Wings of Freedom Confederate Air Force Airshow

What kind of a show was it?
Located in the picturesque foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western Maryland lies Frederick, home to AOPA (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assoc.). The airport also holds a gathering of warbirds, past and present every August.

What started out as a wet rainy day got considerably brighter the closer we got to the airfield and it turned into a warm sunny day, bearing in mind that warm here in the states is around 90 degrees! It took us about 40 minutes to drive up from Washington DC and parking was quick and easy, as were the shuttle buses to the airfield.

The trainers were already in the air when we arrived and they comprised of 4 Stearmans a few Ryans and a bunch of AT-6 Texans doing circuits. The static display was interesting with a British registered L-39 Albatross drawing my attention. A C-130 from the West Virginia Air National Guard was open as was an F-16 from the Washington DC ANG. Off to the left of the main static area were all the warbirds. There were too many to name but it was an impressive line-up. About this time the F-4 Corsair got airborne and gave a very spirited display. Unfortunately one of its brakes failed or locked up on landing and we never saw it again for the rest of the day.

A C-130 took off with the 82nd Airborne paratroopers who gave a very nice skydiving display from 13,000 ft. They all managed to land within a 10-ft circle and not hit each other! An A-10 from Moody AFB performed next and showed why it was a great success in the Gulf and Bosnia. Performing simulated gun and bomb runs capping off with a Napalm drop. I could feel the heat 300 yds away. Children crying and lots of beer spilt! Very amusing.

Next came a re-enactment of Pearl Harbor complete with Zeros, Kates, Vals, Hellcats, Avengers, Wildcats, B-17s and the only SBD Dauntless in the world. Also participating were 150 ground troops who fired blanks vainly at the Japanese planes as they dropped their bombs and torpedoes. By now everybody was ready for the explosions so we all enjoyed it a bit more.

Shaw AFB in South Carolina is home to Viper Squadron who fly the Block 50 F-16 Fighting Falcon. Needless to say it is always fun to see how close they can get to the sound barrier without breaking it. This display was no exception. "Jethro" arrived from behind the crowd at over 600 kts and went vertical. You could see the moisture condensing on the wing roots as he pulled 9g's. Not my idea of fun! Anyway, he gave a really good display of low and high speed flying and his final departure maneuver was a high-speed pass into a turn and burn climb to 20,000 ft in less than 15 seconds. The Flying Farmer was next and as always gave a funny and impressive show in his sunburst yellow Piper Cub. It's always great to see a Cub looped at 300ft and flown sideways down the crowd line. The kids like his antics as he hangs out the door and lands crosswind on a taxiway! As he was shutting down the Confederate Air force put up it's collection of WWII bombers, fighters and transports for a mock dogfight and bombing display. It really has to be seen to be appreciated but imagine if you will the following all in the air at the same time flying circuits. A B-25, B-17, C-47, DC-3, He-111, JU-52, Lockheed Lodestar, P-51, P-40 all chasing one another.

 

After they landed Gene Soucy in his very modified Grumman Ag-Cat took off with a wing-walker and did a wonderful display of aerobatics with a very nice young lady attached to the aircraft. Next came the French Connection in their Cap-21s. I have seen some aerobatics acts in my years of going to airshows but when a graceful display is performed to classical music and the crowd truly appreciates it then I husband and wife team we saw are probably the best around. Nothing really fancy but very smooth controlled and precise aerobatics. A joy to see. In contrast the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet woke up anybody who had been dozing after a liquid lunch! Low, loud and fast and as always very impressive. The highlight of his display was a low speed high angle of attack pass at about 40 degrees nose up and 120 kts. The usual high-speed pull up and turn and burn finished his routine. The A-1D Skyraider and L-19 Bird Dog put on a great display of co-ordinated spotting and bombing from the Vietnam era. A twin-engined Grumman bomber accompanied them, perhaps ex-US Navy but its name escapes me.

Gene Soucy was the last act in his Avemco sponsored Extra 300. Great little plane and he can really fly. Lots of spins and rolls, loops etc. It was a great finish to a good solid airshow. So what started out as a cloudy rainy day emerged into a very successful show. All being well we shall be back next year.

See the Wings of Freedom Air Show

Aircraft review Dover AFB is in the heart of Delaware


 

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Read our review of the Wings of Freedom Air Show

What kind of a show was it?
Located in the picturesque foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western Maryland lies Frederick, home to AOPA (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assoc.). The airport also holds a gathering of warbirds, past and present every August .... airraft show review

 

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