THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN 2016

Jasonrs55 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 10, 2016 10:03 am **Posts:** 45

I always leave Thunder with a smile on my face... I don't see that changing this year. Bummed about the scratching of the Mig-23, but I really like the different theme this year.

Boeing666 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 10, 2016 7:56 am

Xray wrote:

Hopefully they'll lighten up on Ecorse on FRI since no premium jet teams are flying, though who knows, maybe the French team requires the same type of closures.

You are right, pages of comments show relevance and interest, hard to see why anyone [show organizers included] would be upset with that. Everyone here perfectly understands that cancellations, disappointing as they are, are not the fault of anyone, least of all the organizers - They just happen for any number of reasons, and are a simple fact of airshow routine. Always have been, always will be.
They do their level best to bring in the best attractions year after year, and their efforts are greatly appreciated.

They are a civilian jet team though so highly doubtful. French team but their planes have Estonian registrations on them, which I found strange. The one that concerns me about Ecorse this year might be the F-22, since it is a "highly classified" aircraft. Personally I am hoping for north winds on arrivals day, got better arrivals shots over by the old Zantop hangar in 2014 when they used Runway 5L/5R primarily. They do straight in approaches over there rather than the very short finals you sometimes get on Ecorse where you end up with a belly.

Xray · **Joined:** Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:25 am **Posts:** 533

I saw the Raptor in Battle Creek 3 or 4 years ago, they didn't do anything special.
PoPo may feel they have established a precedent for any air show regardless of whats flying, guess we'll know soon enough. Glad its not this weekend, looks like alot of rain.

Boeing666 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:29 pm

yeah weatherwise we lucked out for the most part at Thunder. I don't recall any Thunders being canceled due to rain, which can be iffy the later you get into August though where you start to get that fall pattern of all day rains sometimes when it gets cooler.

The worst that happens is we get great weather at Thunder because a front has just gone through meaning there are storms east of us that cancel a lot of planes that can't fly through the storms.

Last year it sure looked like it would rain on Saturday so I stayed home Saturday and went Sunday instead but it never ended up raining Saturday. 2011 (Navy Centennial Show) this Florida boy almost got heat stroke it was so hot that weekend. I think it was 98 on that Saturday, then next day went to Dayton where it was also upper 90s and a storm rolled in right as T-birds were going up.

As for Ecorse in years past when the Blues were there Van Buren PD would kick us out around 1pm then say we could come back around 4:30, but last year they booted us at 10:30a and we shot from Beck. Fortunately now I have a 600mm lens. However they kept the field across from the old Zantop hangar open during the T-birds and Blues the last couple years. I got great arrival shots of the Blues returning as they landed on 5R. Year before was north winds so we sat in that field all day also on Friday got great arrivals. We were right under the T-bird flight line and no one cared over there.

Last year they caught on to what a great location that is that they charged to park in that field during the show for like $10 or so, which might be a good option if you go inside the show Friday and want a different view on Sunday especially if they are using 5L/R for arrivals.

Xray · **Joined:** Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:25 am **Posts:** 533

I know the field, I was there THUR & FRI, went in the show SAT went back to the field SUN and they wanted $20, I offered $10 and they accepted.

I posted the Angels 7 ship departure that day in the 2015 thread, not bad for a cell phone vid.

http://s4.photobucket.com/user/Xraywolf ... t.mp4.html

Will likely be there FRI at least if Ecorse turns into a cluster.

Boeing666 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 10, 2016 8:03 pm

Xray wrote:

I know the field, I was there THUR & FRI, went in the show SAT went back to the field SUN and they wanted $20, I offered $10 and they accepted.

I posted the Angels 7 ship departure that day in the 2015 thread, not bad for a cell phone vid.

http://s4.photobucket.com/user/Xraywolf ... t.mp4.html

Will likely be there FRI at least if Ecorse turns into a cluster.

that was pretty cool. I was inside the show Sunday, but left right before Blue Angels went up to beat the crowd and I went and watched them at the Tim Hortons on Michigan Ave (I have plenty of pics of them so I figured I'd just watch the show from another angle). Friday when they closed the airfield for the Blues to go up, my buddies and I went to the field to watch the Blues practice. The 4 ship team took off on 23L and the 2 solos took off together on 23R at the same time, which was different. Then they all came in on 5R

Saw the 10 day forecast up till Friday - looks like good weather all week (so shouldn't be any fronts preventing planes from coming in) and sunny and 88 on Friday

Boeing666 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2016 3:33 pm

What is the layout this year at Thunder? Same as the last couple years on the south end or being that the Blue Angels and T-birds aren't there we will be on the north side of the ramp again with access to the static park where the B-52 etc is?

glider90 · **Joined:** Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:08 pm **Posts:** 84

jwc50 wrote:

Boeing666 wrote:

I would love to see some of those airplanes at Thunder next year, but many you mentioned are probably more likely to be at Oshkosh in 2017 instead of Michigan. In fact over on the Oshkosh thread it has been mentioned that Rod Lewis is tentatively committed to another try to bring the A-20 to Wisconsin next year.

Connie said it at Warbirds in review. I was there, and even went back to make sure I heard it right. It was during the Bob Hoover P-47 presentation Listen between 1:30 and 2:15. Really awesome that they archive all of these.
here:http://livestream.com/flyingondemand/events/5828385/videos/131288834

michael luther · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:01 pm

Just added,

Randy Ball's MiG-17PF Fresco!!!

Boeing666 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:05 pm

yeah saw that Mig-17PF on the site for a few days, but did they just add a 3rd F-18, I assume to go on static? I only recall seeing 2 up there before - one for the demo, and the other as a back up but noticed a 3rd on the site now.

jwc50 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:12 pm

michael luther wrote:

Just added,

Randy Ball's MiG-17PF Fresco!!!

NICE!!

michael luther · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:35 pm

Just added,

Jack Roush's P-51D Mustang "GENTLEMAN JIM"!

martin_sam_2000 · **Joined:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:05 am **Posts:** 397

Not sure of this is the right place, but i have an extra general admission and fighter club ticket for sat. My brother cancelled on me. I can meet the fri before in the general ypsilanti area or the sat morning at the gates to exchange. $25 for the general and $75 for the fighter club.

Sean

tool6996 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:12 am **Posts:** 12

Xray wrote:

I know the field, I was there THUR & FRI, went in the show SAT went back to the field SUN and they wanted $20, I offered $10 and they accepted.

I posted the Angels 7 ship departure that day in the 2015 thread, not bad for a cell phone vid.

http://s4.photobucket.com/user/Xraywolf ... t.mp4.html

Will likely be there FRI at least if Ecorse turns into a cluster.

Could you share where this "field" is? We usually sit on Ecorse on Friday but maybe looking for somewhere new.

martin_sam_2000 · **Joined:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:05 am **Posts:** 397

Umm...

U.S. Navy Legacy Flight - TA-4 Skyhawk & TBM-3E Avenger
TA-4 Skyhawk Demo

this is posted on the airshow schedule

Is this accurate?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Sean

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THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN 2016

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