You mean they’re giving air away ? WOW ! Will I win the wind ? How about just a breeze? Hope it’s not a cold wind.
Oh… you mean things that fly in the air ?
Like airplanes ?
OK.
Sorry !!!
Nevermind .
Anybody up for hot dogs and marshmellows?!?!? [:p][:p][8D]
This is Shockwave II,with 2 engines,the original Shockwave,which I believe Seadragon is referring too,is a Peterbuilt 379 with 3 (yes 3 !?!) jet engines…pretty cool act if you havn’t seen it. I go to airshows to see the modern hardware.Nothing makes more giddy than to see and hear a F-14,15,16,18 or even a BONE do a low pass in full 'burner.The first time I seen a B-1 stand on it’s tail…was borderline religious.I also like the static displays.Nothing like being able to run your hands down the side of your favorite airplane.It’s almost like caressing your wife/girlfriend.Aerobatics are OK…but my favs are the modern jet demo’s.Viper West puts on a good show…just my [2c]
Even if you don’t have a hearing problem it’s best to use some ear plugs to protect ypur ears from damage when watching jets.
USE EAR PLUGS! [:D]
Greeting from Australia!
I went to the Avalon International Airshow in Victoria , Australia recently and the USAF had, among other beasties, a C-17 Globemaster. Wow! The pilot chucked that thing around the sky like a fighter!
Celestialsphere
P.S If you’re organising an airshow make sure the aircraft that are roped off are not obscured by generators and sign boards etc, Thankyou 
I try to get to Geneseo, NY for the show there when I can. It’s a grass airfield and they feature WW2 and some WW1 aircraft and usually some flyovers of a few modern aircraft.
Why do I go ?
To see the last surviving Helldiver (or so I’m told). To get as close as I feel comfortable to a B-25 as the engines start (MAN they’re loud). To walk right up to an an SE5a and see how jokin’ small it is. To see all the planes I’ve built or want to build and be able to take detail photos from feet away. To feel the breeze from 4 engines of a B-17 and then watch the whale of a plane lumber around in the sky. It’s not a myth - they do fly ! … s l o w l y !
This show isn’t as flashy as the modern jet airshows where the Blue Angls or the Thunderbirds are present - those are great too - but they’re a different kind of great. I’ve always had a pleasant surprise at the Geneseo show - seeing some plane I’ve never seen before. One year it was a Connie, last year it was the Avenger, Helldiver, and Hawker Fury. A few years back it was the P-40 and P-47. There always seems to be a mustang or 4. A low level pass by a Spitfire is just gorgeous. I’m rambling - you guys don’t want to hear me rambling…
It’s a great show.
If you’re gonna do a jet show - ala the Thunderbirds… there is one absolutely essential ingerdient: They’ve gotta do that thing where they’ve got you paying attention to one plane or a group of planes - and then one of the soloists comes screaming overhead from out of nowhere and you’re not conscious of the sound until it’s way gone and several people need a change of clothes. I LOVE that part !
Chris
Ditto to everyone’s… I love it all. Especially the warbirds… then the modern military jets… and then the aerobatics come in last for me. I mean it’s cool but give me the other two anyday. Also the static displays are a must… my favorite memories of airshows are of sitting in or walking through countless aircraft of static display at the Dayton Airshow circa 1980 something. The T-birds or Blue angels are a plus but not a must… I once saw the snowbirds and all of those aircraft in the sky at once was pretty memorable.
It has to be demonstrations of aircraft performance, old or new.
Wing walking, solo aerobatic routines by pitts or extras etc for me at least is time to go get a beer. Just 'cos it’s dead clever doesn’t necessarily make it entertaining.
Bossman: I totally echo what you say about the Thunderbirds or Blue Angel’s “tactical surprise”. I went with my father-in-law to the 2003 Dayton Air Show, the 100th anniversary of powered (heavier-than-air) flight. The T-Birds, Angels and Snow Birds were all there. I told him to keep his eye on the 4-ship formation when the Angels were flying…I was watching and knew when the 2 soloists were going to go screaming overhead from behind the crowd…BAM BAM, one-two. He was impressed…not suprised, but impressed. And the announcer, how cheesy…“Now that solo pilots #5 and #6 have your attention…”
I love it!
I go for the sights and the sounds. Ilike them all.[:D]
Airplanes? What airplanes?
Fade to Black…
Blackwolf… [(-D][(-D][(-D]
Well, since most airshows do occur in the summertime, that’s a good point…
Seriously though, I’m sure all my reasons are covered above except that I have an obsession with taking pictures that never live up to my expectations.
And so help me, I never, ever need to see another jet powered semi, car, atv, or outhouse (no kidding there was one at my local airshow last year) at an air show again. The only time I want to see a jet engine where it wasn’t designed to be is on Jimmy Franklin’s WACO.
Everyone has good points- the main reason I go is to be a witness to the hard work and skill that these folks give us every summer weekend. It is so impressive to see all the different acts, but some are trite- that being said, the jet cars, etc. may bore some of us “true believers”, but they do bring in the general public. If the organizers had to rely on the enthusiasts to pay the bills, there would be one big show, period. I have been lucky to see some really superb shows over the years (Mildenhall’s Air Fete is pretty much the pinnacle for me), but I have come to appreciate the small show as well. I am looking forward to the first area show this year- Springfield, IL. The attraction that decided my attendance- Phantom in the Heritage Flight. The Blues are always fun to watch, the modern fighter demos rock, a BONE is a plus. Warbirds- the more, the merrier. Can’t get enough of them, WWII trainers to Vietnam-era FAC birds. GA stuff- Bobby Younkin’s stable of aerobatic birds is fun to watch as well. The aerobatics are cool for me- I watch some guy wring out his Pitts near my house every weekend. The other part is that the static should be interesting. The above attractions will ensure a good static. I like being able to photograph the jets up close (with the digital, so the models will be right!). Best of all- talking to the pilots. Had a really nice talk with a Viper driver from Cannon last year and learned a lot about the Wild Weasel mission they have now. My limit for a show is about 3-4 hour drive (I know, get off my butt and get a Private Pilot ticket). I did drive 6 hours over to Dayton in 2003 because they had all three North American jet teams. Now, if someone will tell me where Mr. Cutshall’s Hun will be appearing this summer…The bottom line is to enjoy the shows you can make- airplanes look a lot better in the air than in a museum.
Well I just love the smell of jet fuel,lol. I miss seeing foreign aircraft at airshows. In the early 90s I got to see Mig-29s, Tornados, Alpha Jets, and some F-4F Luftwaffe Phantoms. Once I even got to see a warbird Hawker Hunter Dogfight a Mig-15 in the late eighties, that was great. Unfortunately due to budget cuts most of these countries no longer travel to the US for airshows. Although I did see a German Tornado from a training unit in New Mexico in the past few years. Now I get excited when I see a CF-18 or Canadian Hawk at an airshow in the US (And I live in Ohio only a few hundred miles from Canada’s border.
For me to travel 3+ hours to an air show (which I haven’t done yet), I would expect to see some aircraft and demonstrations that are not the “same old things”. Most of the air shows that I have seen have been overseas in England and Paris. Most of the air shows here in the States that I want to see are more like a few days travel to see and they never seem to to happen when I am able to travel.
I like what the others have said: displays of “Golden Years” aircraft, warbird restoration and demonstrations, biplane rides, military aircraft that you can get up close to and check out details, and military jet demos. Jet engine noise is o.k., but there is nothing like the sound of an R-2800 radial starting up and taxing by.
Some day I would like to check out an Oshkosh show, the Chino air show and see the Confederate Air Force air show demonstration.
I’m really into hearing and watching those big radials start up, belching fire and smoke, hammering the ears and making your hair stand straight up. Personally, don’t think there’s anything that sounds and smells like an R-2800 cranking over.
In general, just love airplanes.