October 10, 2009 was a very cloudy & blustery day at the Culpeper Regional Airport.  This show always has a beautiful back drop of colored leaves as fall has arrived in Virginia.  This year’s version was the 10th annual event held at this Brandy Station, Va. Airport.

  The airshow lineup was packed with entertainment.  The Bealton Flying Circus brought a portion of their show to Culpeper Regional.  A parachute flag jumper to open the show, along with Stearman aerobatics, a wing walker, and biplanes flying overhead from the Bealton Flying Circus not only gave this show a nostalgic feel, but they signaled the start of 3-4 hours of non-stop flying.  Aerobatic performances by Charlie Schwenker in his Extra 300, Dr. Smoke Ron Saglimbene in his Siai Marchetti SF260, and Lt. Col. (sel) Mike Lakin in his Super Decathlon delighted the crowd.  

  Warbird aerobatics were performed by both Sean Carroll in a CJ-6 and Kevin Russo in his SNJ-6.  Maj. Gen. (ret) Joe Anderson brought the first jet noise of the afternoon to the show in his L-39 Albatross.  Steve Nixon gave us a demonstration in his R-22 helicopter.  The two events everyone was looking towards were both at the end of the show.  The National Capitol Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force put up 19 warbird trainers & liaison aircraft for their portion of the airshow.  There were three diamond formations passing overhead made up of four T-28 Trojans, Four T-6/SNJ’s, another three T-6/SNJ’s, with a T-34 Mentor thrown in.  All the while, the remaining trainer & liaison aircraft flew a race track pattern. 

  Once they landed, and the congestion made by 19 airplanes cleared, it was time for the main event.  Art Nalls debut of his Sea Harrier was right here at the Culpeper Airfest in 2008, and he returned in 2009 much to the excitement of the crowd.  Art had special decals on the SHAR this year.  When Art made his photo pass, he as a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, had a message on the wings of the SHAR, GO NAVY on one wing, BEAT ARMY on the other.  The USNA mascot billy goat was on both sides of the tail of the SHAR too.  Cloudy skies & blustery winds could not damper this show, and many people were heard talking about next years show already.  Mark your calendars now, the scheduled date is October 9, 2010.