[MilCom] Great Tennessee Airshow 2008 report

[Joe Cobb]

First of all it was cold and windy.  Reminded me of
Huntsville, AL airshow a few years back with the wind
and cool temps.  The weather started off good but the
clouds couldn't stay away until after the show.  Viper
East had to do his low show.  This was also one of the
largest crowds i can remember seeing at Smyrna in one
day.  I guess they are all planning for not so good
weather tomorrow.  I hope it turns out ok.  I could
tell compared to last year that we had a new demo
pilot this year for Viper East.  The manuevers seemed
a little higher than what i was used to.  However, he
still did a solid performance and can't wait to see
Viper East somewhere down the line this year.  

The Harrier demo (BLACKSHEEP 1) had to cancel due to a
mechanical.  The spare jet was not available as it was
a static display in the crowd line.  So the Harrier
flight was scrubbed.  I was bummed.  This was the West
Coast Harrier Demo Team based at MCAS Yuma, AZ. 
VMA-214, the famous Blacksheep Squadron.  

The civilian aerobatic acts were good.  Loved Julie
Clark and her T-34 Mentor flying a patriotic tribute. 
The Red Eagles, Skytypers, wing-walking was good.  The
jet truck smoked out my section after he did his
pulsating booms, fire and smoke.  

The Blue Angels rocked as usual.  They also did their
low show so there was more turning and burning. 
Getting in (if you got there early) wasn't to big of a
problem.  Getting out though, after the Blues, was. A
little patience is required but everything turned out
ok.  Now to the nitty gritty.

Statics:

F/A-18E, VFA-106, Oceana       (BuNo: #165663/AD-111)
F/A-18C, VFA-106, Oceana       (BuNo: #163481/AD-320)
WC-130H, 118th AS, Nashville   (Serial: #65-0966)
F-16C, 100th FS, Montgomery    (Serial: #88-0400/AL)
F-16C, 100th FS, Montgomery    (Serial: #87-0219/AL)
KC-135R, 465th ARS, Tinker     (Serial: #58-0063)
T-6A, 14th FTW, Columbus       (Serial: #05-3779/CB)
T-1A, 12th FTW, Randolph       (Serial: #???????/RA)
T-34C, TAW-5, Whiting Field    (BuNo: #164169/E-169)
RC-12D, ????, ???????          (Serial: #78-23141)
OH-58A, 4/278th ACR, Smyrna    (Serial: #70-15151)
UH-60Q, 146th MedCo Det, Smyrna(Serial: #86-24560)
AV-8B, VMA-214, Yuma)          (BuNo: #165389/WE-05)
T-45C, TAW-1, Meridian  (came in this morning, did a
nice overhead approach prior to landing)

Tac Demo:

AV-8B, VMA-214, Yuma (cxld today)(BuNo: #??????/WE-20)
F-16CJ, 20th FW, Shaw (spare)    (Serial: #93-0540/SW)
F-16CJ, 20th FW, Shaw (demo)     (Serial: #91-0387/SW)


Frequencies:

132.95----Air Boss

120.6-----Discrete (John Klatt, A/A Red Eagles, Julie
          Clark)

123.425---Skytypers (3 ship)
122.775---Skytypers (solos)

384.55----F-16 Tactical Demo (pilot to spotter)

284.25----Blue Angels (show center, all planes)
275.35----Blue Angels (behind the crowd, Diamond)
237.8-----Blue Angels (behind the crowd, Solos)
305.5-----Blue Angels (Fat Albert, C-130T) 
346.5-----Blue Angels (Start up and taxi out)
139.8125--Blue Angels (maintenance/comm cart)
142.6125--Blue Angels (maintenance)

I had a good time, but heck i'll have a good time at
any airshow.  

Joe
Nashville, Tn.




 

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com