2011-08-27 - Thunder In The Valley Airshow

I was excited for the Airhsow as it has been many years since I've seen the Thunderbirds perform.  Jim Moreland and Ralph Briggs were flying along with me today and I was looking forward to a great day or airplanes and good friends.

Earlier in the week I received an e-mail from someone in the Waterloo area that said the airport would be closed from 8am - 5pm on the airshow days.  That didn't seem right to me so I called the number listed on the airshows website and talked to someone why said that was not right, the airport would not be closed all day.

Before departing Ankeny I got a weather briefing to verify TFR times and the the time of the airport closure.  The TFR ran from Noon until  4:30pm.  The airport was due to close at 10am.

Ralph and I flew up to Boone to pick up Jim and then it was off to Waterloo, it was a relatively short 45 minute flight.   We arrived around 9:45am and got right in.  We were parked on McCandless ramp, we were the second plane to arrive.  With only 15 minutes until the airport was scheduled to close it was apparent that only a few of us were flying in.  There was a golf cart taking flyin's from the ramp to the front gates.  It was not a long ride but it was nice to have the golf cart.  

We bought our tickets ($15 each) and waited in line to get onto the show grounds.  We wondered why the line was moving slowly and as we got to the entrance we found out why.  The military was wanding everyone and checking bags and fold up chairs.

Once in we looked for a good place to sit, we found a nice area in the grass.  Once we had out spot staked out we wandered around looking at the static displays.

The Thunderbirds, today's headline act.

Kyle Franklin's super cub.  I don't know what act he will be performing today but it will be great to see him back in the air.  This will be his first airshow appearance since the accident that killed Amanda earlier this year.

The Waterloo tower with a C130 from the Peoria Air National Guard.

A jet powered school bus.  They said this thing will top 375mph!

TBM Avenger.

We meandered back to our chairs to settle in for the show.  As Jim and I were walking back we got into the general area of where we were sitting but could not find our spot.  Thankfully Ralph was already back and he waved us down. :)

We did see planes flying in and landing as late as 10:30am.  Our tickets said the show started at Noon, it was 11am and the show was starting.

First up we had two of the Aeroshell performers fly circles around the skydivers. I never get tired of seeing our flag!

After the flag was on the ground we had a flyby with the Aeroshell team, Matt Younkin in the Beech 18 and Doug Rosendahl in the Red Tail Mustang.

This is Eric Edgren in his clipped wing Taylorcraft.  http://erikedgrenairshows.com/

He put on a nice routine in this plane.  I really enjoy watching planes like this perform.  I get tired of the Pitt's & Extra's with their loud and violent aerobatics.  To me aerobatics is about control and coaxing the most of of a plane without excess power.  

These two L29's are owned by Iowa University (the Hawkeye's).  I had no idea that the school owned and operated these aircraft.  To read what they are used for, click here.  http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/university-of-iowa-sends-cold-war-jets-to-air-show/article_c41cefb4-23bb-5536-ad12-7d0b4018d436.html

This crop duster made a few passes.

I was unaware that the B2 stealth was going to make an appearance.  She made three passes over the airport before heading to Omaha.

It was Kyle's turn to fly. He did the routine where someone hope in the plane and doesn't know how to fly by they manage to get it into the air.  His mastery of this Super Cub just feet above the ground is quite a sight to see.

Next we were treated to some passed by the P51.  Of  all of the WWII fighters, this and the Corsair are my favorites. Doug fly's this plane with such precision that it's always a treat to watch.

Next was the Aeroshell team.  They were booked at the last minute and only two of the pilots could make it.  While it's a very impressive show with all four ships, it was very impressive seeing just two of them.

My second favorite act of the day, Matt Younkin in his Beech 18.  Matt flies this airplane with such smoothness and finesse that he's become one of my favorite airshow performers.

Once Matt was done it was almost an hour before the Thunderbirds flew.  Although we were enjoying the show it sure seems like they could use some lessons in dispersing the correct times for TFR, airport closures and Thunderbird's flight time.

After ther show we started walking back toward our plane. When we got to the exit gates there was a mob of people. Not wanting to wait in a long line to get out we enetred the FBO (ignoring the authorized personel only signs) and I got on the computer and got a quick weather briefing. We then exited thought the FBO's front door, bypassing the large crowd! :)

This is a Beech Travelair that was on the ramp, if I were going to buy a twin this would be it. I love the looks of the big straight tail.

Rick Gleason in his Citabria.

Kelly Kokemiller took of just ahead of us an of course his RV beat us back to Boone. he mentioned over the radio that there would be plent of gas for us as he only burned 9 gallons. D'oh! I burned around 30 gallons. On the plus side I was able to carry substantially more that he could. Man, I love the 182! :)

I don't know why but only 20 planes flew in today, Waterloo is so easy to get in and out of I hope people didn't avoid it because of the tower.

I hope you enjoyed some of the pictures from the day.

Dave Kalwishky