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| By The Aero Experience Team |
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| Brad Deckert |
One of the most anticipated new Midwest Aviation events of the year is getting accolades from the aviation media and the large crowd in attendance during Saturday's free public TBM Gathering event at Illinois Valley Regional Airport. Event organizer, Brad Deckert, with the able assistance from the airport and warbird communities, brought together a large number of warbirds that included nine flying TBM Avengers including his own. The gathering crowd could FEEL the rumble of those TBMs as they taxied for a morning pass and review. An estimated 8,000 visitors were on hand to experience the exhilaration of the mass TBM flight and the later missing man formation salute to fallen veterans. Formation flights by T-6 Texan primary trainers, T-33 jet trainers, P-51 Mustangs and other warbirds added to the excitement throughout the day. Visitors could experience flight as well by purchasing rides in an R-44 helicopter, T-6 Texan or the Missouri Commemorative Air Force TBM-3E Avenger. The airport remained operational, accepting local and fly-in traffic that added variety to the aviation celebration unfolding before our eyes.
The Aero Experience team was there to show our appreciation to the organizers for providing this great Midwest Aviation community event. We present here an overview of the day's sights, with additional coverage coming throughout the week. Special thanks to everyone who made the event possible, and we hope that there will be many more TBM Gatherings in the future.
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