Breckenridge?

[PhantomAce08]

Just curious, but given that there have been so many threads about Breckenridge, I was wondering what is so special about it? A lot of people seem to have a ton of good things to say about it, and I've never heard of it before. It really looks (looked) like a great air show!

[Jerry O'Neill]

I never went...but always wanted too!!!!!
I don't believe it is held any more.
Use to be a big, relaxed warbird show from everything I've heard and read. Air Classics use to have good coverage of it.
Like many great things, time passes and everything changes...not always for the better.
I'm sure the many WIX'ers who attend it could give you a better feel for the event.
Jerry

[Ztex]

At this show the spectator was number one. We got to stand on the edge of the taxiway and FEEL the airplanes. We got to walk all over the ramp and touch the airplanes, talk to the owners and pilots. Stand next to them as the were started and taxied out. Saturdays was like a big weekend fly-in. There was no script, they just flew in, flew around, blasted the field, people got the occaisional ride. The Sunday show was spectacular, everybody flew.
There were no corporate tents, no over zealous security guards, no extra cost passes, no fences or ropes.
It was a fun show for the pilots and crew, it was Howard's playground. He had the standing deal...I'll go to your airshow if you'll come to mine.

This picture tells much of the story..for me at least.

[spookyboss]

It was THE airshow. all warbirds ! I got to fly with the Tired Iron guys with the B-25 (Bronco Bustin Bomber) the A-26 (Puss N Boots) Corsair (Wart Hog) P-51 (Habu) we Always had a Great time. I remember once when we took off in the B-25 at Dusk then came roaring right over the Hanger where the party was at and I think more than a few drinks were spilled. or the Time we had a flight of 8 B-25's !!!

[corsair166b]

Could'nt a said it better...Rob is right....doubt there'll EVER be another show like Breckenridge again...we only caught the final 4/5 shows, but we DID catch them and they were a ball, folks running around in a halftrack at 2 am shooting of .50 cal blanks, the band playing in Bill's hangar till the wee hours, incredible flying, accessible planes and photo missions....oh, i lament its loss....but the times HAVE changed and nothing like Breck will likely ever be seen again....

More's the pity...

Mark

[Obergrafeter]

Who said we were shooting blanks? Greatest airshow of them all....period

[PhantomAce08]

I remember seeing this picture on one of the other threads. After working on Line Crew, and dealing with people, I can't imagine not having a fence up! Now, I would of course absolutely love it! When was the last show?

[corsair166b]

Roundabout 1996-7? I was'nt there, glad I was'nt too, would've lamented then that the show had died out as apparenly about only`7 or 8 birds showed up (the most we ever saw at Breck was probably 80-90, and thats with L birds and all)....story has it at its peak Breck used to play host to 140+ or more warbirds in its prime.....can you imagine?

[Eric Friedebach]

Best spectators ever.

[Brad]

Best spectators ever.

I knew I saved these for a reason. I think I've got some more Breckenridge pictures at home, but I'm in Iraq at the moment and won't be back for a couple of weeks. I've got some other stuff saved on my laptop that I'll post when I get time.

[Steve T]

Brad et al--

"Birds" in an across-the-pond sense, eh!

I never made it to a Breck airshow but certainly remember its praises being sung by the magazines. When Dad and I visited Texas in '92 we made a point of dropping in at Breckenridge anyway. Met Howard Pardue, who was as hospitable as could be ("there's s'more airplanes in that hangar over there, g'awn in, it isn't locked"--sure enough, inside were pristine examples of F4U-4 and Beech 17). And saw three Furies at Ezell's, which, as anyone who knows me could attest, sent me into orbit...

Only airfield I've ever seen with a raised viewing platform on the flightline. And we ended up using it: Mr Pardue had been having some work done to correct a vibration problem on N666HP, his Fury. Dad and I got a private demonstration--twice, actually, first by Mr Pardue and then by Mr Ezell--of the Fury in the air. (Higher orbit achieved by Steve T...)

We also saw engine runs on Bill Arnot's lovely Mitchell "Silver Lady". It turned out everybody was getting ready for an airshow the next day at Mineral Wells: which was where we were staying that night! Sadly enough our flight home was the next day...but we did "sneak" onto Mineral Wells field for about 15 minutes that morning, seeing among other things the CAF Helldiver. Wish I'd been around for some of the Breck shows, though. My equivalent would probably be some of the Geneseos of old...

Cheers

S.

[ww2John]

...speaking of Geneseo - 1991 saw 125 warbirds, including 5 B17's, 1 B24, 1 Lancaster...

[PatM]

This is an interesting thread. My first real warbird show was Geneseo in '92. Why have things changed so much? Is it all about $, regulations, sponsorships? What would it take to rekindle the shows of old?

[Jerry O'Neill]

I think costs have gone up, fuel, insurance etc. and the WWII generation is dwindling. The young have to take the cause on and remember the sacrifices of our WWII Vets.

I'd have to say that the 80's and early 90's were the hey day of frequent large, warbird shows.
Sad.
Jerry

[PhantomAce08]

I'd have to say that the 80's and early 90's were the hey day of frequent large, warbird shows.
Sad.

Dang... I was born too late!!