Thunder Over Michigan 2017: The Wonderful World of Flight

[kalamazookid]

I have no idea how they're going to get four hours of flying out of what's booked so far, but I'm willing to bet the show still has a few announcements up its sleeve yet.

[SWAJim]

I have no idea how they're going to get four hours of flying out of what's booked so far, but I'm willing to bet the show still has a few announcements up its sleeve yet.

The lack of announcements has me heading north of the border this year for Airshow London which is a bummer because we've been at every TOM for the last 7 or so years.

[RyanS]

I have no idea how they're going to get four hours of flying out of what's booked so far, but I'm willing to bet the show still has a few announcements up its sleeve yet.

Long gaps between acts will eat up much of that time I'm sure. Partly due to scheduling, partly due to the runway configuration. I love TOM and the cause behind it but they really suffer from how it is set up on the airport.

[Bretten Bailey]

A few updates (some you already know) since my last post. Sorry for not keeping everyone up to date.

Flying Aircraft Added
-Douglas C-47A Skytrain "Placid Lassie"
-John O'Connor's F8F Bearcat "Blue Angels"
-Mid Atlantic Air Museum's TBM-3E Avenger
-Tim Savage's TBM Avenger
-Trainer Flights

Civilian Static Added
-C-53D Skytrooper "Saving Lulu Belle" (display with parts)
-Darrel Berry's Beech AT-11 Kansan
-Bruce Koch's Vultee SNV-1 Valiant
-Comemmorative Air Force's SNJ-4 (Buffalo Heritage Squadron)
-Nostalgic Flights LLC T-6G Texan "Miss Jo"
-Dave & Deb Groh's PT-17 Stearman
-Christophr Dackson's PT-17 Stearman
-Bill Hirzel's N3N Yellow Peril
-Bill Hirzel's L-5 Sentinel

Military Static Added
-Lockheed Martin CC-130H(T) Hercules (17 Wing- CFB Winnipeg)
-Lockheed P-3C Orion (VP-62 Broadarrows - NAS Jacksonville)
-Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-115 Liberty Bells - NAS Point Mugu)
-2x Lockheed F-5N Tiger II (VFC-13 Fighting Saints - NAS Fallon)
-2x Lockheed F-5F/N Tiger II (VFC-111 Sundowners - NAS Key West)
-Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon (HM-12 - NAS Norfolk)
-Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-32 Fighting Swordsmen - NAS Oceana)

Other Attractions
Gathering of M4 Sherman Tanks (will also participate in battles)
Band of Brothers Paintball
Monster Truck Rides

A few more announcements are still to come.

[/quote]

Photo Pit Friday 2017
Has anybody ever gone to Thunder's Taxiway Photography? I'm going this year and was wondering roughly how many aircraft arrive that day.

A good majority of the displays and performers will arrive on Friday and the Blues will also practice. It's a fun little setup for everyone and usually there are no complaints. Might be a good way to see two separate squadrons of F-5s arrive

[Bretten Bailey]

Some additions plus one removal (but it got a replacement so it'll be ok)

An additional F/A-18 was added from the Fighting Swordsmen for static.
In additional a CT-142 Dash-8 was added from CFB Winnipeg for static.

The flying C-17 performance had to cancel. But it was replaced with a flying C-130 performance from Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base. Liberty Aviation Museum's B-2 "Georgie's Gal" was also added.

Fat Albert has also been removed from the lineup.

[alexp2805+]

So is this the last of performers being announced for this airshow?

[RyanS]

Keeping my fingers crossed on Fat Albert. I'm confident it's a 'all shows cancelled until further notice' situation.

Interesting to have a C-130 demo if Fat Albert does come back. ANG might get shown up a bit

[Bretten Bailey]

Keeping my fingers crossed on Fat Albert. I'm confident it's a 'all shows cancelled until further notice' situation.

Interesting to have a C-130 demo if Fat Albert does come back. ANG might get shown up a bit

Hoping so too.

The C-130 will be coming from Mansfield and will also be performing at the Cleveland Air Show. That was the original plan with the C-17 that was going to stage from Wright-Patterson and perform at both. The C-17 dropped however, and the C-130 was added in place.

[alexp2805+]

If Fat Albert makes it to the show would the C-130H from Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base still be coming to the show?

[Bretten Bailey]

If Fat Albert makes it to the show would the C-130H from Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base still be coming to the show?

Yes. It's being shared with Cleveland and will be making an appearance either way.