Thunder Over Michigan - 2018
Willow Run Airport in Yipsilanti, Michigan hosts the Thunder Over Michigan two day airshow. Rain and fog on both mornings eventually lifted by early afternoon to allow the show to proceed. My first time attending this show and also my first opportunity to see the newly restored Boeing B-29 Superfortress “Doc”.
25-26Aug18
Thunder Over Michigan - Saturday
Rain greeted us in the morning, but cleared out around Noon so the airshow could begin.
Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan
25 August 2018
I was privileged to get a photo with Tuskegee Airmen Alexander Jefferson who flew with the 332nd Fighter Group in Italy during WWII. His P-51 Mustang was shot down over France and he spent some time in a German prisoner of war camp before being liberated at the wars end. 25Aug18
CAF FG-1D Corsair being towed to the hot ramp prior to its flying display. A KC-135 tanker is in the background. 25Aug18
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver under tow. The only flying example of this aircraft in the world. 25Aug18
P-47D Thunderbolt "Hun Hunter XVI" from the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN. 25Aug18
Kalitta Air 747-400 takes to the skies. I have a great video of its flyby here: https://youtu.be/lcDhJZRSupc
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver takeoff. 25Aug18
TBM-3E Avenger takeoff. 25Aug18
FG-1D Corsair takeoff. 25Aug18
Navy Flyby with the Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver, FG-1D Corsair and TBM-3E Avenger. 25Aug18
B-25 Mitchell takeoff. 25Aug18
Navy Flyby with the Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver, FG-1D Corsair and TBM-3E Avenger. 25Aug18
Brad Deckert's Grumman TBM-3E Avenger flyby. 25Aug18
CAF's Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver flyby. 25Aug18
CAF's FG-1D Corsair flown by Thom Richards putting on an aerial display. 25Aug18
CAF's FG-1D Corsair flown by Thom Richards putting on an aerial display. 25Aug18
CAF's FG-1D Corsair flown by Thom Richards putting on an aerial display. 25Aug18
CAF's FG-1D Corsair flown by Thom Richards putting on an aerial display. 25Aug18
Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” coming in to land as the FG-1D Corsair taxis in. 25Aug18
Yankee Air Museum's Douglas C-47D Skytrain “Hairless Joe” coming in to land as the CAF's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “TEXAS RAIDERS” prepares to depart. 25Aug18
Yankee Air Museum's Douglas C-47D Skytrain “Hairless Joe” landing. This aircraft is painted in the colors flown by Doolittle Raider Dick Cole over "The Hump" in the China-Burma-India Theatre in WWII. 25Aug18
Yankee Air Museum's Douglas C-47D Skytrain “Hairless Joe” taxis in after landing. 25Aug18
An M3 Stuart tank prowles the battlefield as the CAF's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “TEXAS RAIDERS” taxis out to depart. 25Aug18
A German Hetzer tank destroyer approaches as the CAF's B-17G Flying Fortress "TEXAS RAIDERS" departs the airfield. 25Aug18
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “TEXAS RAIDERS” flyby. 25Aug18
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “YANKEE LADY” flyby. 25Aug18
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “YANKEE LADY” flyby. The smoke is a simulated flak hit on the bomber. 25Aug18
B-17G Flying Fortress "YANKEE LADY" pulls up from a low pass. 25Aug18
German soldiers advance as the B-17G Flying Fortress "TEXAS RAIDERS" makes a low pass. 25Aug18
German vehicles advancing as the stricken B-17G Flying Fortress "YANKEE LADY" makes a low pass. 25Aug18
Topside in the sunlight as the B-17G Flying Fortress "YANKEE LADY" pulls up from a low pass. 25Aug18
The B-17G Flying Fortress "TEXAS RAIDERS" approaches for a low pass. 25Aug18
Topside visible as the B-17G Flying Fortress "TEXAS RAIDERS" pulls up from a low pass. 25Aug18
Richard Pilon_WWII Veteran and reenactor participant. This gentleman is in his 90s and still wears the same size uniform as he did in WWII. 25Aug18
WWII veteran and battlefield reenactor Richard Pilon getting a ride down the flight line. 25Aug18
My pal Dave G thanks Mr. Pilon for his service to our country. 25Aug18
Sean D. Tucker tearing up the sky in his Oracle Challenger III. 25Aug18
Sean D. Tucker performing the first cut in his Triple Ribbon Cut. 25Aug18
Sean D. Tucker performing the second cut in his Triple Ribbon Cut. 25Aug18
Sean D. Tucker inverted as he is about to make his third cut in his Triple Ribbon Cut. 25Aug18
USAF Thunderbird #5 (note the upside down 5) blasts off the runway as the Thunderbirds begin their performance. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Diamond formation. 25Aug18
Opposing Knife Edge Pass. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Diamond formation. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Calypso Pass (I got this shot a little after show center unfortunately). 25Aug18
Thunderbird's cross paths. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Echelon Pass in review. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's High Alpha pass. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Diamond formation with a high speed solo pass down the middle. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Max Turn with lots of vapor over the wings. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Diamond formation. 25Aug18
Two solo Thunderbirds pass in afterburner. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Delta formation. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Delta formation. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Low Bomb Burst. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Reflection Pass. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Diamond formation. 25Aug18
Thunderbird's Low Diamond Pitch Out. 25Aug18
A former USAF airman manning his engineers station on the EC-121 Warning Star (Constellation). He told me he had not sat in this seat in 30+ years, but was confident he could still run the engines today. His wife (sitting in the pilot's seat) said he'd been there all day talking with the people touring the plane. 25Aug18
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II of the 33rdFighter Wing – Eglin AFB, FL. 25Aug18
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II 33rdFighter Wing – Eglin AFB, FL. Airmen attaching a tow bar so a tug could take the F-35A back to the hanger. 25Aug18
A Lockheed P-3C Orion from VP-30 – NAS Jacksonville, FL. 25Aug18
Northrup Grumman E-2 Hawkeye from VAW-120 – NAS Oceana, VA . 25Aug18
E-2 Hawkeye Reflection. 25Aug18
BAE Systems CT-155 Hawk from the 15 Wing – CFB Moosejaw, SK, Canada. Ladder was there to allow people to view inside the cockpit. 25Aug18
CT-155 Hawk Helmet and Reflection. 25Aug18
Being a bit "Nosey" - McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle from the 159thFighter Wing – NAS JRB News Orleans, LA. 25Aug18
Thunder Over Michigan - Sunday
Dense fog greeted us in the morning, but cleared out after Noon so the airshow could begin. I spent the morning roaming the ramp for static shots of most of the aircraft there.
Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan
26 August 2018
North American Aviation B-25J Mitchell "SUPER RABBIT" owned by Brent Hisey. 26Aug18
Grumman TBM-3E Avenger owned by Brad Deckert. 26Aug18
Yes, "Doc" is The DOC from Disney's Sleeping Beauty. 26Aug18
Boeing B-29 Superfortress "DOC". One of only two flying B-29's in the world. 26Aug18
Always need a nice engine nacelle & prop photo. 26Aug18
And a second engine nacelle & prop photo is even better! 26Aug18
EC-121 Warning Star (Constellation) with much paint wear from sitting outside in the harsh Michigan weather. I toured the interior and it still houses many of its original sensor equipment. 26Aug18
Lockheed Martin C-130H2 Hercules 179th Airlift Wing – Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base, OH 26Aug18
Only one prop on each engine had this symbol on it. 26Aug18
The line was long for people wanting to tour the C-130H2 Hercules. 26Aug18
Vultee SNV-1 Valiant owned by Bruce Koch. 26Aug18
Boeing PT-17 Stearman owned by Dave & Deb Groh. 26Aug18
LIBERTY AVIATION MUSEUM’S B-25J Mitchell WWII Medium bomber “GEORGIE’S GAL”.
Vought FG-1D Corsair Commemorative Air Force 26Aug18
Pretty Thunderbirds all lined up in a row. 26Aug18
WACO YMF-5C Yankee Air Museum 26Aug18
P-51 Mustang Noses. 26Aug18
P-51 Mustang "Gentleman Jim" 26Aug18
P-51 Mustang "Old Crow" 26Aug18
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt "HUN HUNTER XVI" from the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN. Aircraft owned by Neal Melton. 26Aug18
Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing Bell P-63A-6 Kingcobra. 26Aug18
North American P-51D Mustang "Petie 2nd" 26Aug18
Scott (Scooter) Yoak's North American P-51D Mustang "Quick Silver". She was down with a mechanical issue and many hands were there to help out. 26Aug18
McDonnell Douglas T-45C Goshawk TRAWING 2 from NAS Kingsville, TX under tow. 26Aug18
Grumman FM-2 Wildcat 26Aug18
Rosie the Riveter reenactor on the wing of the North American Aviation SNJ-4 - Commemorative Air Force – Buffalo Heritage Squadron 26Aug18
Rosie the Riveter reenactor on the wing of the North American Aviation SNJ-4 - Commemorative Air Force – Buffalo Heritage Squadron 26Aug18
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt "HUN HUNTER XVI" with owner Neal Melton (Right) talking to an aviation fan. 26Aug18
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt "HUN HUNTER XVI" with owner Neal Melton (Right) talking to an aviation fan. 26Aug18
The Merlin engine in this P-51 Mustang is leaving a mark. 26Aug18
Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” warming up for another revenue ride. 26Aug18
Panels off and door open show off the interior of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing's Bell P-63A-6 Kingcobra. 26Aug18
Boeing B-29 Superfortress "DOC" on the way in to land. Due to an issue with its landing gear, there were unable to perform at the show. 26Aug18
Lots of WWII history on display in this photo - Boeing B-29 Superfortress "DOC", Douglas C-47D Skytrain “Hairless Joe”, and Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver. 26Aug18
Once the issue with the landing gear was sorted out, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress "DOC" made an uneventful landing. 26Aug18
Navy flight with the the Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver in the lead followed by the Vought FG-1D Corsair. 26Aug18
Vought FG-1D Corsair 26Aug18
Vought FG-1D Corsair 26Aug18
Vought FG-1D Corsair 26Aug18
Vought FG-1D Corsair 26Aug18
Vought FG-1D Corsair 26Aug18
Vought FG-1D Corsair 26Aug18
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” going around for another pass. 26Aug18
Nice topside view of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” as she flies by. 26Aug18
North American P-51D Mustang "GENTLEMAN JIM" flyby. 26Aug18
North American P-51B Mustang "OLD CROW” flyby. 26Aug18
The German Hetzer tank destroyer fires its gun and let me tell you it was LOUD! 26Aug18
Richard Pilon_WWII Veteran and reenactor participant. He is scouting for hiding German soldiers in the grass. This is his second day participating with the battlefield reenactment. 26Aug18
Grumman FM-2 Wildcat flyby. 26Aug18
Grumman TBM-3E Avenger flyby with smoke ON! 26Aug18
Yankee Air Museum
The Saturday morning airshow was cancelled at Thunder Over Michigan due to rain and low cloud ceilings. So I toured the Yankee Air Museum on the grounds of Willow Run Airport. This collection will be moving into the much larger remains of the B-24 Liberator assembly plant across the airport at some point in the near future.
25 August 2018
F-4C Phantom II Yankee Air Museum 25Aug18
A-4C Skyhawk Yankee Air Museum 25Aug18
F-84F Thunderstreak in Thunderbirds colors. Yankee Air Museum 25Aug18
A collection of Japanese equipment from WWII on display. Yankee Air Museum 25Aug18
Engine nacelles from their B-52D Stratofortress undergoing restoration work inside the museum. Yankee Air Museum 25Aug18
Top turret with twin 50 caliber machine guns from a B-24 Liberator on display. Yankee Air Museum 25Aug18
B-24L Liberator bomber flight deck on display. This flight deck came from a Canadian Lend-Lease Liberator and was restored by a collector in Nashville, TN. Yankee Air Museum 25Aug18
A B-24 Liberator fuselage with the tail gunners position under restoration. 25Aug18
Looking down the under restoration fuselage interior of the B-24 Liberator from the rear tail gunners position. 25Aug18