Date: May 12-13, 2007
Story by: Jim Deveney
Photography by: Jim Deveney

McGuire AFB opened their doors to the community for a very special weekend. Mid-morning clouds gave way to late afternoon sunshine Saturday. Sunday proved to be an absolutely gorgeous day without a cloud in the sky, and most importantly, no humidity with a cool breeze blowing. With a great lineup, and a couple of surprises, McGuire AFB would prove to be a very special event.

The show started each day with the launch of the heavy metal stationed at McGuire AFB, the KC-135 Stratotanker, the KC-010 Extender, and the C-17 Globemaster III with each making two passes. McGuire has a theme that is “Can Do”, and they proved that theme Mother’s Day weekend. The U.S. Army Golden Knights and Canadian Skyhawks then officially opened the show with a dual flag jump featuring both the Canadian and American flags and national anthems, and each performed their individual shows respectively during the show. As if the parachute jumpers smoke wasn’t colorful enough, the fans were treated a a very beautiful aerobatic display by Dr. Smoke Ron Saglimbene in his Siai Marchetti SF260. Ron has a multi smoke system installed which enables him to select from red, white, or blue smoke.

Ed “Hamster” Hamill performed in the USAF Reserve biplane twice each day as he did his solo routine, and then mixing it up with Dan Buchanan in his hang glider. Hamster then cleared off for Dan to finish his very touching beautiful hang glider display. The Skytypers then had their turn at smoking up the joint. Unable to sky type Saturday due to early cloud cover, the six SNJ’s were up most of the day Sunday circling McGuire sky typing in the crisp clear New Jersey sky. Patty Wagstaff excited the crowd Sunday as she twirled her Cirrus Extra 300 seemingly out of control, but of course this lady is always in control. Jim Beasley flew his P-51D Mustang “Bald Eagle” into the skies above McGuire AFB giving everyone a look at the sleek lines of the Mustang, and more importantly being able to hear that sweet Rolls Royce Merlin engine sing.

Along with the McGuire contingent of aircraft, the military was well represented with several flybys each day of the USAF F-117 Stealth Fighter. The U.S. Navy brought their newest aircraft of the fleet to the airshow, the F/A-18F Super Hornet East Coast Demo Team from VFA-106 stationed at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Jeff “Roadie” Yost, USAF A-10 East Coast Demo Team pilot, demonstrated the capabilities of the A-10 to an appreciative crowd, and then joined Jim Beasley in his P-51D Mustang, and Maj. John “Shamu” Markle in the QF-4E West Coast Heritage Flight Phantom II. The Thunderbirds closed the show each day, soaring in the beautiful blue skies over McGuire AFB with grace, power, and precision that have become a team trademark through the years.

McGuire gave us two very special events during the airshow weekend. The first was The QF-4E Phantom flown by, Maj. John “Shamu” Markle, who was born and raised in New Jersey. Shamu had family on hand which was evident by his brother, a former USAF C-5 Avionics Specialist who launched the Phantom on Saturday, and a special treat as Shamu’s mother marshaled him into his parking spot on Sunday. Shamu then escorted his mother back to the spectator area presenting her with an American flag. Shamu, upon completion of the Heritage Flight each day, was then permitted to make three passes. Shamu made a gorgeous photo pass, followed by a highspeed flat pass into a climbing wingover, and finally a dirty pass complete with hook down. Raising the gear at the end of this pass, Shamu lit the burners showing the power of the Phantom will never be forgotten, Phantoms Phorever!

The second very special event this Mother’s Day would be the first ever official P-51 flight demo by none other than the first lady of flying herself, Patty Wagstaff. Flying Jim Beasley’s P-51D Bald Eagle, Patty showed that she can fly pretty much anything with wings on it. After an early morning familiarization flight, Patty took to the skies rolling and looping the Bald Eagle as if she had flown her for years.

With abundant blue skies and plenty of flying for all to see, McGuire AFB Open House and Expo 2007 will be on the minds of those who attended this past Mother’s Day weekend for quite some time.

Photo captions left to right: (1) Super Hornet over the hot ramp. (2) P-51 Bald Eagle. (3) A-10. (4) USAF Heritage Flight - P-51, A-10, F-4. (5) Thunderbirds opener. (6) and (7) Patty Wagstaff in the Mustang. (8) GEICO Skytypers. (9) Thunderbird solos over the C-5.