In my opinion, MCAS New River's 2008 Sounds of Freedom Past and Present airshow was the best airshow New River has ever done.

  Parking was on the large tarmac with lots of room for everyone it seemed. Security was professional and handled quickly and efficiently. Kudos to the Marines of New River.

  Headlining the aerial acts this year was Team AeroShell, the US Army Black Daggers Parachute Demo Team, the Viper East F-16 Demo Team from Shaw AFB, Patty Wagstaff, Greg Poe, Gary Rower, Mike Wiskus, and the always low flying, thrill to watch Dale "Snort" Snodgrass.

  In addition to the demo teams and aerobatic flyers, New River unleashed it's own aircraft for an enjoyable weekend of flight action. This included the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) demo which features numerous aircraft types - F/A-18D Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, AH-1W Cobras, UH-1N, MV-22 Osprey, CH-53, and KC-130J Hercules.The KC-130J did a simulated refueling of two Harriers and two Hornets flying in perfect formation with the Herc above airshow central.

  Also in attendance was the Navy's F-18C Hornet demo from the VFA-106 Gladiators based at NAS Oceana. The F-18C is the Navy's older "heritage" model as opposed to the larger newer Super Hornet. But there was nothing sub par with the C model's demo. The pilot put it thru its routine with numerous passes, multiple tight turns, loops, barrel rolls, knife edged passes, inverted passes, wheels down slow rolls, and after-burner fueled "warp" speed that dared my camera to stay focused because the Hornet was flying so fast.

  The Hornet contrasted nicely with the V-22 Osprey flights. New River had multiple Ospreys in the air at the same time. To watch this aircraft in flight is like watching a butterfly flutter across the sky. The Osprey is not a traditional loud pointy-nosed speed demon, it is quiet, and flies gracefully then hovers as it comes in for a landing, more akin to helicopters than traditional prop powered transports.

  The Air Force was well represented with the F-16C demo. Watching the Viper soar through it's maneuvers was impressive. Glad I'm not on it's receiving end in time of war. It's agility, it's quick turn capability, and it's speed and weapons load are a major deterrent to any bad guy in the air or on the ground. And at Saturday's show, the contrails coming off the wingtips made for awesome photos.

  The civilian aerobatic fliers this year were top notch. Some I had seen before, many I had not. None disappointed me. Greg Poe in his MX2 put on a nice show, and his act was new to me, but I certainly hope I see more of his shows in the future. Same can be said for Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts S-1-11b SS Modified biplane. Mike put on a show that was very enjoyable to watch, his Pitts is a beautiful aircraft and he knows how to entertain a crowd. Gary Rower in his red and white Stearman also were new to me but not for long. His big Pratt and Whitney radial engine has a unique rumbling sound that's hard to mistake. With smoke turned on he blasts through the sky leaving a smoke trail in his wake. His is a nice act reminiscent of the barnstormers days.

  Dale "Snort" Snodgrass took a P-51 and ran it through every conceivable stunt a low level master can achieve. The same moves he seems to effortlessly perform inside his F-86, he makes with the P-51. The Mustang also later flew wing on the F-16 for the day's USAF heritage Flight. Patty Wagstaff and her Extra 300S continues to put on one of the best aerobatic shows of any civilian pilot. I've been watching her act for quite a few years, and if possible, it just keeps getting better and better every year. She flew as vigorous a show as any I've seen short of Skip Stewart. Patty did loops, twists, turns, rolls, made a nice inverted pass, and just kept the crowds on the edge of their seats. She's without a doubt one of the best pilots on the airshow circuit today.

  With all the action in the skies over New River, it was hard to pull myself away from the flight line to walk among the static aircraft at the show. The US Coast Guard flew in an MH-60J Jayhawk and an HC-130J from CGAS Elizabeth City, NC, one of four rescue Hercs based there. The Arkansas Air Guard flew in two A-10s with their Razorback markings, one even sported a Hogs head nose art similar to the markings that previously adorned their F-16s. There was a giant C-17 from Charleston AFB, and numerous other training aircraft or transports.

  New River put on a great, crowd-pleasing airshow and I will be back for their future shows. Hats off for a well done job New River.