Thunder Over Michigan Air Show - Gathering of Fortresses & Legends
Aug 11, 2010
Willow Run Air Port, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Saturday August 7th and 8th.
The Air Port opens to the public at 9 a.m. on the show dates, with Air Shows each day from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Old Warbirds is a phrase commonly used to describe the Great American Aircraft of World War II.
Among these loved and distinguished aircraft are, the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-25 Mitchell, the P-51 Mustang, and a Heavy Bomber we are especially proud of here in Ypsilanti the B-24 Liberator which was manufactured by the thousands at, what was in 1941, the Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant.
To see any of these beautiful aircraft up close in person is real treat.
However, to see these planes in flight is an awe inspiring feeling that is hard to express, much less what is said to be the largest gathering of B-17s flying at one time for public view, since WW II.
The air show started with the most moving parachute display I have ever seen. Cindy Irish, Team Leader of the Misty Blues Skydiving Team jumps from the bay of the B-17G Yankee Lady.
Halfway down between white clouds and the endless blue horizon, on a perfect, Michigan summer day, she deploys Americas Stars and Stripes and our National anthem begins to play.
Check out the photos.
Followed by;
-An F-16 Viper demonstration.
-The world’s only P-51 Mustang formation aerobatic flight team, The Horsemen P-51 Flight Team.
-The “Screamin’ Rebels” T-6 Formation Aerobatic Team.
-An F-100F Super Sabre demonstration
-The Highlight of the show, 7 B-17 Flying Fortresses, a B-24 Liberator and 2 P-51 Mustangs in a World War II air and ground battle reenactment.
-An Aerobatic Routine by John Mohr in a 1943 Stock Stearman PT-17.
-An F/A-18C Hornet demonstration
These aircraft represent the greatness of America, then and now, and bring an inspiring feeling of admiration and pride seeing them in the air.
Thank you to the Yankee Air Museum, the organization who makes this type of air show possible.
Next years show is rumored to host the world renowned U.S. Navy Blue Angels and their McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets, accompanied by their support aircraft "Fat Albert" a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. So join us next year for…
Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Willow Run Air Port, Ypsilanti, Michigan
July 23 and 24, 2011
Enjoy the photos,
Citrus Stand Media Group, 2010