[MilCom] Willow Run

[Ken]

Hello Jesse & the group:

Please See comments below:

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jesse" <xraywolf at comcast.net>
To: <milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 10:52 PM
Subject: Re: [MilCom] Willow Run


> John A. Collmer wrote:
>> Good Morning, does anyone have any frequencies from last years Willow Run 
>> (Thunder over Michigan) Show? Also any insights/tips would be 
>> appreciated.
>>

> Went to todays practice and fly-ins ... Pretty slow. Other than the Blues, 
> the only jet flyer was an F-16 demo.
> Bunch of warbirds flying formation - At least 4 B-25's along with what 
> looked to be a couple of P-47's, a Mustang and a batch of Texans.
> A couple of A-10's flew in after the Blues landed, other than that the 
> whole show seems to be stunt flying.

COMMENT:  Their website indicates what one can expect -- What you see as 
scheduled on the website is what you we see for your money!

> I have a good spot staked out off of Rawsonville road - Very likely will 
> be hard to get to on shows days, as the law tends to block off access
> to any roads that lead other than straight to the parking areas.

COMMENT:  Blocking off certain roads around airshows for traffic & crowd 
control is very common.

> $20 admission per person & $5 parking I think is close to a rip off myself 
> and, since there does not appear there will be a whole lot static wise

COMMENT:  Does appear to be very pricy for what is provided.  HOWEVER, if 
tickets were bought in March 2007 they were only $10.00 each.  A little 
preplanning would have saved 50%!

anyhow, I am
> going to stake out a spot outside the airport, somewhere along the 
> approach line.
> As most here know, the Blues or T-Birds do not allow crowds to gather 
> anywhere near either side of the runway [approach or departure], so some 
> improvising is necessary
> if one wishes to have a decent spot outside of show.

COMMENT:  The FAA determines the rules for aero demonstrations, and how 
close aircraft can fly to the crowd show line.  The purpose is to allow a 
safety margin in case anything should go wrong with the aircraft or there's 
human error that results in a collision of aircraft.

> Aside from the dearth of jet powered attractions, another thing that 
> soured me on Willow Run shows is, last year they actually made the crowd 
> bake out on the tarmac.
> Thats right, with square acres of grass everywhere around, they made the 
> crowd sweat it out on asphalt for half a day on a 90 degree day. There was 
> 100's of people sitting under the wings
> of an AWACS craft, the only shade around.
> I have been to dozens if not hundreds of airshows over the years, and have 
> never seen this happen anywhere but there...
> I personally can stand the heat, my young pre-teen girls can not, and I 
> was fairly livid at a bone head set up like that, and still am.
> Will they do it again this year ? Don't know, but really am not inclined 
> to pay $100 to find out.

COMMENT:  MOST airshows basically have a hot tarmac that everyone is 
confined to, because that's where the show is!!!  Most do not have grass 
areas to lay on.  Personally, I'd like it if all airshows where in the 
spring, or fall, NOT the summer, cause the heat can be very physically 
draining, especially if you have to drive home for 1+ hours.  One has to 
take into consideration the physical stress that can be caused by the 
weather and take appropriate precautions.  Airshow sponsors generally have 
very good emergency medical support and assistance in case the weather 
causes some health problems.

> If you do go in, since they do not allow coolers, my advice would be to 
> freeze some plastic water bottles overnight and bring them.
> They price gouge on selling refreshments also.
COMMENT:  Unfortunately, having ice at most shows, has been a security no no 
for entrance into the show area.  So I'd suggest this NOT be done.  Also 
doesn't part of the show proceeds go to charity (and the various stands are 
run by various charity organizations)?  It is typical that a standard price 
be set for all refreshment stands throughout the airshow.  This is even done 
on AF bases.   Remember the show has to be self supporting and not loose 
money for things like the tent rentals, and perhaps even some insurance 
requirements.

A complete list of scheduled airshow, can be found at the International 
Council of Airshows site:
http://www.airshowbuzz.com/schedules/    This gives the hobbyist  a wide 
range of shows to choose from from large to small.

Most airshow performer's frequencies can be found as a "free" service offer 
to the hobbyists by "Monitoring Times" magazine at:
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/mtairshow07.pdf

Ken