2010 Airshows
Indianapolis, IN Metro Airport   Eglin AFB, Fl   Urbana, OH B-25 Gathering   B-25 Fly-Over at Doolittle Reunion, Dayton, OH    Chino, CA   Columbia, MO   Reading, PA   Indianapolis, IN   Kokomo, IN   Anderson, IN   Rockford, IL   Ypsilanti, MI   Windsor, Ont   Marion, IN   Waynesville, OH   Waukegan, IL   Scott AFB, IL   Midland, TX

     Rockford, IL Airfest 2010
July 31-August 1, 2010  (Photos taken July 31)
This was my first trip to Rockford Airfest which was made not so much for the quantity of warbirds which was limited due to this weekend conflicts with EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh but the fact there were four single ship demos which included AV-8B Harrier, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-15E Strike Eagle and the F-18 Super Hornet.  But the real reason was to see the USAF Heritage Team's F-4 Phantom Fly-bys.  In spite of the show being delayed an hour and 20 minutes due to low overcast the crowd was patient and was rewarded with an excellent show.  This included three passes by the Phantom before becoming part of the Heritage Flight with the A-10 and F-15E and the last high speed pass after the Heritage Flight breaks.  Low clouds that persisted during most of the day kept most of the acts and demos to flying their low shows.  It took 11 hours of total driving to cover the 706 miles all in one day but it was worth the effort.

Most spectators gravitate towards the center of the show.  However, many aviation photographers will normally station themselves at one end or the other at least part of the time to capture both the aircraft moving in and out of the active ramp along with being able to photograph the the warbirds and military aircraft in a banking turn as they come around the corner from behind the crowd. 

This L-39 belongs to Edward Wachs of Lake Shore, IL.

Another view of this L-39.

Time to get with the program!!  Note the heat signature behind the F-4.

The second L-39 on display belongs to Frederick Gevalt of Arlington, MA.

Photo Pass.

 Former US Army Bell OH-58 Serial Number 69-16082 is now owned by the Stephenson County Sherriff's Department in Freeport, IL and operated Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition.

In Another former US Army helicopter operated by the Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition is the venerable Huey UH-1 Serial Number 71-20315 which is owned by the Winthrop Harbor, IL Police Department.

This BAC 167 Strikemast is owned by R&M Auto Leasing from Crystal Lake, IL.  One does not see many of these at the shows very often as there are only 14 registered with the FAA in the US.


Down and Dirty!

Heritage Flight.  The very rare sight of F-15, A-10 and the venerable F-4 in formation with each other.

Even though the crowd may not have come out specifically to see the Heritage Flight, it did realize this was something special as most were on their feet so they could see and get good photos as the three aircraft flew by together.

It had been such a long time since seeing a Phantom land I had forgotten that it needed a parachute to assist in slowing it down.

Indianapolis, IN Metro Airport   Eglin AFB, Fl   Urbana, OH B-25 Gathering   B-25 Fly-Over at Doolittle Reunion, Dayton, OH    Chino, CA   Columbia, MO   Reading, PA   Indianapolis, IN   Kokomo, IN   Anderson, IN   Rockford, IL   Ypsilanti, MI   Windsor, Ont   Marion, IN   Waynesville, OH   Waukegan, IL   Scott AFB, IL   Midland, TX