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The Thunder in
the Valley airshow is in its 11th year and supports youth
organizations in the Chattahoochee Valley area. Past shows have helped
more than 11,000 youth, a tradition any community would be proud of.
This year the
weather was both good and bad, just a typical early March weekend.
Saturday was windy, cloudy, with some rain, while Sunday broke with blue
skies, temperatures in the 60’s with a mild breeze. Stand up people, look
to the sky, here comes the 2008 airshow season!
One thing I
love about the Columbus show is the large number of Ft Benning troops that
are present, with a lot of the Ft Benning’s heavy equipment and different
weapon platforms. Everyone seems to enjoy the statics the troops placed
on display. These young men and women make me proud to be an American.
Before the air
show started Cpt. Joe Fagundes’ SNJ kept the crowds eyes glued to the sky
with exceptional maneuvers. A F/A-18 from the Marine squadron VMFA 146
“Gators” made some nice high speed passes and then a slow dirty (in
landing configuration) pass. The featured performers were Team Aerostar
with their Yak 52s and their performance was outstanding. They displayed
graceful formation loops and barrel rolls to a break away cross, bomb
burst, and opposing passes. The roar of the radial engines and billowing
smoke thrilled the crowd.
The show opened
with the US Army Silver Wings bringing in the U.S. flag. The US Army
Silver Wings are the official Ft. Benning Exhibition Parachute
Demonstration Team. Greg Poe performed in his spectacular Fagen Inc.
Ethanol MX-2 and put on a great demonstration of high energy aerobatics.
Greg’s MX-2 is the only ethanol powered airplane on the airshow circuit
today. Fowler “Big Dog” Cary’s Lockheed T-33 made some fantastic flybys
and aileron rolls, with precision knife-edge passes. What can you say
about Greg Koontz and his J-3 Cub comedy routine? The crowd young and old
loved it and his performance in the Super Decathlon was as usual -
outstanding. Tim Weber performed in his GEICO Extra 300L with great
skill. Two runs by Neal Darnell’s beautiful Flash Fire jet truck had the
crowd on their feet and as close to the fence as possible.
The last act
before the warbirds flyby was Tim Weber and Greg Poe doing a two plane
act. The crowd was in awe at how close the two performed. Great job! To
close the show, there were flybys by the Pacific Prowler and Panchito B25
Mitchell’s, P47 Wicked Wabbit, CAF’s #5 SBD, CAF’s “Red Nose” P51 Mustang,
and a beautiful TBM Avenger.
Hugh Oldham did
a great job narrating the air show. The airboss George Cline kept the show
entertaining and fast moving without down time. What more could you ask
for?
Thanks to the
organizers and volunteers for making this year a huge success.
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