Thunder Over Michigan air show soaring into Ypsilanti this weekend
The P-51 Mustang is one of several aircraft participating in the Thunder Over Michigan show.
Courtesy Wayne Vannice
The ability to lift off like a helicopter and fly backward in midair is what makes the British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 an aircraft that’s literally one of a kind.
The Sea Harrier performing at the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show this weekend at Willow Run Airport is not just the only privately owned Harrier in the world but also the only one that can still fly, said air show director Kevin Walsh.
Art Nails, a retired and decorated Marine Corps pilot, purchased the Sea Harrier in 2005 and spent nearly two years restoring the aircraft to flying condition.
“They put a lot of time and energy into it,” Walsh said. “After he purchased it, he had it shipped overseas”
Walsh said the aircraft is famous for its service during the Falklands War.
“This will be the first time the Sea Harrier will ever be seen in Michigan,” Walsh said.
The Sea Harrier isn’t the only aircraft being prepared and readied for the show spanning over both Saturday and Sunday. Walsh said the show will feature more than 40 aircraft that flew in from different parts of the country.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was the first “heavy bomber” built for the United States Army Air Forces. It was technologically advanced for its time and the first one flew Dec. 30, 1942.
The B-29 is most known for the August 1945 missions that flew over Hiroshima and Nagasaki that led to the end of World War II.
The B-29 was retired in the 1960s and about 25 remain in the world but the one being featured at the airshow is the only one that can still fly.
Walsh said just about all of the aircraft participating in the show have flown in and are being prepped. Considering the age of the aircraft, Walsh said this alone is remarkable because none of them had to be shipped in.
The B-25 Yankee Warrior will be featured this weekend.
Courtesy Wayne Vannice
"Everything we have coming in is flying in," he said. "Nothing is trucked in. They've all been restored to flying condition. Some of them are extremely old."
The B-17, which is the centerpiece of the Yankee Air Museum, required a nearly 10-year restoration process.
"They (aircraft) require significant ongoing maintenance," Walsh said. "It's a labor of love."
Some of the P-51 Mustang aircraft participating in the show took between five and 10 years for them to be restored to flying status. Nearly a dozen will be participating in the show.
"The P-51 is most famous for escorting our bombers into deep parts of Germany in WWII," Walsh said. "... They're considered the aircraft that won the war. They're significant."
Nearly 3,000 war re-enactors have begun to descend upon Ypsilanti for a battle in which U.S. and German troops will square off in authentic armor and historically accurate dress as the P-51 Mustangs fly overhead.
"It's a long, tedious process but in the end, it gives a product that isn't seen anywhere else," Walsh said.
Show organizers are estimating between 40,000 and 45,000 people will attend the show over the course of Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $25 per adult, and children 15 years and younger are free. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Yankee Air Museum.
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2548 or KatreaseStafford@annarbor.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @KatreaseS.
Comments
Dylan
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
It would be helpful to include times for the events on an article like this.
brian
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 4:15 a.m.
Ypsi has so much to offer. You go Ypsi and see you all at the Heritage Festival.
lefty48197
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
I think they're getting away from using the Blue Angels because of liability, I suppose. They're being replaced by teams like the Black Diamond Jet Team, which is a private group that uses former military pilots.
djacks24
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Wonder why the Blue Angels are not there this year? The older aircraft are pretty neat (especially since very few of these even exist, much less fly). But the show should be mixed in with a big main attraction like the Blue Angels. That is what really brings people in.
melissa
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 4:07 a.m.
As someone whose house gets dive bombed for 4 days straight (they practice too) I'm thrilled the stupid blue angels were not here!
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.
Aye, tdw. I catch the museum's B-17 flying over our neighborhood several times each year (the north end of town is outside controlled airspace). No modern aircraft makes the same sound. If you have the windows open, you hear it and immediately know what is is. I went to the show today. That sound, and the sound of all the other radial and piston engines, especially that of the Mustang's V-12, are the sounds of freedom. It's good to hear them at least once a year.
brian
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
The Blue Angels only come here every two years. They stopped for a while because they were mad about how much Willow Run Airport charged for kids to see the show. They are back and will be here next year.
tdw
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 1:32 a.m.
Suspect.....You can always recognize them by their sound.I heard a few today
Unusual Suspect
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 1:16 a.m.
Some of us greatly appreciate the thunder of the old piston engines. I actually always thought that's what it was referring to. They usually are quite heavy on piston-driven aircraft at this event - I remember the year they focused on F4U Corsairs, and there was also a B-25 year. The Blue Angels are hard to get because they're so popular. even a larger event like the Cherry Festival in Traverse City only gets them every other year.
Top Cat
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 12:01 a.m.
The Blue Angels and other jet teams are in very high demand and only do so many events per year. They were at Thunder Over Michigan in 2009 and 2011.
tdw
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 11:09 p.m.
I have no idea what my violation was.All I asked was about the Blue Angles and that a lot of the neighbors will be outside watching.Not a clue
jns131
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
They are expensive to recruit. Plus some residents get tired of having their house dived bombed every year. Glad this year will be quieter.
djacks24
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.
Also forgot to mention, the name "thunder over Michigan" is not really done justice with all except maybe one aircraft being prop driven.
katmando
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
Always a GREAT show!
tdw
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
I think the P-51 is the best looking prop driven ever made
GreektownDave
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 9:59 a.m.
My vote goes for the Vought F4U-4 Corsair.
Unusual Suspect
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 1:13 a.m.
I believe there will also be a P-38 Lightning there this weekend.
Top Cat
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
Agree with tdw....with the Stuka Ju-87 in third place.
tdw
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 11:06 p.m.
Scott...I'll give the P-38 a close second.
Scott
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
Hate to disagree but the Lockheed P-38 Lightning (lead designer Kelly Johnson of U-M) is my all time fav
SonnyDog09
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
The plural of "aircraft" is "aircraft", not "aircrafts."
smokeblwr
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 7:09 p.m.
"Monies", "Internets", "Crumpets"
Julie Baker
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 6:17 p.m.
Thanks for pointing that out.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 6:04 p.m.
I agree with you, but I've been hearing "aircrafts" more often these days. I think it's coming from across the pond. I also hear "softwares" now and then.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
"The day I saw Mustangs over Berlin, I knew the jig was up." Hermann Goering.