Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Airshow Photography from the UK and around the world
User avatar
Storm Shadow
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun 16 Aug 2009, 6:43 pm
Location: Bolton, Lancs

Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Storm Shadow »

Although the Collings Me-262 has scrubbed, at least Dean Cutshall's F-100F Super Sabre arrived today, and made several great passes before landing:

Image


Hugh

User avatar
Sea King
Posts: 1293
Joined: Tue 01 Jun 2010, 4:42 pm

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Sea King »

Fantastic.

Would be good to see more photos once the weekend is over! :smile:

CASAMAC
Posts: 182
Joined: Thu 04 Sep 2008, 2:56 pm

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by CASAMAC »

An F100 flying!!!! Absolutely fantastic!!!
Thanks for posting.

User avatar
raiford
Posts: 1831
Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 12:48 am
Location: Worcester, England

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by raiford »

have I just died and gone to heaven? that is unbelievable, the most beautiful thing I have seen since, well, the last most beautiful thing I saw! really though, a bigger picture would be more than welcome! :hypno: :dizzy: :drool:

User avatar
nigelblake
Posts: 2548
Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 4:10 am
Location: Bedfordshire
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by nigelblake »

What a beautifully preserved example of one of the prettiest military aircraft ever designed!
Great image too, can we see some more please?

User avatar
Stu
Posts: 3644
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 4:05 pm
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Stu »

Ohh looks very nice :clap: can remember cammo F100s about here years ago ohhh getting old :roll:
Olympus Cameras

UBC780XLT
DJ-X10
DJ-X3

Representing www.simplyplanes.co.uk

User avatar
lanemiker
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri 08 May 2009, 6:27 pm
Location: Weybridge, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by lanemiker »

Storm Shadow wrote:Although the Collings Me-262 has scrubbed, at least Dean Cutshall's F-100F Super Sabre arrived today, and made several great passes before landing:

Image


Hugh


Hugh,

Great shot of Dean Cutshall's F-100F. :clap: :clap: :clap: I saw him display her at the Indianapolis Airshow in 2008. Very nice!!!

I attended this show for many years when I lived in the Michigan and Illinois. It is one of THE BEST shows in the US. Mike Luther, Tom and Kevin Walsh along with all the organizers from the Yankee Air Museum always put on a fantastic show at Thunder Over Michigan. Good luck to them this year on their Gathering of Fortresses and Legends - The Final Mission theme. Sure wish I was there this weekend.

Look forward to more of your photos from Thunder Over Michigan 2010. Looks like the weather gods are smiling on Willow Run this weekend!!!

Have a good one!!!

Lance
Canon 7D (2) gripped, Canon 40D gripped, 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, BushHawk

User avatar
Lomcevak26
Posts: 1800
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 5:20 pm
Location: North Devon
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Lomcevak26 »

"Phwoooooooaaaaaaar!" :grin:

Lovely aircraft.

User avatar
Macc
Posts: 3287
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 10:55 am
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Macc »

Sweet Jesus! Didn't know they had one flying in the world! Looks awesome!

Chris.

User avatar
AlexC
Posts: 6040
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 6:40 pm
Location: New Forest

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by AlexC »

Sea King wrote:
Would be good to see more photos once the weekend is over! :smile:


That's for sure! I'd like to know how many B-17's turn up and which ones?
Pte. Aubrey Gerald Harmer, R. Suss. R. (att. to the Sherwood Foresters) KIA 26/9/1917 Polygon Wood, aged 19, NKG. RIP

User avatar
Chris IL-76
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu 11 Sep 2008, 11:01 am
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Chris IL-76 »

What a scheme.....sure it's not 1963

Superb!!

User avatar
Skyflash
UKAR Staff
Posts: 2236
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 7:51 pm
Location: Edinburgh

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Skyflash »

:drool:

Crikey, that is just gorgeous! Would love to see that thing sometime, I've never seen an F-100.
Posting comments on an aviation-related chatroom, are ya? Looks like it an' all...

User avatar
lanemiker
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri 08 May 2009, 6:27 pm
Location: Weybridge, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by lanemiker »

AlexC wrote:
Sea King wrote:
Would be good to see more photos once the weekend is over! :smile:


That's for sure! I'd like to know how many B-17's turn up and which ones?


Alex,

Here is a portion of the aircraft list from Thunder Over Michigan website that lists the visiting B-17's. I have seen photos of "Sentimental Journey, Texas Raiders, Liberty Belle, Thunderbird and of course Yankee Lady already on the ramp there at Thunder. Should be a great show. I saw the Thunder over Michigan 2005 airshow when there was 9 B-17's there. It was fantastic when they made a loose formation fly over to end the show on both Saturday and Sunday.

•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" Yankee Air Museum
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Aluminum Overcast" EAA Aviation Foundation
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Thunderbird" Lone Star Flight Museum
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "The Movie Memphis Belle" Military Aircraft Restoration Corp
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Texas Raiders" Commemorative Air Force - Gulf Coast Wing
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" Commemorative Air Force - Arizona Wing
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Liberty Belle" Liberty Foundation
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine" Collings Foundation

Lance
Last edited by lanemiker on Sat 07 Aug 2010, 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Canon 7D (2) gripped, Canon 40D gripped, 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, BushHawk

User avatar
LN Strike Eagle
UKAR Staff
Posts: 11191
Joined: Mon 21 Jul 2008, 3:29 pm

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by LN Strike Eagle »

Oh my goodness! :drool: :drool: :drool:
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"

User avatar
lanemiker
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri 08 May 2009, 6:27 pm
Location: Weybridge, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by lanemiker »

LN Strike Eagle wrote:Oh my goodness! :drool: :drool: :drool:


Dan,

How about something like that over here in the UK? To my knowledge, not since the end of World War II has that many B-17's been over here in the UK at one time. If you ever get a chance to see a Thunder Over Michigan airshow at Willow Run, MI, do it. It is quite an experience. They always put on a great show.

Lance
Canon 7D (2) gripped, Canon 40D gripped, 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, BushHawk

User avatar
LN Strike Eagle
UKAR Staff
Posts: 11191
Joined: Mon 21 Jul 2008, 3:29 pm

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by LN Strike Eagle »

I was referring to the F-100 actually, although it equally applies to the list of B-17s! :lol:
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"

User avatar
lanemiker
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri 08 May 2009, 6:27 pm
Location: Weybridge, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by lanemiker »

Dan,

Dean Cutshalls's F-100F is very nice. He puts on a great display in her. But when was the last time that you saw this may B-17s at one time?

Lance
Canon 7D (2) gripped, Canon 40D gripped, 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, BushHawk

User avatar
Dustyman73
Posts: 208
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 5:25 pm
Location: California, USA

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Dustyman73 »

Storm Shadow wrote:Although the Collings Me-262 has scrubbed, at least Dean Cutshall's F-100F Super Sabre arrived today, and made several great passes before landing:

Image


Hugh


I would LOVE to see one of these fly! I had no idea there was an airworthy one out there! :rock:

User avatar
Storm Shadow
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun 16 Aug 2009, 6:43 pm
Location: Bolton, Lancs

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Storm Shadow »

Several images from today (Saturday) at Willow Run,

Firstly, more F-100F:

Image

Image

Image


The B-17s only fly 'racetrack' pattern, so it is difficult to get shots of them together in the air, but just to show that all eight flew today:

Image
Image

Image
Image

Image
Image

Image
Image

Image
Image

Image
Image

Image
Image
Image

and P-51B 'Old Crow' provided 'top cover':
Image

Also aloft at the same time was B-24 'Witchcraft', but it had to return soon after take-off with a 'smoky' port inner engine.

Hugh

User avatar
Storm Shadow
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun 16 Aug 2009, 6:43 pm
Location: Bolton, Lancs

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Storm Shadow »

By the way, I was also here for the last B-17 gathering, in 2005, and I am sure that there were 'only' eight B-17s present/flying then, though I think there were some different ones. This time, as I understand, 'Chuckie' was not fully airworthy, and 'Fuddy Duddy' was kept in California.

The same pattern was used in the previous airshow, with the bombers flying the 'racetrack', then a 'mass approach' head-on from across the airfield, but with the aircraft spread out (difficult for the pilots to practice formation flying!). Finally a 'missing man' formation of three B-17s and the P-51, which pulled up and out of formation to leave the three B-17s to fly overhead. In 2005 I'm sure the 'missing man' had four B-17s, with one pulling up.

Perhaps, in another four or five years, it might be possible to have over 12 B-17s at Willow Run?


Hugh

User avatar
nigelblake
Posts: 2548
Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 4:10 am
Location: Bedfordshire
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by nigelblake »

Excellent additional images , many thanks!

We had 5 flying B17s at RAF Binbrook when filming "Memphis Belle" I think there was just 8 airworthy examples then. There where also several "cut-outs" these were artworked flat plywood full size mock-ups.

User avatar
lanemiker
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri 08 May 2009, 6:27 pm
Location: Weybridge, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by lanemiker »

Hugh,

I stand corrected. You are correct. There were only eight B-17s at the 2005 Thunder Over Michigan airshow. I miscounted the B-17G "Aluminum Overcast" She was not there at Thunder that year. She was being repaired after her post landing accident at Van Nuys Airport in California in May 2004.

Too bad that "Chuckie" and "Fuddy Duddy" could not make this one. Glad to see the Commemorative Air Force has got their B-17G "Texas Raiders" back on the circuit again after a lengthy restoration.

It would be great to see 12 B-17s back in the air again. I would definitely make plans to attend that show! It would be so nice if the Sally B Foundation could send the "Sally B" over to join them for that show.

With the news that that Commemorative Air Force has now got the B-29 "Fifi" back flying again, can you imagine once again seeing all the heavy bombers of World War II back in the air at the same time. Wouldn't that make a great heritage shot? Maybe the Thunder Over Michigan organizers can work on that one for an upcoming show in the next few years.

Great photos Hugh. :clap: :clap: :clap: Please keep the coming.

Lance
Last edited by lanemiker on Sun 08 Aug 2010, 12:57 pm, edited 7 times in total.
Canon 7D (2) gripped, Canon 40D gripped, 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, BushHawk

User avatar
lanemiker
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri 08 May 2009, 6:27 pm
Location: Weybridge, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by lanemiker »

nigelblake wrote:Excellent additional images , many thanks!

We had 5 flying B17s at RAF Binbrook when filming "Memphis Belle" I think there was just 8 airworthy examples then. There where also several "cut-outs" these were artworked flat plywood full size mock-ups.


Nigel,

That's right. What a great film that was! One part in the movie showed the ball turret gunner test firing his guns. My wife's Dad was a ball turret gunner on a B-17G based in Chelveston with the 305th Bomb Group from September 1944 until February 1945. He flew 35 missions during that time. He recently passed away at 90 years old. That scene gave her an idea what it was like when her Dad was firing his guns.

Lance
Last edited by lanemiker on Wed 20 Apr 2011, 1:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Canon 7D (2) gripped, Canon 40D gripped, 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, BushHawk

User avatar
Storm Shadow
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun 16 Aug 2009, 6:43 pm
Location: Bolton, Lancs

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by Storm Shadow »

Lance,

I believe the organisers of 'Thunder' had the intention of getting 'Fifi' for this show, but it wasn't ready in time.

In 2005 they also had 'Diamond Lil' (B-24-ish) at the show.


Hugh

User avatar
AlexC
Posts: 6040
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 6:40 pm
Location: New Forest

Re: Thunder Over Michigan 2010

Post by AlexC »

lanemiker wrote:
Alex,

Here is a portion of the aircraft list from Thunder Over Michigan website that lists the visiting B-17's. I have seen photos of "Sentimental Journey, Texas Raiders, Liberty Belle, Thunderbird and of course Yankee Lady already on the ramp there at Thunder. Should be a great show. I saw the Thunder over Michigan 2005 airshow when there was 9 B-17's there. It was fantastic when they made a loose formation fly over to end the show on both Saturday and Sunday.

•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" Yankee Air Museum
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Aluminum Overcast" EAA Aviation Foundation
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Thunderbird" Lone Star Flight Museum
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "The Movie Memphis Belle" Military Aircraft Restoration Corp
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Texas Raiders" Commemorative Air Force - Gulf Coast Wing
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" Commemorative Air Force - Arizona Wing
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Liberty Belle" Liberty Foundation
•Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine" Collings Foundation

Lance


Thanks for that. I've seen all of them at one time or other except for Liberty Bell. There were four of them at Oshkosh the other last week and I thought that was pretty good, but eight is exceptional!
Pte. Aubrey Gerald Harmer, R. Suss. R. (att. to the Sherwood Foresters) KIA 26/9/1917 Polygon Wood, aged 19, NKG. RIP

Post Reply