Airsho' Midland, Tx

Eureka181 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:27 pm **Posts:** 182

slinky wrote:

The second A-26 is "Lady Liberty" based here in Okie City. Nice plane, good group-o-guys! There is a second one under restoration also.... Tailwinds, Steve.

Do you work on or fly A-26 "Lady Liberty"?

Eric

slinky · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:48 pm

No, I should probably join though. I have a sheet metal background since 85 on the KC-135 and own a Citabria. Aviation is my life and that would be a good group to get to know. I hear they need help on the second A-26. It has a new set of spars built and is slowly coming together. Lot of activity at Wiley Post finally.

Back during the oil boom there was 2 P-51s, Bob Lammerts Corsair, A-26, a slew of T-6s, BT-13, Stearmans, Lockheed Vega, Chipmonk, etc. and then it kinda died off as the oil boom did. :cry:

Now there's Brent Hiesey with Miss America, Bucon, Mig 3, A-26s, tornado damaged AN-2, O-2s PT-19, about 6 Stearmans and several other projects at local airports.

Tailwinds, Steve.

Eureka181 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:27 pm **Posts:** 182

slinky,

Doesn't Brent have a Yak-3? I remember reading somewhere in Air Classics or Warbirds International that he has one flying and the panel was rebuilt exactly like Miss America's panel so pilots can easily fly both airplanes.

You should join up. I'm sure those guys could use you.

Eric

slinky · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:45 pm

Good grief, I'm loosing it!!!! :roll:

Yes, YAK 3, not Mig 3!....Wishfull thinking after seeing that one the other day online. It is nice and from what I hear he loves flying it.... I'll be out at my hangar early in the morning on the weekend and hear that song the Allison sings as he beats up the field....Man what a sound. I'll go running outside just in time to see him pulling Up and away.

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:39 pm

I can't believe that none of you guys that made the show haven't posted any pics. I have never been to the Midland show. Hope everything went well.
Regards
Robbie

MX304 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:37 pm

The photo lab is holding mine hostage, maybe I'll finally have them tomorrow. The show went ok, but IMHO it was not as good as years past. The fuel prices kept the aircraft count down, and there were other issues as well. The spectator count appeared to be way down this year as well. When we waked down to the bomber ramp on Sat there were only a handfull of people that weren't crew. I also noticed an alarming number of people leaving half way through the show.

Eureka181 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:27 pm **Posts:** 182

MX304 wrote:

The show went ok, but IMHO it was not as good as years past. The fuel prices kept the aircraft count down, and there were other issues as well. The spectator count appeared to be way down this year as well. When we waked down to the bomber ramp on Sat there were only a handfull of people that weren't crew. I also noticed an alarming number of people leaving half way through the show.

Well, what I have noticed is that many things go in patterns. It is kind of like a supply & demand thing. I am probably confusing you.

I am a very optimistic person. I see a good future for air shows and warbirds.

Eric

Chuck Gardner · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 5:46 pm

I have some great pictures of the P-40, since this show was all about Ollie Crawford, the CAF's P-40 pilot.

MX304 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 5:53 pm

Eureka181 wrote:

MX304 wrote:

The show went ok, but IMHO it was not as good as years past. The fuel prices kept the aircraft count down, and there were other issues as well. The spectator count appeared to be way down this year as well. When we waked down to the bomber ramp on Sat there were only a handfull of people that weren't crew. I also noticed an alarming number of people leaving half way through the show.

Well, what I have noticed is that many things go in patterns. It is kind of like a supply & demand thing. I am probably confusing you.

I am a very optimistic person. I see a good future for air shows and warbirds.

Eric

Absolutley. I didn't mean to come off sounding too negative. There were issues this year beyond anyones control. I'll be there every year I can possibly make it down!

Eureka181 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:27 pm **Posts:** 182

Chuck Gardner wrote:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/gardnerpilot/95e022d9.jpg
I have some greta pictures of the P-40 since this show was all about Ollie Crawford, the CAF's P-40 pilot. More pictures soon.

Nice shot Chuck! Last year I got a good silhouette shot of the C-46 and the B-29 in the early morning.

Did you get any good shots of the A6M3 Zero and F8F Bearcat?

Eric

Old Shep · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2005 5:49 pm **Posts:** 219

Chuck:
Nice pix of the P-40...Ollie is a real gentleman and having the show conclude with a special ceremony was a real treat to all of the CAF members who've known him for so long.
MX 304 Re: the Airsho itself. I don't have the final numbers, but I believe the attendance for a non-military jet team airshow was actually very good. I moved around extensively on Sat and the crowd spilled over into lots of places where they don't usually go. The heat had something to do with folks leaving early, but that is something beyond my control. As I sit here now and watch it rain, with temps in the mid 40's, I'm just glad Airsho isn't this weekend! When I have confirmed numbers I'll be glad to post them, but, speaking as the Airsho chairman for the the sixth year, this one operated very smoothly, and I heard few complaints from anybody.
And, I agree, somebody post some additional pix! Alan Brooks?
Bill Coombes
A

Chuck Gardner · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:08 pm

Here is the new P-40 pilot taxiing by

This is the reception after Ollie's last fligt

Tex Hill and his wife at the book signing in the museum

MX304 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:52 pm

Old Shep wrote:

MX 304 Re: the Airsho itself. I don't have the final numbers, but I believe the attendance for a non-military jet team airshow was actually very good. I moved around extensively on Sat and the crowd spilled over into lots of places where they don't usually go. The heat had something to do with folks leaving early, but that is something beyond my control. As I sit here now and watch it rain, with temps in the mid 40's, I'm just glad Airsho isn't this weekend! When I have confirmed numbers I'll be glad to post them, but, speaking as the Airsho chairman for the the sixth year, this one operated very smoothly, and I heard few complaints from anybody.
A

Speaking of the jet teams, what determines the years you guys get to host one of the military demos? I'm sure the budget has a lot to do with it, but are you also on some kind of rotation with the military? As for the weather now, it reminds me of the first year the Polikarpovs flew, man that was a cold show.

Chuck Gardner · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:13 pm

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2938

Zero & Bearcat From Thursday Evening...

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