THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN 2013

[Boeing666]

To answer a few questions - there have been a couple RAF themed airshows at TOM.

2006 - A bunch of Spitfires and Hurricanes were supposed to show, but I think only about 2 Spitfires and 3-4 Hurricanes made it. The Lancaster came but only flew on Sunday and did a couple passes before heading back to Hamilton. There was a Fury on Static also. RAF painted P-51 was there too, don't recall if it went up or not

2009 - A bunch of the Hamilton based RAF paint scheme planes showed up - Lancaster, Corsair in Royal Navy, P-51 RAF as well as a Hurricane and couple Spitfires went up - had a loose formation pass of all the planes


It is the Warbird fanatics that are spending the money at Thunder. The locals (although I am sort of a local since I stay at my mom's when I am up there) - what I mean by locals is the ones who would only come to see Thunderbirds/Blue Angels and wouldn't bother otherwise - don't spend much more than tickets, parking and maybe some hot dogs, T-birds merch.

The local warbird fanatics, out of towners (I wouldnt come up for Thunderbirds since I can see them in Florida, seen them at 3 different shows this year) would be spending more $$$. They buy the expensive seats/photo pit passes, buy the warbird rides, plus put in money in the local economy by hotel, restaurant, bars etc.

June is quite inconvenient for me as this might be the first TOM I miss since 2007. Don't get me wrong, I love the Thunderbirds but I seen them at Daytona, 3 days of them at Sun N Fun and they are rumored to be coming to Titusville this year too. Due to the TOM show being 4 hours long with an hour and a half alloted to T-birds for their set up and performance, it will limit warbirds. Also I suppose we would get kicked out of Ecorse Rd. from 1p-4p like we do when the Blues are here on Friday arrivals day.

I will have to see what the rest of the line up looks like this year though if I make the trip.

[michael luther]

All,

The theme for THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN 2013 will be Vietnam.

Last edited by michael luther on Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:19 am, edited 2 times in total.

Michael,

Sounds like a great theme! F-4 Phantoms, A-4 Skyhawks, A-1 Skyraiders, MiG-17's, F-100 Super Sabre, UH-1 Hueys, UH-34, C-47, AC-47, C-54, C-123, OV-1 Mohawk, O-2, O-1, A-26, T-28 are among warbird aircraft that come to mind that could represent this theme. And I think the Australians flew the Sabre in SE Asia. There are probably other types I can't think of right now. Currently serving aircraft that could be representative (although not necessarily right model or engines) are the C-130, B-52, KC-135.

If the show can pick up a good sampling (multiple examples of a type in some cases) of the above aircraft along with a variety of WWII, Korea and other era aircraft to balance out the warbird mix, this could be an outstanding Thunder Over MIchigan!

Look forward to hearing aircraft confirmations as they come in!

Last edited by jwc50 on Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Jeff H]

Ah the end of one guessing game (theme) and the beginning of another ( which aircraft ).

Cheers,

Jeff

[Warbird Kid]

Kind of disappointed the Korea theme didn't make the cut, but I'm just one voice in this sea. Michael, what was the factor that ultimately led to this theme not being used?

[kalamazookid]

Kind of disappointed the Korea theme didn't make the cut, but I'm just one voice in this sea. Michael, what was the factor that ultimately led to this theme not being used?

I am too actually. Would have been the perfect opportunity with the 60th anniversary of the end of the war. Not that I'm not excited about the Vietnam theme. Selfridge did a Vietnam show in 2005 and it was great. It definitely has the potential to be a memorable year at Thunder. I'd love to see the Collings Foundation F-4 back! A bunch of Skyraiders too perhaps?

Kind of disappointed the Korea theme didn't make the cut, but I'm just one voice in this sea. Michael, what was the factor that ultimately led to this theme not being used?

I am too actually. Would have been the perfect opportunity with the 60th anniversary of the end of the war. Not that I'm not excited about the Vietnam theme. Selfridge did a Vietnam show in 2005 and it was great. It definitely has the potential to be a memorable year at Thunder. I'd love to see the Collings Foundation F-4 back! A bunch of Skyraiders too perhaps?

I was also somewhat disappointed to hear that the Vietnam theme and not a Korea theme was chosen. But I think that the Vietnam theme can result in a GREAT warbird show. I think that the Collings F-4D is almost a must for this show and with 4 or 5 potential A-4 Skyhawks on the air show circuit now, I think at least TWO A-4's at the show would be excellent. And I hope that at least one F-100 (either Dean Cutshall's and/or the Collings Foundation's) can make it.

Hopefully one or more QF-4 Phantoms from Tyndall or Holloman can be persuaded to come to the show. The QF-4 days are numbered in the Air Force and it would be nice to see a Heritage Flight that included 1 or 2 of the QF-4's.

And the Skyraiders are a GREAT idea! A gathering of say 3 or 4 (more if possible) would make an outstanding subset to this theme.

[Warbird Kid]

But I think that the Vietnam theme can result in a GREAT warbird show.

Oh me too definitely! Just not this year. The 60th anniversary only happens once. I think this would have been it. Maybe do the Vietnam theme in two years or so. But alas, not my choice. I wish for YAM the best of luck, weather, and attendance for this show, but will hold in my mind the show that could have been.

[Mudge]

Just a wild guess but...I suspect the availability of Korean war a/c vs. Viet Nam war a/c might have had something to do with the decision. I would much rather attend a show that has a lot of "flyers". IMHO, the troops at YAM will come up with a lot more "flyers from "Nam" than they could from Korea.

Mudge the practically perfect

I could be wrong. I was once. I believe it was 1953.

Just a wild guess but...I suspect the availability of Korean war a/c vs. Viet Nam war a/c might have had something to do with the decision. I would much rather attend a show that has a lot of "flyers". IMHO, the troops at YAM will come up with a lot more "flyers from "Nam" than they could from Korea.

Mudge the practically perfect

I could be wrong. I was once. I believe it was 1953.

Mudge, I think there may be something to what you say. Of course there are a lot of cross over warbirds from the WWII era to Korea (Mustang, Corsair, B-29, A-26, C-47, T-6, C-54, etc.), but then again the C-47, C-54 and the A-26 bridge all three wars (WWII/Korea/Vietnam).

Looking forward to the show and theme. Hope this will be the first time that Thunder features the F-4, A-4 and F-100 all at the same show!

And maybe Planes of Fame at Chino can do a Korea theme in 2013......

And haven't heard yet if there will be any kind of warbird sub-theme at Oshkosh next year.....

[Warbird Kid]

Just a wild guess but...I suspect the availability of Korean war a/c vs. Viet Nam war a/c might have had something to do with the decision.

I was thinking this was a contributing factor too, but looking at the potential aircraft that could be brought, I just don't know. Here's a rough list of aircraft (as far as i know) that were in the Korean War at the time.

US Navy / Marines / Air Force / British / Commonwealth / Etc.
L-5
L-19
L-16
L-17
L-20 Beaver
P-51
AT-6
F4U-4/-5
F8F
F7F
FJ Fury
F-86
T-33
AD-4
TBM Avenger
Firefly
S-2 Tracker
SA-16 Albatross
Seafury
Seafire
C-45
C-54
C-47
C-46
B-29
A-26
PB4Y Privateer
H-19
H-23
H-13

North Korea / Russia / China
An-2 Colt
Mig 15
La-9
Yak-9
Yak-18
PO-2

Possibles / Hopefuls
F9F Panther
C-119
AF-2 Guardian
P/F-82

Edit this list accordingly as you see fit. I just wanted to show a list of flyable aircraft in North America that could potentially be at this show. To me, it doesn't seem like you'd have a vacant ramp if you played your cards right.

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue Dec 11, 2012 1:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[seabee1526]

http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow/

Details 12/11/12

(well later today anyway)

[Mudge]

Just a wild guess but...I suspect the availability of Korean war a/c vs. Viet Nam war a/c might have had something to do with the decision.

I was thinking this was a contributing factor too, but looking at the potential aircraft that could be brought, I just don't know. Here's a rough list of aircraft (as far as i know) that were in the Korean War at the time.

US Navy / Marines / Air Force / British / Commonwealth / Etc.
L-5
L-19
L-16
L-17
L-20 Beaver
P-51
AT-6
F4U-4/-5
F8F
F7F
FJ Fury
F-86
T-33
AD-4
TBM Avenger
Firefly
S-2 Tracker
SA-16 Albatross
Seafury
Seafire
C-45
C-54
C-47
C-46
B-29
A-26
PB4Y Privateer
H-19
H-23
H-13

North Korea / Russia / China
An-2 Colt
Mig 15
La-9
Yak-9
Yak-18
PO-2

Possibles / Hopefuls
F9F Panther
C-119
AF-2 Guardian
P/F-82

Edit this list accordingly as you see fit. I just wanted to show a list of flyable aircraft in North America that could potentially be at this show. To me, it doesn't seem like you'd have a vacant ramp if you played your cards right.

I've marked, in bold, the ones I'd come out to see. And only if there were a bunch of them. (Which there ain't.) I'm sure it'll start a HOO-HA.

Mudge the picky

[Warbird Kid]

You wouldn't want to see a Privateer?! Or the Guardian?! Or even a H-19!!!?

Sheeeesh! You are picky!

[12XU2A3X3]

The QF-4 days are numbered in the Air Force and it would be nice to see a Heritage Flight that included 1 or 2 of the QF-4's.

perhaps not...i have been told that big blue is considering ways of maintain several airframes as flyers for the heritage flight program, beyond the completion of the QF-4 program.