Location: Columbus, Georgia
Date: March 17-18, 2007
Story by: Chris Buff
Photography by: Chris Buff

The Thunder in the Valley Air Show 2007 took place in Columbus, Georgia on March 17th and 18th 2007. This family-friendly show has been in existence for 10 years and is very well organized and run with a good mix of static and aerial displays. The Thunder in the Valley event benefits youth organizations in the area.

Saturday was unusually cold and blustery by Georgia standards, but Sunday proved to be considerably warmer and sunny. The improvement in the weather brought out a large and appreciative crowd. Those attending the show were greeted by a wide variety of static displays ranging from P-51 Mustangs and A-10s to a pair of recently delivered U.S. Marine MV-22 Ospreys. The event attracted several relatively rare types including a pristine Douglas AD-1 Skyraider owned by Walt Newton and the Lockheed T-33 Red Knight piloted by Chris Rounds. Also in attendance were excellent examples of T-6 and SNJ trainers along with the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing Zero and Kate replicas. The U.S. Army showed off its CH-46 Chinook and OH-58 Kiowa as well as a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Prior to the scheduled flight displays, a Marine F/A-18 Hornet flew a series of touch and goes which lived up to the “Thunder in the Valley” name. The show opened with a fine skydiving performance and delivery of the flag by the U.S Army Silver Wings parachute team based out of Fort Benning, Georgia.

The Flying Farmer, Charlie Kulp, entertained the crowd with his skilled aerobatic performance in a classic yellow Piper Cub. Gary Ward flew an exciting, high energy display in his MX-2, and Elaine Larsen addressed the crowd’s need for speed by pushing her Jet Dragster towards 300 mph.

The MV-22 Osprey wowed the crowd with its vertical takeoff and transition to forward flight. While the Osprey does not yet have an approved flight demonstration program, it returned after takeoff for a high speed pass. If you have not been fortunate enough to see the V-22 in action, the performance of the MV-22 comes as quite a surprise. The Osprey has the ability to fly twice as fast as a conventional helicopter, and it is easy to see why the Marines feel that the aircraft greatly enhances their operational capabilities.

Fowler “Big Dog” Cary flew a smooth and graceful demonstration in his vintage Lockheed T-33 featuring a beautiful Thunderbirds livery. His program includes perfectly executed aileron rolls, a Cuban 8, knife edge pass and a good variety of other maneuvers designed to show off the capabilities of the T-33. A truly unique flight performance was offered by the father/daughter team of Bob Essell and Jenny Forsyth. Bob skillfully pilots a 64hp Quicksilver Sport through a series of aerobatic maneuvers while his daughter wing walks.

A New Orleans based U.S. Coast Guard HH-65A Dolphin performed a simulated water rescue complete with a rescue diver. It was not hard to imagine how often this invaluable procedure was repeated during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters. The Aeroshell T-6 Aerobatic Team demonstrated precise timing and superb airmanship. The performance began with an impressive four ship formation takeoff and the team remained tight throughout the entire display.

All eyes were directed skyward during the always impressive Heritage Flight consisting of the intimidating A-10 Thunderbolt II flown by U.S. Air Force Captain Jeff “Roadie” Yost and a gleaming P-51 Mustang Crazy Horse 2 piloted by Lee Lauderback.

The days flying activities concluded with a number of the WWII aircraft taking to the sky and making circuits around the field. The crowd was treated to a P-51 Mustang, B-25 Mitchell, AD-1 Skyraider, TBM Avenger, Kate and Zero Replicas and finally a thunderous departure by a Marine F/A-18 Hornet.

The Thunder in the Valley Air Show 2007 drives home the fact that an airshow does not have to be large in order to be fun, exciting and a great form of family entertainment. Indeed, this event is a prime example that rural America’s love affair with airshows and aviation is alive and well.

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