Check back tomorrow, when I’ll make another attempt at live blogging the show. I’ll do it in reverse this time and try posting my updates to the AirshowStuff Facebook page, so go like it if you haven’t already!
[19:00] Well I am home now. Sorry the updates weren’t more frequent, in hindsight I shouldn’t have tried on a day I would be video taping! Not much downtime between acts for typing and my battery was too low at the end of the day to get another update in.
The show concluded in a bit of a rush today in preparation for an approaching storm front. The original plan was for one Super Hornet to depart and hold, the second Super Hornet to perform the demo, then he would join with the first Super Hornet and the Corsair for the Legacy Flight. Following that was to be Tinstix as the show conclusion.
Everyone was a bit nervous about the dark clouds and assured rain headed right for us, so during the Super Hornet demo they decided to cancel Tinstix. That left a field full of pyro that needed to be blown! Then, the magic happened. The airboss and crews started chatting and it worked out where both Super Hornets joined up (the Corsair presumably having departed back to it’s home in Alma to avoid the weather) and did a section high speed pass while Rich Gibson lit off most of the Tinstix pyro underneath them. The jets then swung around for another pass, this time a section photo pass. Halfway through, Rich lit the wall of fire underneath them. A perfect way to end any show! Although I will say missing Tinstix was disappointing, and I wish I could have gotten it on tape.
The rain ended up holding off until closer to 5:30 or 6, so the show could have continued as planned. However, I appreciate that they made the call to clear everyone out early in the interest of safety. It was a tough choice but the right one.
[13:12] Brett Hunter just finished up an awesome demo! An enlistment ceremony is supposed to follow. Melissa and Rex Pemberton, the T6, B17, B25, and C47, and the home units have all flown. Weather may become a factor here shortly, hopefully we don’t get wet!
[10:45] The crowd is filling in and the flying started a bit ahead of schedule. So far weve had a SAR demo, Tuskegee motorgliders, and takeoffs by four Selfridge A10s. The Twin Otter jump plane for the Wings of Blue is just about to drop some streamers before their jump.
[9:40] Very light crowd so far, I think the lack of a jet team and the Woodward Dream Cruise (perhaps THE event of the summer in Detroit – going on today) have really cut into the usual high attendance. However, a friend reports a 300 yard long line of people waiting to get in so maybe it will fill in! Suzanne Asbury-Oliver is skywriting above us and a Coast Guard Dolphin gave us a pass after returning from a flight.
[7:20] Good morning from Selfridge ANGB! We are on the fence and ready to watch the show, headlined by the west coast Super Hornet demo team and Tinstix with Skip Stewart and Melissa Pemberton. I’ll try to post updates as the show gets underway!
- Ryan