Alliance Airshow 2002

Alliance Airshow 2002 (Ft Worth TX)
by Chris Sherland

Fall just feels like airshow weather to me. Shade finally means something in Texas, and the air gets crisper.

Alliance airfield is a huge FedEx hub about 20 minutes North of Ft Worth. No passenger aircraft run from there, it's just freight, all day and all night. It's a no-frills facility and it's perfect for an airshow. Set in a very shallow valley the visibility is outstanding in all directions.

Every year either the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds show up, a spattering of Airforce or Navy demostrations, and the standard aerobatics and jet-powered tractor truck (why on earth...oh nevermind). The "t-boids" were up this year and brought their F16s...can't wait for them to get Lightnings...that'll be a show!

This year the CAF and Cavenaugh Flight Museum brought a nice combination of WWII vintage stuff, and it was all flying: F4U, F4F, P47, Sea Fury, P40, T6, and a Navy S2F. I took a lot of photos, but we don't have the room to show them all here. What I've included here are the highlights of the static show...and one or two flying shots (they rarely translate well).

Hope you enjoy...

The 'boids all lined up pretty.

Let me introduce you too my leeeetle friend!

Wildcat and Corsair on the hot ramp

T-bolt and Mudhen move to the dance floor

Age before beauty m'dam

I'm gonna go easy on you guys...realize that I have a lot more t-bolt pics. I'm sparing you this becoming a t-bolt referance article:)

T-38 crew grab some shade and watch the Mudhen demo..notice their body language.

Hawker made at least ONE pretty aircraft.

The Red Baron demo team...uh...who's that in the background?

A nice Late E model Phantom.

And again.

And what airshow could call itself complete without a Mustang?

And again, parading in front of the youngins.

Same two Mudhens as above, one running up for a demo.

The CAF's P-40N in AVG markings.

Hunters Hornet on static.

Bonus quiz...what aircraft is this?

Folks grabbing shade under one of the Falcons.

"Stamp out single seat fighters!"

Falcon gear up-close

And again.

Corsair and some other plane.

A-10 nose gear plumbing up close

The 56th crest, still flying proudly on a Falcon's luggage rack. Same crest used by the 56th FG in ETO 1943.

Sorry guys...had to.

There's nothing like an airshow to get the modeling juices flowing. These pics do not do the event justice, but then again I guess they never do. Something about the noise and smell, and super high-priced corndogs makes it all "real" somhow.

Get out to an airshow if you haven't been to one in a while. Drag the family out there and make them ask you questions!! It's great fun to show off how much you know, and make up the stuff you don't. I was standing at the hot ramp taking this shot and a man next to me said to his friend " I think it's a Hellcat"...can you imagine how long I bent that guy's ear? My wife had to drag me away.

Hope you enjoyed these pics, I'm sure I had more fun taking them though. Don't miss an opportunity to make an airshow soon, you won't regret it.

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