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Re: Arlington, Wash. EAA fly-in warbirds

Posted by Mark Munzel on Sun Jul 13, 2003 02:52:43 PM

In reply top Arlington, Wash. EAA fly-in warbirds posted by Lowell on Sat Jul 12, 2003 01:07:30 PM

: Has anyone got a tally on the warbird fighters and bomb
: ers at this weekend's Arlington EAA Fly-In?

Lowell:

I was there Saturday, but I didn't make a list. Turnout looked to be the lowest in a few years. This was true in all areas, not just the warbirds. Some of the absences were likely due to the poor weather predicted for Saturday PM and Sunday. Whatever the cause, some regulars were conspiculously absent -- most noticeably "Super Rabbit," the B-25

Big Iron included one P-51 (Anders), two Wildcats (John Dimmer's FM-2 and F4F-3), one Avenger (Crash Williams), and one Yak-11 (I forget whose). Numbers were up for a few trainer, liaison, and support types, noticeably the FW/Piaggio PD.149s (three), Beech 18 (five), and Navion (at least eight). There were also three L-39s. Numbers were down for Stearmans, T-6s, T-28s, CJ-6s, and L-19s.

I felt the highlight was a Beech 18 in RCAF markings -- but I'm Canadian so I'm biased. Another neat one was the prototype Tempco Buckaroo.

Despite the thinner turnout, the Warbird flypasts remained the highlight of the airshow. To my mind, it even eclipsed the B-52 flypast that opened the show.Crash and the two T-28s made some particularly nice passes.

Finally, I should mention the enormous number of military vehicles displayed in the warbird area. Not my area of interest, but surely a thrill for those who like such things.

Not a great year, but a very good one.

-M.M

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