Southwest Swing: Scenes From Spring and Summer Forays From the Midwest, Part 1

By Fred Harl

Several times each year, The Aero Experience forays out into the great Southwest and visiting interesting sites along the way. Whether driving or flying, the experience is as interesting as each destination. In this edition of our Southwest swing coverage, we visit several roadside aircraft displays, a Cal Fire base and a great aviation museum. We hope that this and all of our travel posts encourage everyone to get out and experience our great country's aviation heritage.

Roadside Aviation Memorials:

Monett, MO Veterans Memorial, F-4E 66-0315 USAF Thunderbirds aircraft

Rogers, AR Municipal Airport Vietnam Veterans Memorial, F-101B 58-0329

Flying from St. Louis to Points West

Chico, CA Cal Fire Attack Base and Chico Air Museum

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and the American Airlines CR Smith Museum

Guest Post: Veteran Flies with Golden Knights During Fair St. Louis Airshow

Guest Post: U.S. Army Veteran Larry Titchenal Flies With the Golden Knights  

Fair St. Louis offered two airshows on Saturday, July 6, and I accompanied the U.S. Army Golden Knights Black Team on their Fokker C-31A Troopship for both jump flights. In this photo essay, I take a brief look at the flight from the Jet Aviation apron at St. Louis Downtown Airport to a bulls-eye landing on the Gateway Arch grounds (shot from a previous airshow this week).  

The Black Team members and air crew were a pleasure to cover, and their camaraderie and professionalism can be clearly seen. They welcome media coverage, with about half of the team engaging the media during the flight while others were all business. Just prior to jump, they "Gimme five, then knuckles" to each passenger. They love what they do, probably would do it for free. Loved flying with my U.S. Army Brothers (and sister!). Best wishes to one of our flight crew, CW4 Felicia Marlow, on her upcoming retirement.

In the photos below are views of the pre-flight activities, circling the drop zone, Black Team Drop Zone Safety Officer SFC Jesse Robbins saluting as he departs the aircraft, and the landing at the Gateway Arch grounds.

 

The Aero Experience thanks our friend Larry Titchenal for contributing to our coverage of the 2019 Fair St. Louis Airshow. We also thank him for serving in the U.S. Army from 1968 - 1970, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Bliss and Fort Riley. You can see more coverage of the 2019 Fair St. Louis Airshows in the previous several posts.

Guest Post: Quad City Airshow Features First-Rate Aerial Entertainment

Guest Post: The Aero Experience thanks our friend Duane Cooley of DRC Images for contributing this coverage of the Quad City Airshow held last weekend:

The Quad City Airshow was held June 29 and 30. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron arrived in style on June 27th. They flew practice shows on the 27th and 28th, and performances on the 29th and 30th. It was hot and humid, but the show was a real thrill with a huge crowd.  

The military flight demonstrations were a real treat - and what can one say about the Blue Angles but wow! Also featured here is the Blue Angels C-130 support aircraft and an A-10 Thunderbolt II from the Air Combat Command A-10 Demonstration Team. Other military aircraft at the airshow included the giant C-17 Globemaster III flight demonstration and numerous static displays. 

Warbird aircraft on static display included two B-25 Mitchell World War II medium bombers from the Commemorative Air Force, Show Me (MO Wing) and Miss Mitchell (MN Wing), and a MO Wing Grumman (GM-built) TBM Avenger torpedo bomber. 

More warbird action was provided by the Class of '45 formation flight by Scott Yoak in the P-51D Mustang, Quick Silver, and Jim Tobul in the F-4U-4 Corsair, Korean War Hero. The two warbirds flew in close formation, then split up for individual demonstration passes.

The Legacy Flight was flown by Jim Tobul in the Corsair, Korean War Hero, mentioned above, and a U.S. Navy T-45C jet trainer from NAS Pensacola, Florida. The Legacy Flight, similar to the USAF's Heritage Flight, features close formation flying with a WWII warbird and a modern jet.

The popular Aeroshell Aerobatic Team flew precise formation in their four AT-6 Texans.  

World-renowned airshow and Red Bull Air Race pilot, Kirby Chambliss, flew an exciting performance with his Edge 540.

The Aero Experience thanks our friend Duane Cooley of DRC Images for contributing his coverage of the Quad City Airshow.