[MilCom] Airshow Report: Gathering of Mustangs and Legends

[Joe Cobb]

Hello friends, I was going to let some others give
their views and freqs on this show but i was so giddy
i'm going to give my view and what i heard anyway.

The freqs:
USAF Thunderbirds:
141.85  (Diamond)
235.25  (Solos)

General:
120.05  Rickenbacker Tower 
348.40  """  """  "" "  "  (no a/c heard on this freq)
127.525 Air Boss/Heritage Flight F-15 and F-22 
135.075 Link to PA/Michael Goulian/Heritage Flt F-16
123.15  Discrete, Aeroshell Team and Red Barons
384.55  F-15/F-16 Demo (air to spotter)
376.025 F-22 Demo (air to spotter)

Misc Ground Comms:
411.7375  Rickenbacker 121st ARW Security Police
406.3625  121st ARW Command Post (Ground Ops)
413.225   121st ARW Maintenance (Fuel Trucks)
155.625   Airport Maintenance Crews

I attended Saturday and this by far ranks about THE
best airshow i've ever attended.  It was worth every
mile i drove to get there.  Close to 100 P-51's, if
not at or a little more, were in attendance.  Nothing
quite compares to that Rolls Royce Merlin engine at
full throttle.  They did a great formation at the end
of Saturdays show by forming the number 51 and passing
overhead and using a C-130J for a/a pics as well as
coordiating the formation.  Had other warbirds in
attendance: 2 P-38's (one was Glacier Girl), 2 P-47's,
a P-40, 2 B-25's, 2 B-17's, and many many more.  

Modern day stuff included (static displays) a C-5A out
of Wright-Pat, a C-17 out of Mississippi, a C-130 out
of Mansfield, OH., and F-16 out of Springfield, OH
(panther or tiger on the tail), a different grey
scheme T-6A out of Columbus AFB, MS, two A-10's: one
from Baltimore and the other from Battle Creek.  A
B-52H out of Minot AFB, and Rickenbacker's own
KC-135R.
I might have missed a couple, not sure.

The flying was out of this world.  The Aeroshell T-6's
were good as usual as well as the Red Barons.  All the
solo performers were top notched.  All the single ship
military TAC Demo's were back to back.  I finally got
to see the Raptor and all i can say is WOW!!  The
Heritage Flights were of course with all P-51's.  The
F-16 flew alongside with 1, the F-15 had two and the
F-22 flew alongside 3 P-51's.  Patty Wagstaff didn't
fly her extra but did several loops and rolls in what
else but a P-51D!!  The USAF Thunderbirds were good
(i'm not picky as long as it's fast and loud) after
they finally got moving.  Once out on the runway #5
developed an issue where he had to taxi back and get
the spare jet.  The Boss elected not to takeoff till
he was ready.  #4 had an issue as well but got it
straightened out.  The show got halted for a few
minutes a couple of times to let in some bizjets as
well as a FedEx DC-10.  They should have been required
to do a barrel roll to land or takeoff but no one in
authority saw my since of humor. lol.  

As for logistics it was one of the best run and
carried out events i've been a patron of.  Kudos goes
out to the CPD, Sheriff's Deputies, OHP, volunteers,
etc.  Getting in was no problem, i arrived around 0730
and there was already a line to get in.  Getting out
was also pretty smooth if you allow yourself a little
time.  I stayed about and hour and a half after the
show ended just browsing around.  

The stuff you could buy was pretty pricey (but i guess
that's expected with an event like this) and they
could have set up some different lines to get in such
as people with tickets already over here, no tickets
this line, etc.  I didn't find any other negatives
with this show and the ones i mentioned are trivial
but i thought i would throw that out as well.  Oh by
the way, it was Sunny and 75 degrees.  Good times. 
Now back to the harsh reality of my every day routine.

Joe
Nashville, Tn.



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