Jones Beach Airshow 2009

[USAF Pilot 07]

nice shot of the Major fred.

Too bad that pointy nose airplane brings down her "coolness" factor so much....

[Nick]

I wonder if the 'Birds will be flying their Block 52 Vipers this season. And in regards to the " cool " Hercs ", what about the AC's.. I walked to my b-hut many a night listening to them firing over the range. It was unmistakable!

[moose135]

Yes they are, and they have made some changes to the show to use that extra thrust. From the Air Force Times

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Get ready for the Thunderbirds to pull out all the stops this year with never-done-before maneuvers guaranteed to be make crowds “ohh” and “ahh” even more.

The Thunderbirds — the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron is the team’s official name — have newer, more powerful Block 52 F-16s, letting them add a loop on takeoff and spice up their solo acts. A show March 21 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., starts the squadron’s 2009 season, described by the commander and lead pilot as the freshest since the early 1980s.

“Our show has been fairly stagnant for quite a few years,” Lt. Col. Greg “Charger” Thomas said. “The new aircraft that we’re flying this year are going to bring a new look to the Thunderbirds.”

The 11 Block 52 F-16s — the same flown by most of the operational Air Force — replace Block 32s and come from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Their average age: 15 years.

A Block 52 has updated digital avionics, sturdier landing gear and the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine, which nets about 2,000 pounds more thrust than the nearly 24,000 pounds offered by the Block 32’s P&W F100-PW220.

The extra engine power allows the Thunderbirds to do their most high-profile new maneuver, a four aircraft, diamond-formation loop immediately out of takeoff.

A loop on takeoff “has never been done before on the Thunderbirds,” Thomas said. Because the planes fly at a slower speed on takeoff, the pilots need the additional thrust to start the loop. Once in the loop, though, the pilots finish the stunt much as they do the other loops in the show. “It’s very, very natural and very, very comfortable,” he said.

For much of the show, two solo pilots fly separate from the diamond — and they, too, have new maneuvers. Some of the solo maneuvers will be replaced by more spectacular opposing maneuvers in which the two solo aircraft fly at each other on an apparent collision course before narrowly missing.

[USAF Pilot 07]

And in regards to the " cool " Hercs ", what about the AC's.. I walked to my b-hut many a night listening to them firing over the range. It was unmistakable!

Yea I guess ACs are pretty cool too.... ;)

[Nick]

Cool, a new T-Bird demo! Can't wait.. :borat:

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

Sir Spam-a-lot here with some T-bird shots around Rebulic from their last visit....

[nikon50bigma]

Wow great set!
Where were you when you took that first photo of all the T-birds on final?
By the Dave and Buster's?

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

For the first shot I was opposite the patio store on Route 110 on my 6ft ladder for a clear view over the fence. I try to move around the airport during the day to get the best light and usually shot from about 10 locations during Memorial Day Weekend.

[Fighting_falcon_51]

For the first shot I was opposite the patio store on Route 110 on my 6ft ladder for a clear view over the fence. I try to move around the airport during the day to get the best light and usually shot from about 10 locations during Memorial Day Weekend.

Wait I think Ive seen you before, do you usually shoot where the arrows are on new highway.

[Fighting_falcon_51]

Since the tragic death of the warbirds pilot will there still be a P-40?

[moose135]

Since the tragic death of the warbirds pilot will there still be a P-40?

The Airpower Museum owns a P-40 which is used in shows, but obviously the P-40 Bob was flying was destroyed in the crash.

[Fighting_falcon_51]

Since the tragic death of the warbirds pilot will there still be a P-40?

The Airpower Museum owns a P-40 which is used in shows, but obviously the P-40 Bob was flying was destroyed in the crash.

Oh, he was flying a different P-41, and not the one they use in the shows? I wonder if they can get a replacement in time, I doubt they will do that show in april.

[moose135]

[quote=Fighting_falcon_51]

Since the tragic death of the warbirds pilot will there still be a P-40?

The Airpower Museum owns a P-40 which is used in shows, but obviously the P-40 Bob was flying was destroyed in the crash.

Oh, he was flying a different P-41, and not the one they use in the shows? I wonder if they can get a replacement in time, I doubt they will do that show in april.[/quote:n5w9mwgg]
There were two different P-40s based on Long Island, both of which participate in local air shows.

"The Jacky C" is owned by the American Airpower Museum, and is based at the museum at Republic. It is in a green/brown camouflage scheme, with a Flying Tigers emblem on the fuselage:



Warbirds Over Long Island also owned a P-40. It was painted in overall OD green, in the markings of Col. Robert Scott (of "God is My Copilot" fame). This is the aircraft Bob Baranaskas normally flew, and was the one he was flying when he crashed Sunday:

[GrummanFan]

The American Airpower Museum owns several of their own flightworthy warbirds, such as a C-47, P-47, Avenger, and a P-40. Warbirds Over Long Island owns their own separate aircraft, which included their own P-40. So, we will still see the AAM birds, but it is way to early to even speculate who/what else we will see in the air.

Though, we should also be seeing another P-51 in for the Heritage Flight.

[Fighting_falcon_51]

The American Airpower Museum owns several of their own flightworthy warbirds, such as a C-47, P-47, Avenger, and a P-40. Warbirds Over Long Island owns their own separate aircraft, which included their own P-40. So, we will still see the AAM birds, but it is way to early to even speculate who/what else we will see in the air.

Though, we should also be seeing another P-51 in for the Heritage Flight.

We are having a Heritage flight?