Geneseo Air Show 2013

On Saturday July 13, 2013 I attended the Geneseo Air Show in Geneseo NY. This was my fourth time attending the show. I went twice in the mid/late 1990's with my parents and then most recently in 2010 bu myself.
The air show is put on by the 1941 HAG (Historical Aircraft Group) at the National Warplane Museum. The show is know as "The Greatest Show on Turf." The museum operates the longest active grass runway in the country. To find out more about the museum visit their web site at : www.1941hag.org

At this years air show there were many awesome planes and I enjoyed myself immensely. There is not time or space to talk about all the planes at the show but I am going to touch on some of my favorites ( sorry if some don't have pics, but I didn't have any spare batteries).

Douglas C-47 "W7"

The Douglas C-47 was among the biggest of the planes at the show and is one that is owned and operated by the 1941 HAG. This plane know as "W7" participated in D-day and was the lead plane in the second wave of planes to drop paratroopers in Normandy. The 1941 HAG is hoping to return the "W7" to Normandy next year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-day. To find out more information about the plane and fundraising for "The Return to Normandy" visit: http://www.1941hag.org/c_47.html
During the show the Liberty Jump Team, a team of paratroopers did a Static line jump demonstration from "W7" and they hope to jump from the plane again next year in Normandy. The team has jumped from Normandy every year since 2006. The Liberty jump team is composed of veterans from all war and conflicts as far back as Vietnam. To find out more about the Liberty Jump Team visit: http://libertyjumpteam.org

Douglas C-47  "W7"

Curtiss C-46 Commando

The "Quick Silver" visited Geneseo for the first time in 2013 and put on a great show. The paint scheme on the "Quick Silver" is a tribute to all veterans. www.quicksilvermustang.com

P-51D Mustang "Quick Silver"

 The Avro Lancaster came to the show from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The Lancaster is referred to often as the "Lanc." This plane is one of only two airworthy Lancaster's and is the only one in North America.

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster with warbird escort

Among some of the other highlights of the show was Rob Holland's Ultimate Airshows acrobatic routine: http://www.ultimateairshows.com
The Manfred Radius sailplane act was awesome! The sailplane does not have an engine and was towed to a high altitude by another plane where it then detaches to do an aerobatic routine while it descends toward earth. The show ended with Manfred doing an inverted ribbon cut. This basically consisted of a ribbon that is held between two poles on the runway and he glides upside down and cuts the ribbon with a wing. He then flipped right side up gained enough air to turn around and land in the same area where the ribbon was.
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I can't but help myself and share a few pictures from back in 2010. My favorite warplane has always been the B-17 flying fortress!! As a child I remember seeing the "Fuddy Duddy" flying over my house and then seeing it again at the Geneseo Air Show. I even had a t-shirt with the "Fuddy Duddy" on it, and it was a sad day when I outgrew the shirt, and it was an even sadder day when the "Fuddy Duddy" was sold and no longer resided in the western NY area. However, it currently is still air worthy and residing in southern CA. In 2010 the "Memphis Belle" appeared at the Geneseo Air Show. This particular B-17 is not the original Memphis Belle but it is the B-17 that was used for the movie The Memphis Belle. The "Memphis Belle" is among the 12 air worthy B-17 remaining in the United States. (And I now proudly own a "Memphis Belle" t-shirt!)

Pilot of the "Memphis Belle"

B-17 "Memphis Belle"

B-17 "Memphis Belle"