2011 Airshows
Tyndall AFB, FL    NAS Fort Worth JRB, TX     Indianapolis Regional, IN    Terre Haute, IN Open House   Monticello, IN Open House   Reading, PA WWII Weekend    Cincinnati, OH B-29 Appearance    Hamilton, ONT    Kokomo, IN    Indianapolis Metropolitan, IN     Polk City, FL    Willow Run, MI    Indianapolis Regional, IN    Indianapolis Executive, IN    Grissom Aeroplex Huey Homecoming, IN    Selfridge ANGB, MI    Mattoon, IL     Marion, IN    Waukegan, IL    Janesville, WI    NAS Oceana, VA    Watervliet, MI

NAS Oceana Air Show 2011 Photo Review
Warbirds at Virginia Beach, VA - September 25-26, 2011   

The NAS Oceana Air Show with the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation had the potential of being one of the best military and warbird shows of 2011.  But it was not to be.  With a stationary front that just sat over the area for several days many of the warbirds and other acts sat on the ground all weekend.  The Blue Angel pilots never even came out to their aircraft.  An excellent selection of warbirds arrived and could not fly while others never made it in.  The show management did the best it could to get acts into the air when the visibility and ceilings increased above minimums.  However, this was not very much time during the weekend.

Saturday:  Below is the warbird activity for Saturday.  The only aircraft I remember flying was the F-16 Demo.  An F-18 may have also gotten into the air also.  That was about it.

Arriving Saturday morning from Waukegan, IL, this A-4B from the Warbird Heritage Foundation was able to slip in before the ceiling dropped.

Along with the SNJ-5 and T-6 below these three aircraft were the warbird action for Saturday.

This SNJ-5 was about the only other warbird that taxied, flew and returned before when the show was to begin.  It belongs to Wag Air of Richmond, VA.

Also getting in and out was this T-6D from Lizard Two in Wilmington, DE.

SNJ-4 from Military Aviation Museum located at Virginia Beach.  This hometown warbird did not remove its canopy cover all weekend.

An SNJ-5 from Fightertown in Colonial Heights, VA.

This L-39C from the Wounded Warriors Project was also able to arrive on Saturday morning.

Sunday:  Below is the warbird activity for Sunday.  At least a couple of the warbirds got into the air.  The TBM almost scratched due to an over temp engine but it cooled down and the Avenger made some passes.

This C-45, belonging to Harold Ewing, of Hopkins, SC arrived Sunday morning.

One can see the Corsair from the Collings Foundation in the hangar.  It was towed out later in the day in preparation for flying but then tugged back in.  Also seen are a couple of the Texans from the Geico Skytypers and the TBM that did fly later in the show.

This CJ-6 from Blue Sky Yakrobatics in Palm Coast, FL was on the active ramp in preparation of flying.  It never did.  Note that the TBM is also on the active ramp now.

Another Virginia Beach Warbird.  This Yak-52 was also on the active ramp in preparation of flying.  The owner is Daniel Christian.

1911 Ely-Curtiss Pusher Replica.  We got something into the air.

Too bad no one was there to see it.  Only the true air show enthusiasts made this one.

F-18 Demo taxiing out.

Meanwhile, there are signs of radial engine life on the active ramp.

At least all of the moisture in the air is good for something!!

The TBM is from the Military Aviation Museum just south of NAS Oceana.

The Skyraider is from the Military Aviation Museum also.

 
Looks like we will able also get the Warplane Heritage's Douglas A-4B Skyhawk demo in.  This is always great to watch.

Those of us that were in attendance were getting our photos of this great warbird demo.

The last flying on Sunday was the ground attack scenario.  During this the ceiling and visibility shut down again.  There were a total of 6 F-18s in the air when that happened .   Several of them lost sight of the ground and had to be brought in under the control of tower using radar to guide the Hornets in.  It was that sort of weekend.

Pyro for the attack scenario as the Hornets attack from overhead.

Another explosion on Sunday.  On Saturday all of the pyro was blown up in the middle of the day with nothing flying.  Once the explosives are laid on the field they have to be denoted.  Weather did not allow for the F-18s to fly on Saturday.

Tyndall AFB, FL    NAS Fort Worth JRB, TX     Indianapolis Regional, IN    Terre Haute, IN Open House   Monticello, IN Open House   Reading, PA WWII Weekend    Cincinnati, OH B-29 Appearance    Hamilton, ONT    Kokomo, IN    Indianapolis Metropolitan, IN     Polk City, FL    Willow Run, MI    Indianapolis Regional, IN    Indianapolis Executive, IN    Grissom Aeroplex Huey Homecoming, IN    Selfridge ANGB, MI    Mattoon, IL     Marion, IN    Waukegan, IL    Janesville, WI    NAS Oceana, VA    Watervliet, MI