2015 Fargo Airsho

The return of the Fargo Airsho was quite a bit scaled back from previous years, with only one military aircraft on a static display - a lone AV-8B.  Nevertheless, the Blue Angels made their usual appearance, accompanied by the AV-8B demo and the USN Leaps Frogs.

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Deke Slayton Airfest Lacrosse 2014

 Deke Slayton Airfest, Lacrosse, Wisconsin. 31.05.2014

So here we are in 2014, after the non-existent 2013 forget what I said about scaled-back shows.  Let's hope for return to 20111-12 levels over the next few years rather than this new normal.  As for Lacrosse, it was a small show to be sure.  The Blue Angels flew about 1:30, less than an hour into the show, and a few stunt and warbird acts followed.  Saturday was 90 and sunny, perfect for a high show.  Blue Angel #2 had to abort right after the take off loop, leaving a rare 5-ship demo.  Sunday was waves of rain, with enough gap for a flat show containing some lightning and thunder. There was plenty of vapor in the air for dramatic shots (I didn't come close to capturing the high-speed pass which produced a grade-A vapor cone).  Fat Albert didn't fly (presumably to load up for departure) and the Blues quickly departed by 3:30.  Statics included a few warbirds and a T-45.

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Duluth 2012 Airshow

Duluth IAP, MN 2012.09.22

This year's airshow was very scaled back.  There was no Air Force or Navy support (The F-16 demo team came to fly a few passes in the heritage flight - the gas, pilots and airframes were paid for - so if anybody can explain the AF's demo team stand-down to me, I can't figure it out), and the 148th didn't even fly, being mostly deployed to Afghanistan. That left the Marine's AV-8 demo, F-4, and the Canadian snowbirds.  Statics were very light including the F-16, EF-18G, F-18, T-38, C-130 and the impressive C-5A.  Weather was 37 degrees with high wind and rain, making quite a contrast to this summer.

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Fargo Airsho 2011

Fargo Airsho - 2011.08.11-12


Military acts included:
USN Blue Angels
USN VFA-122 F/A-18E Super Hornet demo
USAF Viper West F-16 demo
B-52 / KC-135 Fly-over

Statics were a bit light in the heavy area, as the C-5 was unavailable, although there was the F-15E, F-16C, F-18F and F-18C adversary along with the C-21, C-130, and E-6.  The biggest problem was the statics was that rather than an orderly line like last time, the displays were surrounded and crammed in by various activities, the Navy Band, some Guitar Hero game, information booths, etc.  This made observing and photographing the aircraft difficult and the noise made talking to the pilots difficult as well.   The lighting was a bit poor for photography, but otherwise, the show seemed to on without problems of weather, etc.