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Space Coast Regional Warbird
Airshow (Tico), Titusville, FL
Seymour-Johnson AFB,
Goldsboro, NC
MCAS Beaufort,
Beaufort, SC
TBM Reunion, Peru, IL
Gathering of Warbirds,
Waukesha, WI Spirit of St.
Louis Airshow, Chesterfield, MO
2019 Airshows
TBM Reunion/Salute to
Veterans Airshow Warbird Photo Review
Illinois Valley Regional Airport, Peru, IL - May 18, 2019 -
Photos taken Saturday May 18, 2019.
This was my second visit to the
TBM Reunion and Salute to Veterans. I was really impressed during
my first visit in 2018 with how many warbirds were in attendance, and
all of the flying they did. This year there were not as many
warbirds at the event, but I was still impressed with this really great
little warbird show. The reason there weren't the expected
aircraft at the event, was that severe weather was predicted that
included high winds and hail. Not a good combination for any
warbirds that would be sitting out in the open. So not long after
arriving at the show, several of the six TBMs on the ramp were being
moved into hangars. Other warbirds started to leave.
At the same
time, which was just before 10:00am, the event got under way. It
started with a tribute to the veterans and a photo shoot of four WWII
TBM crewmen in front of one of the TBMs. At 10:30am, Matt Younkin
took off and started into his aerobatic routine. The TBM reunion
was going to get some airshow and flying in before the storm arrived.
The show promoters looked at the weather forecast and adapted to the
situation.
These four gentlemen were TBM
crewmen during WWII. Two of them were pilots, and two were
gunners. What a treat to have them here at the event.
Note that the sky is still mostly
blue with some clouds coming in. Over the next hour and a quarter,
this would all change.
The above photo was taken 9:56am.
From this point on things would happen in a hurry.
The show had previously launched
these three Texans, which did a fly-over for the opening ceremonies.
The T-6 and SNJs then gave us
several passes down the runway. Actually, the airshow was on.
I just hadn't figured it out yet. Airshows don't start at 10:00 in
the morning. Not unless it is the TBM Reunion, and it has realized
the weather forecast means a change of plans. It started putting
warbirds into air. It should be noted in 2018 the flying started
at noon.
As the fly-bys were in progress, I
worked my way down the flight line and photographed the TBMs.
When I came back this way ten
minutes later, one of the TBMs had already been moved into the hangar.
At the north end of the flight
line was the 1944 C-47 owned by Jordan and Niki Brown of Centerpoint,
IN. Jordan and Niki purchased this C-47 about 2 years ago at the
east St. Louis, IL airport. I had previously only seen this
aircraft at St. Louis in 2018, where it was on static display. I
assumed that it would be on static only again this day. How wrong
I would be!
When Matt Younkin launched at
10:30am, it finally dawned on me that the show was going to get some
flying in before the storm arrived. This is the first year the
event has had a paid aerobatic performer. Having Matt this year
was fortuitous, as his act was an important link in the shortened show.
When Jordan Brown took off in his
C-47, I assumed he was taking it home to the Terre Haute, IN airport.
Again, I was wrong on this.
Right behind him was his C-45.
Jordan and Niki started bringing this aircraft to the Indianapolis
Airshow in 2011. This is how I got to know them.
After the C-47 and C-45 took off,
an L-39 landed as a T-34 and TBM wait to depart.
The C-47 and C-45 came back around
and gave us several really nice formation passes.
So did the TBM and T-34.
Think about the last time you saw
a C-47 do a banana pass. It may have been a while, as normally at
an airshow, the C-47 do nice flat passes. Somebody forgot to tell
Jordan about this. Jordan is one of the few of us who is a natural
born pilot. His wife Niki once told me that for their first date
in high school he flew her to the restaurant. Since purchasing the
C-45 about eight years ago, Jordan has joined the Commemorative Air
Force, and flies the Missouri Wing TBM and B-25. He also flies
B-17 Texas Raiders for the CAF. So, a banana pass in a C-47 is not
something unusual for him. I hope to see more of this warbird at
other shows in the Midwest.
Right behind the C-47 was the Twin
Beech. There were three banana passes by these two aircraft.
A T-6 still in its South African
markings had taken off while the C-47 and C-45 were flying. He
also gave us some fly-bys. Note that the sky is getting darker in
the west.
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The international orange is a nice
contrast to the gray sky in the background.
This T-6 was out giving rides
during the morning. The yellow also contrasts nicely against the
gray sky.
At 11:15 the flying was over.
The flying time was short, but it was intense. Unfortunately, I
only know the name of one pilot that flew in the event. All of the
pilots need to be thanked for doing a couple of fly-bys before leaving
for the safety of home, or that were based at the airport, and went up
and flew for us.
Brad Deckert is the local TBM
owner that is the person responsible for the TBM Reunion/Salute to
Veterans. He and all of his group of volunteers need to be
commended for the time and effort that goes into doing an event like
this. It is not a trivial endeavor at all. According to the
announcer, the event has raised over $7,000 for veterans over course of
the event. This is in spite of the fact that the event is free.
There is not even a parking fee that sometimes is used in lieu of gate
tickets.
This event has its act together.
I look forward to returning in 2020 because Brad and his staff and the
pilots who bring their warbirds "get it." Put the warbirds in the
air and fly them for the spectators. The TBM Reunion does this
very well!
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