WIX Archives
CAF Airsho 2002
Posted by Chuck on Sat Oct 05, 2002 11:20:24 PM
In reply top null posted by null on null
I am here in Midland,TX at the CAF 2002 Airsho. The weather is good and it is great to be here for my 5th year in a row. Todays airshow was without incident or accident. However, the warbird turnout is quite lower than expected.
These are the aircraft that are present:
B-29, B-17, B-24, C-46, (2)C-47, PBY, (3)B-25, A-26, AN2, Shackelton, (3)Corsairs, F6F, FM2, F8F, P-51D, P-51C, P-63, P-39, Spitfire, P-40, (3)TBM, SBD, (9)Tora, (4)BT-13, (20)T-6, (2)T-28, Polikarpov, (4)B-18, T-33, and various other small airplanes.
B-29 has a fuel leak problem and only arrived on Friday with a ferry permit and still has to be fixed. The Hellcat may have a magneto problem and has not flown in the airshow. The SB2C has a broken rod and the engine must be pulled. The Warhawk had a tailwheel hydraulic leak but has been fixed. The Bearcat has a gear door actuator problem and didnt fly in todays show. The King Cobra has a oil leak and it was being worked on when I left today.
That being said, it is great to be here with many one of kind flying warbirds. The P-63 and P-39 flew together today and was an amazing site to see. There was lots of dynamite as gasoline to simulate dropping bombs and was close enough to be able to feel the concussions of the explosions on your body. There were upwards of 50 planes in the sky when the trainers flew. The Corsairs are 2 FG-1Ds and 1 F4U-5N made some impressive photo passes for the crowd. A B-2 stealth bomber and a B-1 Lancer did low level flybys. Jimmy Franklin did aerobatics in his jet powered Waco and also had a wing walking act with his son.
Tomorrow should be another good day of flying and I will have many pictures to provide Scott for the WRG site in the next few days.