Beale AFB airshow
Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:47 pm
Last weekend was the Beale show, a chance to try out my new 300mm lens. The first Beale show for about 5 years, visiting there really brought home to me why I'd read in one of the SR-71 books about Mildenhall being 'a small base in England.' The drive from the entrance gqate to the static park at Beale was 5 miles!
So on with the show. A typical US show, no grass, acres of concrete, and blazing sun!
Two of the resident U-2s were on static display, including a 2-seater. In the old days of TR-1Bs visiting Alconbury, I seem to remember thsat there were only 2 2-seaters, painted white, which used to visit on occasion. However, I counted 5 in the famous Beale 'barns' - perhaps they've converted some since?
One also flew in the display, opening with a steep climb-out and spiral climb to 70,000 feet (
), where it made a flypast dumping fuel, so that 2 thin trails could be seen waaaaay up in the sky.
It then descended and made a flypast before landing.
This place was once hallowed ground; home to the SR-71 Blackbird - probably the most charismatic aircraft I've ever seen fly at an airshow. Now, a just convenient sunshade for the masses.
One of the ultimately unsuccessful D-21 drones is also preserved there.
The mighty Buff
A quartet of based T-28s from the resident 1st Reconnaisance Squadron made a couple of flybys
So on with the show. A typical US show, no grass, acres of concrete, and blazing sun!
Two of the resident U-2s were on static display, including a 2-seater. In the old days of TR-1Bs visiting Alconbury, I seem to remember thsat there were only 2 2-seaters, painted white, which used to visit on occasion. However, I counted 5 in the famous Beale 'barns' - perhaps they've converted some since?
One also flew in the display, opening with a steep climb-out and spiral climb to 70,000 feet (
), where it made a flypast dumping fuel, so that 2 thin trails could be seen waaaaay up in the sky.
It then descended and made a flypast before landing.
This place was once hallowed ground; home to the SR-71 Blackbird - probably the most charismatic aircraft I've ever seen fly at an airshow. Now, a just convenient sunshade for the masses.
One of the ultimately unsuccessful D-21 drones is also preserved there.
The mighty Buff
A quartet of based T-28s from the resident 1st Reconnaisance Squadron made a couple of flybys
Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:48 pm
'Global Hawk', the future of reconnaisance airraft. One of the early production examples was on display, an impressive size for an unmanned drone.
A Strikemaster. Why do people insist on painting everything in spurious US Navy markings? Gnats, L-39s, Strikemasters........
Rich Perkins in his L-39 'Firecat'. Rich spent 10 years at Beale as a U-2 pilot, so something of a homecoming for him.
http://www.firecatjet.com/index.htm
Bill Reeseman's Polish-built MiG-17 (Lim-5) in Reb Bull colours. Bill was an F-100 pilot in Vietnam, he says that flying the MiG was a real eyeopener after potentially facing them in combat, he finds it to be a very impressive performer.
http://www.redbullmig.com/
An F-18F Super Hornet also displayed.
Ellsworth Getchell fettles the Centaurus on his Sea Fury prior to flying a very nice aerobatic routine with smokewinders.
This flypast was described as 'the friends of General Yeager' (who had been at the display the previous day). Does this mean he's only got 3 friends left?
Steve Cowell in the 'Double Vee' T-6, supposedly the only authentic surviving aircraft flown by the 'Tuskegee Airmen'. One of these fine gentlemen was also on hand, on a stand to educate the public in the story of the unit. The 'Double Vee' in the aircraft's name stands for Victory over the Axis, and over the prejudice in the US forces at the time.
http://www.tuskegee-t6.com/
A Strikemaster. Why do people insist on painting everything in spurious US Navy markings? Gnats, L-39s, Strikemasters........
Rich Perkins in his L-39 'Firecat'. Rich spent 10 years at Beale as a U-2 pilot, so something of a homecoming for him.
http://www.firecatjet.com/index.htm
Bill Reeseman's Polish-built MiG-17 (Lim-5) in Reb Bull colours. Bill was an F-100 pilot in Vietnam, he says that flying the MiG was a real eyeopener after potentially facing them in combat, he finds it to be a very impressive performer.
http://www.redbullmig.com/
An F-18F Super Hornet also displayed.
Ellsworth Getchell fettles the Centaurus on his Sea Fury prior to flying a very nice aerobatic routine with smokewinders.
This flypast was described as 'the friends of General Yeager' (who had been at the display the previous day). Does this mean he's only got 3 friends left?
Steve Cowell in the 'Double Vee' T-6, supposedly the only authentic surviving aircraft flown by the 'Tuskegee Airmen'. One of these fine gentlemen was also on hand, on a stand to educate the public in the story of the unit. The 'Double Vee' in the aircraft's name stands for Victory over the Axis, and over the prejudice in the US forces at the time.
http://www.tuskegee-t6.com/
Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:49 pm
Paraplegic hang-glider pilot Dan Buchanan put up an excellent display, with streamers and smoke. He is towed up to 1,200 feet behind a pick-up truck before launching into his display, where he then dog-fights with an aerobatic aircraft, who 'trims' his streamers.
http://users.ap.net/~danb/airshow2.htm
Former 'Miss America' race pilot Bud Granley, and son Ross, fly a polished routine in their Yaks, Bud in a -55 and Ross in an -18T.
http://hometown.aol.com/__121b_i4H9sm8U ... gbYmP1NA==
Eddie Andreini flew a very spirited display in a 450hp Stearman, including torque rolls whilst tailsliding ( ) and an inverted ribbon cut.
http://www.reddingairshow.com/eddies_stearman.htm
A March-based C-17, a very impressive display performer. I've not seen one of these display since the late, lamented Mildenhall shows and had forgotten how spritely a lightly-loaded one can be.
(Oh, and hi Brad, if you're out there)
F-15E role demo
....and 'Heritage Flight' flypast......
...with Bill Anders Mustang, flown here by son Greg.
http://users.ap.net/~danb/airshow2.htm
Former 'Miss America' race pilot Bud Granley, and son Ross, fly a polished routine in their Yaks, Bud in a -55 and Ross in an -18T.
http://hometown.aol.com/__121b_i4H9sm8U ... gbYmP1NA==
Eddie Andreini flew a very spirited display in a 450hp Stearman, including torque rolls whilst tailsliding (
) and an inverted ribbon cut.
http://www.reddingairshow.com/eddies_stearman.htm
A March-based C-17, a very impressive display performer. I've not seen one of these display since the late, lamented Mildenhall shows and had forgotten how spritely a lightly-loaded one can be.
(Oh, and hi Brad, if you're out there)
F-15E role demo
....and 'Heritage Flight' flypast......
...with Bill Anders Mustang, flown here by son Greg.
Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:49 pm
And finally the Thunderbirds.
Major Nicole Malachowski, a former F-15E pilot at Lakenheath, and the first woman to fly with the team.
A few shots of the Thunderbirds routine.
Part way through their routine I headed for home to avoid the traffic. After all, does the world REALLY need any more pictures of the Thunderbirds.............
Major Nicole Malachowski, a former F-15E pilot at Lakenheath, and the first woman to fly with the team.
A few shots of the Thunderbirds routine.
Part way through their routine I headed for home to avoid the traffic. After all, does the world REALLY need any more pictures of the Thunderbirds.............
Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:54 pm
Very nice Mike. Thanks for posting the pics.
Robbie
Robbie
Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:02 pm
No Herc!?!
Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:04 pm
Thanks for pictures Mike, I went to Merced on Saturday, instead.........
Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:50 pm
Roger Cain wrote:Thanks for pictures Mike, I went to Merced on Saturday, instead.........
Yes, I saw the thread Roger. Looks like the P-51 did some nics low passes.
See you at Marysville tomorrow?
APG85 wrote:No Herc!?!
APG85, just for you.....
Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:09 pm
Mike wrote:Roger Cain wrote:Thanks for pictures Mike, I went to Merced on Saturday, instead.........
Yes, I saw the thread Roger. Looks like the P-51 did some nics low passes.
See you at Marysville tomorrow?
Yup, see you tomorrow
Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:28 am
Thanks for the Herc picture - I feel better now! 
Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:48 am
As I said on Planetalk Mike, cracking images. Good to see your using your time in California well!
Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:39 pm
I think you have a typo on the T-38's?
Should be T-38 right? Not T-28's
GREAT PICS!
Should be T-38 right? Not T-28's
GREAT PICS!