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

 Salute to Gulf Air Show Photo Review
Warbirds at Tyndall AFB, FL - March 26-27, 2011  

This was my first visit to the Tyndall AFB Air Show which this year included warbird aerobatics by the FG-1D, P-51D, T-33 and two T-6s along with the 17 minute long Tora Tora recreation of the Pearl Harbor attack with eight replica Japanese aircraft and a P-40.  Finishing out the warbird flying was B-25 and the Heritage Flight F-4 Phantom.  This is a great event to start the air show season and break out of the winter doldrums and has historically been known for having a fine selection of warbirds demonstrations.  This year was no exception.

Opening the show was a formation fly-over of two of the F-22's operated by the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB.  This is the first time I have ever seen more than one in the air at a time.

The CAF FG-1D on the take off with the gear retracting.  This was the first warbird aerobatic demonstration for the show.  The sound of the R-2800 in the Corsair was great to hear after the long winter months without an air show.

Lee Louderback also did an aerobatic demonstration in the P-51D "Crazy Horse" from Stallion 51.

Tora as usual put on great show with eight Japanese replicas from the 1970 film Tora, Tora, Tora.

The CAF P-40 war also part of Tora, Tora representing the limited U.S. response to the surprise attack.

B-25 "Pacific Prowler" was part of the show to represent the Doolittle Raid.

A rare formation pass with a B-25 and P-40.

Just a touch of the "Smoke Trails".

The TD on the tail of the F-4 Phantom stands for Tyndall AFB.  Tyndall operates QF-4 drones and also keeps several of the Phantoms in flying condition for Heritage Flights, such as the one above.  I never get tired of seeing the F-4 do its demo of three fly-bys before the Heritage Flight, and at Salute to the Gulf Coast the pilot really made the Phantom "talk".

The F-22 "Raptor" Demo with open weapons' bays.

The transition from horizontal to vertical flight at high speed does not allow all the moisture in the Florida humid air time to get out of the way.

The Heritage Flight at the Salute to the Gulf Air Show at Tyndall AFB on March 26-27, 2011.  A rare grouping of the old and new.

The T-33 that did some level passes for the crowd.

The last warbirds to fly for the event were two T-6 Texans. 

This L-4 was on static display.

This O-2A came down from Canada.

This B model Huey was in the color scheme of the Navy Sea Wolves that operated in the Delta during the Vietnam Conflict.

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