future of a jet warbird/cold war airshow

[K5DH]

Well, Nathan... from someone who grew up during the Cold War and who does actually work on warbirds... I think a Cold War-themed gathering would be phenominal! The logistics and costs would be problematic, but where there's a will, there's a way. Here's hoping...

[dors]

I'm trying to imagine what this would sound like

Great idea Nathan.





And don't give em the satisfaction ...

That is a GREAT looking paint scheme on a Panther! Would love to see that one put on a flyer after a typical blue Korean War scheme if we had more than one restored to fly.

Mark, you can get carried away like that anytime you want.......fantastic set of photos!

[airknocker]

A museum with a good display of Cold War types and located on a suitable airport for flight displays:
http://www.esam.org/Misc%20html%20Files/exhibits.html
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSCH

[Mike]

It would be a great idea, but I would fear that the end result might be rows of L-29s and L-39s.

So in theory, off the top of my head, there's an F-4 (with another well on the way to flying), about 4 warbird A-4s, (plus the Aggressor ones). One or two F-100s plus half a dozen or so active F-86s and the FJ-4B Fury. The Starfighters' F-104s, a dozen or so T-33s, a few T-37s and A-37s. At least one OV-10 Bronco and an OV-1 Mohawk. A couple of T-38s/F-5Bs, and a couple of Siai S.211s. The Macchi 339s recently brought in from New Zealand.

Are there any Hunters still flying as warbirds (rather than commercially as Aggressors)?

How many Vampires and Venoms still flying in the US? Any Drakens left? What about Gnats/Ajeets?

Sundry MiGs (15s and Lim-2s, 17s, a couple of 21s, Paul Allen's 29). Did the MiG-23 that was being worked on ever fly?

The few remaining Magisters, Saetas and Jet Provosts/Strikemasters left flying that haven't been parked up in the weeds or donated to museums.

Art Nalls' Sea Harrier, maybe a Lightning in a few years.

What have I missed (apart from cold-war piston transports and rotary-wing stuff)?

[K5DH]

What have I missed (apart from cold-war piston transports and rotary-wing stuff)?

Great list, Mike. I used to see these vintage jets once in a while at air shows:
- PZL Iskra
- Temco TT-1 Pinto
- Paris

Doesn't some here in the States have a flying Dornier Alpha Jet?

MiGs of Delaware has at least one MiG 23 flying, and they have a second example which may be flying by now also. It's been a while since I've visited their hangar (at KILG, New Castle County Airport, DE).

[Nathan]

I was thinking more along the lines of keeping it within U.S. aircraft subjects. But a Vampire or two would be cool. And how about the Avro Vulcan!

I was also thinking there could also be Berlins C-54, F-82, also the ex CAF C-46 and maybe we could even have Buffalo Airways bring one of their C-46's, and we could also add a few UH-16 Albatrosses, and that S-55 Chickasaw that still flies and the H-21. I will do some research and compile a list of cold war era aircraft that would be possible to come to a show like this. I forgot to add the YAM's C-47, that is in post-ww2 USAF markings. And I think there is another C-47/R4D in like China Lake markings.

[Mike]

I was thinking more along the lines of keeping it within U.S. aircraft subjects.

Why? Not much of a 'cold war' without MiGs and the like. Keeping it to US types only would add nothing to, and considerably detract from, the possible line-up in my view.

[Nathan]

I was thinking more along the lines of keeping it within U.S. aircraft subjects.

Why? Not much of a 'cold war' without MiGs and the like. Keeping it to US types only would add nothing to, and considerably detract from, the possible line-up in my view.

note taken.

[Mark Allen M]

Nathan the thought of this idea of yours makes me "Fury-ious" ...





... it just seems like a "mountain" of work to put together ...



... and the idea still seems a bit "cloudy" to me ...



... what a "savage" undertaking for sure ...



... I see "stars" just thinking about it ...

[Mark Allen M]

Let's just put together an airshow highlighting the F6F Hellcat and call it a day (or weekend)

[Nathan]

Nice photos Mark. But I have to admit many aircraft you list don't fly more. But somehow for the grace of god we still have a Fury flying!

Nice photos Mark. But I have to admit many aircraft you list don't fly more. But somehow for the grace of god we still have a Fury flying!

Doc Sugden's FJ-4B Fury is one of my favorite jet warbirds, but I would really like to see a flying FJ-3/FJ-3M Fury - that is the best looking model of the Fury in my opinion.

[wendovertom]

Don't forget there is a F7U-4 Cutlass out there that is at the 70% restored to flying condition! Now whether it would be wise to fly it is another issue - but if you were just relatively 'gently' taking off and landing on a runway vs a carrier landing it might not be so bad.

We had a 4 ship T-33 formation flight about 5 years ago in Wendover! Actually at the time we had 5 T-33s, MIG-15, a couple Strikemasters, a Fouga, Alpha jet, Vampire, Doc Sugden's Fury and a few L-29 and L-39s for the weekend as part of a CJAA jet blast!

Tom P.