Winston-Salem Air Show (September 12, 2009)

On the way back to Concord, NC on Saturday morning, took a detour to the Winston-Salem Air Show. Ran into massive traffic in Winston-Salem, but toughed it out, getting into the show a little after 12pm. I was able to check out the aircraft on display, and some really great flying. Very impressive was the B-1B bomber which made some very nice passes over the crowd which was among the largest number I have seen at this air show over the past few years. Wings back and afterburners lit this plane made quite a roar over the people below. It was a really impressive early flight in a day which was filled with some great flying in the skies over Winston-Salem, NC. Normally this is a motorcycle ride to the show, but with the Richmond transfer, normal has gone out the window this year.


Many interesting and historic planes were on display. I think the numbers of aircraft (probably due to the recession) were down this year. I did enjoy seeing this P-47 Thunderbolt, a warrior

from the WWII era. I believe something like 15,000 were built, but few are still flying. All sorts of planes were on display: old warplanes, aerobatic planes, transports, commercial, helicopters, private planes, new warplanes...just about anything you could imagine. They even had a school bus with a jet engine make a run down the runway. Though the air show charged an admission (parking was free) it was well worth the money to get in. I have always had a good time at the air show, and this year was no exception.


As noted modern warplanes were on display such as this F/A-18 Hornet which drew quite a crowd all day long. The F/A-18 replaces a lot of carrier planes including the F-14 Tomcat. Did a lot of walking, a bit of a stiff neck from looking up....and had a wonderful time.
Did not stay to the end, not wanting to be in a traffic jam going out, and besides, had my wife and family at home waiting for me; so headed out around 3:30, but just a short drive from there to Concord and a great weekend spent there. I will have some more on that in my next post.
As for other air shows; do have one to see in Virginia at NAS Oceana near Virginia Beach. Actually went to that air show many years ago in what was my first visit to Virginia, and looking forward to making that one (if the planets all align correctly). Also of note, the trip back had a bit of adventure on the way back to Richmond (still a bit of an on-going saga) and will write more on that in my next post.