July 22-29, 2023 - AirVenture 2023
Airshow

Because of the heat, I only sat through one full airshow this week.  And, of course, I did attend the always most excellent night airshow Wednesday night.

It's always a thrill to see a mass formation -- in this case T-6s -- thunder overhead at AirVenture.
   
Here come the T-6s again.
   
A giant 85, to celebrate the 85th year of the North American T-6 Texan/SNJ/Harvard.  An amazing number of 15,495 were built.  My Dad flew them and logged five traps on an aircraft carrier in one.
   
Two L-19 Bird Dogs fly by in close formation.
   
Notice all the umbrellas.  They aren't for rain; they are an attempt to get under a little shade and get a break from the heat.
   
The great airshow pilot Mike Goulian conferences with his ground crew.
   
Some Maryland Air National Guard A-10s, based at Martin State Airport, only a stones throw from Essex Skypark, beat up Wittman Field.
 
   
Skip Stewart tumbles like crazy in Prometheus 2.
   
Quicksilver, the P-51 Mustang whose paint scheme I pattered my RV-7 after, zooms by.
   
Quicksilver looking good agains tthe dark blue sky.
   
Quicksilver taxiis by.
   
Still the ultimate fighter on the planet, the mighty F-22 Raptor.  Unfortunately only 187 were produced.  Thankfully, the F-35 is now on the scene and although it is not quite as stealthy as the F-22 and not quite as good as a close-in dogfighter, it is more than good enough and has lots of other advantages that more than make up for any deficiencies compared to the Raptor.  One of the most important being its much lower cost.
   
 
   
The Raptor flew an awesome routine.  This was only the second time I've seen the Raptor fly a show.  Of course, I enjoy watching any 4th or 5th Generation jet fighter fly.
   
One of the Red Bull Extras taxiis by.  I visited the Red Bull Hangar 7 Museum in Saltzburg, Austria a month or so ago where they had a couple of Extras but this isn't one of them.  They probably keep it in the U.S.
   
Here comes the Raptor.
   
Pulling up hard into a low-level "Cobra" maneuver.
   
What a shot!  The F-22, AD-1 Skyraider and Quicksilver P-51 Mustang in a Heritage Flight.
   
 
   
 
   
Not to be outdone, two U.S. Navy EA-18G "Growlers" line up on the runway and prepare for takeoff.  The Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet.
   
The Growler two-ship put on a very entertaining show.  Naval aviators fly, shall we say, aggressively.
   
Pretty sunset.  If you look closely, you can see the two Growlers starting a rejoin on two F4U Corsairs at top right.
   
Two Growlers and two Corsairs do a remarkable Heritage Flight.
   
Here they come.  I'm always amazed at the big modern jets can fly close formation like this with a 70 year old design prop plane.
   
 
   
Ken Rieder of Redline Airshows taxiis by in his RV-8.  His airframe loaded with pyrotechniques, he would be doing a routine in the night show.
   
One of the four big T-6s of the Aeroshell Team taxiis by.
   
One of the Corsairs taxiis by.
   
So does one of the Growlers, with it's wings folded.  Folding wings is a very useful capability when hangared on an aircraft carrier.
   
I have never seen this before:  three Mig-17s thunder past in close formation.  They almost look like toys, pushed along with a little candle of flame out their exhaust pipes.
   
Four Blackhawk helicopters whap-whap-whap by.
   
Two F-35s do an aerial-refueling demo with a KC-135 tanker.
   
The night airshow kicks off with a skydiver and huge American flag.  At AirVenture everyone stands and removes their cover for the National Anthem.
   
 
   
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