One Stop Line for News & Pics from Thunder over Michigan

[Paul Thomas]

Howdy,

I'm new to this forum, but not to this show. As usual, a fantastic display of some amazing aircraft. The pictures posted so far are extremely good...just like I was still at the show (I went Saturday). With the exception of Erics, of course...that air-to-air shot of VWoC's beautiful aircraft. I didn't get that perspective. I'm really looking forward to more of these.

I took quite a few pics myself, but alas, I'm still using film, so I'll have to wait a bit until they get developed. Hopefully I got a few decent shots which I can post later.

For me, the highlites were:

1) 6 different Mustangs (my personal favorite) flying at the same show...especially Checkertail doing the straffing runs with the T-Bolts during the WWII re-enactment. Bet that made a few of the actors duck...they were really close to the ground!!!
2) The B-17 with 2 B-25s in the air at the same time.
3) The chase between the BF-109 and the 2 Hurricanes (Now that was cool!!!)
4) Everything else...just too much to mention.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing more pictures, and hopefully I can contribute some myself. Major thanks to Mike Luther, Tom and Kevin Walsh, and everyone else involved with the show for yet another outstanding exhibition (and Glen too...you know why )

Looking forward to contributing to this whole message board, though I will probably have more questions than contributions.

Paul

[chico]

The Vintage Wings of Canada Mustang's left wing fuel cap looks like it is venting fuel. (This scrutiny is provided by great photography.)
VL

That's not fuel. That's drool from all the warbird nutca...er...fans that got to hang around the aircraft.

My unbiased (Well, as unbiased as I can be.) airshow fan opinion is that this year's layout was a notch better than last year. Being right next to the birds was nicer than being 50 ft away & roped off. Though I did hear a few people grousing about secruity shooing them away whenever they had to send somebody out / recover someone from the ramp.

The weather Saturday was perfect. That probably bumped the attendance numbers up quite a bit over last year's Saturday swealter-fest. Once i get a couple pictures cropped and edited, I'll throw those into the mix.

[wls3]

Here are a couple pics after a long trip home.
Have only looked at a few so far. Had a great time.
Will post a WIX group photo taken at S-2 Tracker later.

Bill

Last edited by wls3 on Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[AIRIC]

Great work Dave and Bill, some really fine shots. I’m still in Belleville but heading home soon. Can’t wait to start editing. Paul, welcome to the board, I’m sure you will have fun here.

As a side note for Dave, Tom and other enthusiasts in the Southern Ontario area I heard Waterloo is having a fly-in vintage gathering next week and some of the CWH aircraft including the Lanc will be there.

Cheers,

Eric

A few more shots from Saturday

[V1VRV2]

Just unwinding from a great weekend. After these gigs, I need 2 -3 days "vacation" time for recharge. Stunning photo work, Dave and Erik. Again it was a real treat to meet all you WIX guys (and gals) in person after lurking here for so long, it's like I've known you all for years. Kudos to Scott for creating and tastefully managaging this wacky little little meeting place. As a side note I grew up, probably as most of you, immersed in the warbird world. It's hard to describe the thought process while ripping around that flyby pattern with a REAL 109 filling the armor glass of my trusty Hurri, with the blessing of the feds to go fast and don't hit anything. Gives new meaning to the term joystick.

Rob G

[AIRIC]

Rob, I think I speak for everyone saying you did the most impressive and photogenic passes of the show. You looked like you were having way to much fun. Can’t wait to see your next demonstration.

Cheers,

Eric

[Django]

Awesome photos. Wish I could have gone this year.

[Bob Swaddling]

Hi Vlado
It was a hot day and Y2-C was venting fuel.
What great photography! I didn't even take a camera. My shots could never compare with Dave's or Eric's. I was too busy anyway keeping kids from damaging the a/c. One little girl swinging off the pitot head on the Hurri and another small boy poking at the fabric with one of those souvenier bullets sold by the many vendors. The show was great but letting the public around the a/c is inviting disaster.
All it takes is one.
Cheers
Bob Swaddling

[Ontario-Warbird]

Bob, great to see you on the board!!

Looks like my oldest daughter snapped you



Cheers Dave C

[Former Member]

Thanks for posting the pics Rob...they're absolutely stunning!!!!!

John

[wls3]

"The WIX Photo" by the CAF's S-2 courtesy of Col. Daffy Duck.
Sorry not to have everyones name but I sometimes have CRS.
Please send me a PM with name or corrections so I can update this.

Thanks.
Bill

Back Row
Jeff Funk, ________, Todd Hackbarth, coldaffyduck, Scott WRG Editor, Mudge, wls3(Bill), Warren Cook, Henning, _______.

Front Row
________, waltz41(Brian), TimAPNY, Dave Dennis, Elroy13(Trae), Steve Dennis, Matt, Mike Henniger.

Last edited by wls3 on Wed Aug 09, 2006 6:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Don Parsons]

You can see some of my photos from Thunder at

http://www.fairchild24.com/thunder.htm

don

[Airlift48]

Thanks to all WIXer's who toured the C-54 "Spirit of Freedom"!

It was great meeting Scott and company!

See you all at Lancaster, Oh or Mt. Comfort!

Kevin Kearney
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation
C-54 Flight Crew
www.spiritoffreedom.org

[Sabremech]

The pictures posted so far are just incredible. I wish I had the kind of equipment and talent to Photograph these birds as the WIX'ers do. Does anyone happen to have a few good shots of our T2 Buckeye there at Thunder? I'm looking for a few we can add to our website with credit to the photographer. Thank you in advance.
David

[Scott Rose]

The pictures posted so far are just incredible. I wish I had the kind of equipment and talent to Photograph these birds as the WIX'ers do. Does anyone happen to have a few good shots of our T2 Buckeye there at Thunder? I'm looking for a few we can add to our website with credit to the photographer. Thank you in advance.
David

We do have some talent on the forum thats for certain, I'm sure they have some shots of the T-2 David, the general rule of the day was any warbird owned, flown, or wrenched by a WIXer was to be photographed excessively

I want to thank Kevin W and Todd H and everybody else that put on such a fine show. ToM is on my list now of must attend events now. I had an incredible time and that is mainly due to all my friends that I have made over the years because of this forum. When I see all the socialization and friendships developing among WIXers it just makes me proud that I had a small part in that. We had 35+ WIX members attend this year, breaking last years record. We only got half of them in the group photo but since we FUBAR's the photo last year this is a decided improvement. I want to specifically thank Todd for making the announcement about the group photo.

I also want to than k all the WIX members who came up and introduced themselves to me. I know that sort of thing can be awkward and I appreciate it as well as all the wonderful comments I recieved concerning the site.

I want to thank Bill Greenwood and Steve Hinton for taking time to talk with me. I also want to thank Eric Downing talking with me and for letting me climb on the Skyraider and for taking some of the oil home with me Thanks to Kevin and the C-54 guys for the tour and the conversation and for attending the de-briefing. And thanks to Col. Daffy Duck for the shirt and letting me crawl around inside the tracker and for letting me hang out inside for a bit.

And thanks to all my friends from WIX for making these events such amazing experiences for me!