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OT: best NA airshow?

L

Lenop

Charter Member
A bit of an OT question, hope it's okay.

I'm looking for opinions on the best North American Airshow.

I have the possibility to visit The States somewhere between September and November. Exactly where doesn't really matter although nice weather helps!

I'm mainly into Warbirds mixed with some recent military planes. Duxford is my favorite European airshow, for example.

Your input is appreciated!
 
If you are here in September, may I suggest the Reno Air Races.

We usually go every three or four years, and spend a Friday there taking in the sights and taking a lot of photos. The paddock area is filled with flying raceers and the static area is filled with great restored aircraft, and there is an air show all day long which includes one or more of the well know flying teams like the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels and/or Snowbirds. And of course there are daily heats of the racers.
:ernae:
--WH
 
BEst west coast show miramar (San Diego) I believe in sept. can also visit at this time the sd aerospace museum, the marine corp aviation museum, march afb museum, and chino.

Was disappointed with the Nellis show and found miramar to be better.

Oshkosh is wonderful and the air force museum is unbelievable (take two days to see everything)
 
Airventure ain't what it used to be. Since 9/11 and the maximum record profits from fuel era, aircraft attendance has gone down significantly. The spirit there is not of aviation but rather consumerism. Every year I hear more and more regular attendees complain about it.
 
Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. Great 3 day air show featuring the Blue Angels & including the evening airshow on Friday and the Blast at the Beach with afterburner fly-bys and parachute teams. Plus, lots of stuff to do when
not at the airshow itself along with a number of aviation museums within driving distance around Virginia Beach. We make the trek every year.
 
if you can be here in northern california in September and early October,there is a good line up,ive been to all but one,and they are all good,lots of warbirds and new military,and classic aircraft as well.

starting:
Sept 8-9,california capitol airshow,sacramento..allways a good show,
Sept 11-15th,Reno national air races..goes without saying..one of the best
Sept 22-23rd Salinas Ca,,never been to this one..but its advertised as a huge warbird/military/classic show..ive heard its very good
Sept 28-30th Chico Ca...this is kind of small..but very good as well,plus they have a small museum right at the entrance
Oct 6-7,San Fransico Fleet week airshow...this is an awesome sight to see...blue angels jets just feet over the bay,Alcatraz island as a backdrop...pretty cool..

Dave
 
Posted in another thread a while ago, but here's a tool that may help
http://socialflight.com/index.php

It will get better as time goes on, software is updated and most importantly as events get added. The nice thing is that, for visitors or the geographically-challenged, it's in visual map form
 
Dangerousdave26 said:
Here is a website that lists airshows by month.

It might help you in planning.

http://www.aero-pix.com/schedule/schedule.htm

The Stuart Airshow in November is a small one but its always good. Right now it is TBA
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I feel it's important to point out that you have posted last year's schedule, Sir.
It's marked 2012 at the top of the page, and if you check most of the dates for the airshow would fall on Monday/Tuesdays. :kilroy:
 
Odie said:
Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. Great 3 day air show featuring the Blue Angels & including the evening airshow on Friday and the Blast at the Beach with afterburner fly-bys and parachute teams. Plus, lots of stuff to do when
not at the airshow itself along with a number of aviation museums within driving distance around Virginia Beach. We make the trek every year.
Click to expand...

I'm with Odie....best I've ever seen bar none. Not sure that meets your time frame though.
 
Daveroo said:
Sept 28-30th Chico Ca...this is kind of small..but very good as well,plus they have a small museum right at the entrance
Click to expand...

Went I think 2010. Hot as :censored: but the small museum was free so you could pop in and cool off. Hey bails were ploped down so you didn't have to bring your own seats. Over all much better than Redding's sucktacular that wasn't even on that year. Chico was the only Nor Cal have a airshow that year.
 
Allen said:
Went I think 2010. Hot as :censored: but the small museum was free so you could pop in and cool off. Hey bails were ploped down so you didn't have to bring your own seats. Over all much better than Redding's sucktacular that wasn't even on that year. Chico was the only Nor Cal have a airshow that year.
Click to expand...

i think 2010 was when i went as well,Aero Union was still there,they hadnt yet made the official move to McClellan,it was very hot,but i had my trusty umbrella hat and plenty of water.

but as far as Nor Cal airshows....depends on your definition of "Nor Cal",lol,i consider my area as Nor Cal as well,and we have an "airfair" at either Auburn or Nevada County every year,last year was Auburn..this year will be Nevada county,i dont know the date..more than likely in July..just after the 4th,whats cool about the NC airfare is the CalFire air attack base,both tankers and the air attack plane are usually on base,as is the forest service Aero commander,and the visitors are allowed to get up and close,the pilots and AT officer are on duty and spend most of the time on the ramp talking to people..there isnt an airshow..but there are fly-bys..seafurys,,last time there was a beechcraft D17 staggerwing,one year a gulf streem jet did a low,high speed pass...im talkin like 10-12 feet off the runway...the air-boss wasnt happy... been corsairs,,avengers,P-51s ..AT-6s up the ying-yang..T-28s...Julie Clark allways either sends her T-28 over or brings it herself,the Dewelle faqmily is usually there..and in 2011 i saw a storch being worked on..i thought it was a replica...but the owner walked out from behind a Stutz car that was there and he said it was a real one..

anyway..there is also an airshow in santa rosa every year,and rancho murietta (east of sacramento,west of Placerville) is having one this year
 
Nor Cal is north of Sac and it's satellite cities. You fall in the deep south of Nor Cal.
 
To throw my 2 cents in... Since you are more of a warbird fan, there is a nice show near Detroit Mi. It is usually the first weekend in August, I think it is diff. this year though.

It is geared mostly towards warbird/wwii stuff, however, they do have a 'theme' every year. This years theme is Vietnam. So crowds are going to see a lot of stuff you don't get to see at too many airshows.

Also, a big plus is it is only about 3.5 hour drive to Dayton, OH. Hands down the best aviation museum in the entire world, and, AND.... It's FREEEEE.

http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow/

EDIT, okay this year the show is in June, AND features the Thunderbirds as well!
 
The key here is timing, and the biggest warbird air show within the span of time you have mentioned, is the Commemorative Air Force's "Airsho". The promotions haven't yet begun for the show, but it is scheduled for October 12-13, at the Midland Intl. Airport in Texas. I know of a couple of guys in the UK that are regular Duxford goers, who also tend to travel to Texas, most years, to catch the CAF's Airsho.

I believe the average attendance is probably about 50-75 warbirds (both CAF owned and others), and the majority of them are going to be flying at some point during the show. Included will be the world's only airworthy B-29, B-24A, possibly two or three B-17's, up to 5 B-25's, 5-6 Mustangs (including the rare C-model "Tuskegee Airmen"), numerous Navy fighters and bombers (including the world's only airworthy Helldiver, and one of only three airworthy SBD's), the Tora, Tora, Tora replica Japanese aircraft, possibly a P-63 and P-39, possibly a Spitfire and a genuine Zero, and more. Everything of course changes a bit, year by year.

Another well known warbird show that takes place during that time period you might plan to be in the U.S., is Wings Over Houston, which actually usually takes place just a week or so after the CAF's Airsho.

The other shows I tend to consider the most, all take place in earlier months of the year, like Geneseo, MAAM's WWII Weekend, Military Aviation Museum's Warbirds Over the Beach (their new airworthy Mosquito will be the star of the event this year), Thunder Over Michigan, Planes of Fame Air Museum's annual air show (P-38's being the big theme this year - they're hoping to have 5-6 examples there, flying), etc.
 
Thanks all for your input! Much appreciated. :jump: Now I have to make a choice from so many great options!
I'll let you know ;)
 
Bomber_12th said:
The key here is timing, and the biggest warbird air show within the span of time you have mentioned, is the Commemorative Air Force's "Airsho". The promotions haven't yet begun for the show, but it is scheduled for October 12-13, at the Midland Intl. Airport in Texas. I know of a couple of guys in the UK that are regular Duxford goers, who also tend to travel to Texas, most years, to catch the CAF's Airsho.

I believe the average attendance is probably about 50-75 warbirds (both CAF owned and others), and the majority of them are going to be flying at some point during the show. Included will be the world's only airworthy B-29, B-24A, possibly two or three B-17's, up to 5 B-25's, 5-6 Mustangs (including the rare C-model "Tuskegee Airmen"), numerous Navy fighters and bombers (including the world's only airworthy Helldiver, and one of only three airworthy SBD's), the Tora, Tora, Tora replica Japanese aircraft, possibly a P-63 and P-39, possibly a Spitfire and a genuine Zero, and more. Everything of course changes a bit, year by year.

Another well known warbird show that takes place during that time period you might plan to be in the U.S., is Wings Over Houston, which actually usually takes place just a week or so after the CAF's Airsho.

The other shows I tend to consider the most, all take place in earlier months of the year, like Geneseo, MAAM's WWII Weekend, Military Aviation Museum's Warbirds Over the Beach (their new airworthy Mosquito will be the star of the event this year), Thunder Over Michigan, Planes of Fame Air Museum's annual air show (P-38's being the big theme this year - they're hoping to have 5-6 examples there, flying), etc.
Click to expand...

John..has Fifi had its engine problem resolved?..last i heard it was grounded from engine failure,they said they needed a minimum of $250,000.00 just for the replacement engine alone.
 
Allen said:
Nor Cal is north of Sac and it's satellite cities. You fall in the deep south of Nor Cal.
Click to expand...


well there are many here who would argue where the Northern california/central cal line is...i agree its around sacramento though..but auburn is northeast of sacramento if ya look at a map...due west of my house (on a straightline drawn on a map ,from my house at 270 degrees is Arbukle,,,thats well north of sacramento so.....pffffffffffffffffffffft....:icon_eek:
 
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