War Birds

During the Annual Cowpoken Daze Festival (Not the actual name. But one I have used for years, for a variety of reasons), one of the only interesting events of the whole thing happens (in my opinion) -

The Air Show!

Headlining every year is the Air Force Thunderbirds. This year, for the first time in ages, I went to the Air Guard base to see the static (parked old planes) show, along with the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds on the ground, ready to start the show. The actual air show WASN'T over us, for safety reasons since there's too many homes in the area. But we saw them flying around a lot as they did their routines.

The weather was very nice for it. Too many years we had clouds or stormy weather which greatly reduced what they could do.

It sure can be loud when that many F-16s go zooming over your head.

But just as interesting was the static air show. Some interesting and iconic older prop planes, many veterans of WWII.

P-51 Mustang, one of the most famous fighters from WWII. Probably one of the most recognizable planes from that era.

A F4U Corsair, another famous fighter plane, often used in the Pacific against the Japanese. Made more 'famous' by the 1970s TV show Black Sheep Squadron. I saw this plane as it flew in, but didn't get any good photos of it. A very good looking aircraft, IMHO.

A Grumman Avenger, a plane designed to drop either bombs or a single large torpedo.

This is a T-6 Texan, a trainer aircraft used to train military pilots before going off to war. This plane was also flying and putting on a few shows.

Doing lots and lots of loops.....

Something a little newer - an A10 Thunderbolt. Also known as a Warthog. Not the best looking plane, but very formidable on the battlefield.

It wasn't all war planes though. There were a number of stunt and private planes, and biplanes like this one-

This plane did several flight shows, including one with another smaller biplane.

A very good day, seeing a bunch of really well preserved old aircraft, along with the big Thunderbirds show. It stormed later in the day, but it held off long enough to give everyone a great day.