Air Amistad     Laughlin AFB     May 10, 2008

Story by Eric Renth

   The May 10 Thunder Over the Amistad Airshow at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas was a good one. Operational commitments meant many things could not appear at the airshow, but there was plenty of good stuff just the same. The Sons of Legends, Jill Long, and the Thunderbirds were definite highlights in this wonderfully small town atmosphere venue.

The static display was highlighted by a C-17 from March ARB. Other large birds included a KC-135 and two C-130s. Other statics included two F-16 Vipers, two F-15 Eagles, two A-10 Warthogs, and trainers such as the T-1 Jayhawk, T-6 Texan II, T-38 Talon and increasingly rare T-37 Tweet. A German Tornado from Holloman AFB was there along with various warbirds such as the A-1 Spad and C-47 Gooney Bird along with and assortment of World War II T-6 Texans.

Starting off the flying display was the US Special Ops Command multi service parachute team. Then came the Laughlin aircraft parade of the T-1, T-6, and T-38. A visit back to World War II training days followed as the PT-13, PT-26, PT-19, and BT-13 did a flyby. Then the era of the 1950s came as Fowler Cary did an outstanding demo in his Thunderbird T-33. This was followed by the T-28 Trojan Phylers. Buddy Holly music, anyone?

Girls can fly airplanes and rather well I would say. Jill "Raggz" Long flew her Pitts to a great show of aerial ballet. It was fun watching her sign autographs and talking with folks afterwards. Kyle Franklin was great in his Cub and put humor in his routine. Next came a flyby of the B-2A Spirit out of Whiteman AFB, making several passes.

Class act Randy Ball came with his MiG-17 and showed what a deadly adversary this plane was in Vietnam with its maneuverability and turning radius. Very impressive sir. The 1940s returned as four AT-6 Texans did some fine formation flying. Glenn Miller time!

That was followed by a warbird review of the Skyraider, Gooney Bird, and B-25 Mitchell Texas Rose. Matt Younkin then showed that the Beech 18 is an aerobatic bird. You have to see this to believe it, but his fine work had the crowd in his hands.

Then it was Bad to the Bone time as the A-10 Warthog showed, through its great manuverability, why it's earning its keep in Iraq and Afghanistan. A P-40 Warhawk then joined the Warthog for a very nice USAF Heritage Flight.

What did they do for an encore?  The always fine USAF Thunderbirds were in their usual form. They will be converting to the Block 52 variant of the Viper for the 2009 season and the excitement among the maintenance crews and pilots is evident. It is hard to believe that the Thunderbirds have been flying the F16 Viper for twenty five years, but still so very impressive. Ironically, several of the Thunderbird pilots earned their wings at Laughlin.

This was a good one! Special kudos to the Public Affiars staff of 2nd LT Courtney Kippenberger and SSgt. Austin May. Thanks for your hospitality.