum will go all out to get as wide a variety of vintage naval warbirds for next year's show as possible.

Don't forget the PV-2 Harpoon and A-4 Skyhawk!

This is going to be a great theme. I'm interested to see what they can come up with.

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Matt