History comes alive during Thunder Over Michigan air show at Willow Run Airport
Spectators watch as the "Screamin Rebels" T-6 Formation Aerobatic Team fly past the grand stand at the Thunder Over Michigan air show.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Pilot John Mohr looped and flipped his Stearman PT-17, smoke trailing his every maneuver in the vivid blue and yellow airplane during the Thunder Over Michigan air show Saturday at Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti.
Below, hundreds of people watched the spectacle in the sky, as well as had the opportunity to tour World War II bombers, chat with pilots or simply take a break in the grass during the two-day event at Yankee Air Stadium, which continues today.
“It’s awesome,” says Joel Studebaker of Midland. For him, Thunder Over Michigan is a great way to see history in action. Studebaker says that he started studying World War II roughly two years ago and the air show provides a unique view of this time period. He, along with son Liam, 2, toured the planes and talked with the pilots, which, was a great way to hear and see history firsthand, Studebaker said. “It all comes alive,” he said.
The Yankee Air Museum bills the show as the “largest gathering of World War II heavy bombers in the world.” Visitors can tour the planes, experience flight simulators and get photos taken in the plane.
Thunder Over Michigan
- When: Gates open at 9 a.m. today; air show begins at noon and runs to 4 p.m.
- Where: Willow Run Airport
- Tickets: Advance tickets sales are available until noon Sunday. Ticket prices begin at $25 for advance general admission; $30 for on-site general admission. Kids 15 years old and younger are free for general admission.
- Parking: Advance ticket price is $5 per vehicle; $10 for on-site.
- Website: www.yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow
But what air show would be complete without the ear-piercing screams of the jet planes? Denise Swayze of Ypsilanti said it’s not so much the history as it is the thrill of the planes in action. She said she liked the speed and the formation of the jets. Perhaps it is a trait that runs in the family. Her female cousin was scheduled to fly in the show.
Lifting his daughter Ava, 6, onto his shoulders, Greg Keith of Ann Arbor said he also enjoyed the “synchronization and the coordination” of the stunt teams.
“I would encourage people to come out,” Joel Studebaker said of the show. “It’s a great family event, and you really learn a lot.”
Comments
leaguebus
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 11:59 a.m.
While I was looking at a B17, a gentleman named Bill came over and was telling me that he flew one like this during the Second World War. He took me around the plane explaining in detail the close calls he and his crewmen had while performing bombing missions over Europe. I had come to the show to see the planes, but after talking to Bill, I realized that, as wonderful as they planes were, it was Bill that made my day! Thanks to the Yankee folks for providing a venue for hero's like Bill to tell their stories to guys like me. I was truly blessed on Saturday. My thanks also go out to the all the smiling volunteers who helped with the great event.
stunhsif
Sun, Aug 8, 2010 : 4:40 p.m.
Thank you Yankee Air Museum for getting all these awsome airlplanes and pilots to Ypsilanti once again. I loved seeing the 7 B-17's and the awsome B-24 Liberator along with the P-51's. Seeing the F-100 Supre Sabre fly was just incredible. I remember seeing a lot of them in the early 1960's when we lived on an Air Force base, Dad was an officer for two years in the Air Force. I had not seen one in the air over 45 years. Looking at the B-17's, the B-24 and the P-51's made me thankful for the folks that designed and flew those incredible machines. If not for the engineers that put drop (fuel) tanks on the P-51's,we could all well be speaking German as our primary language right now!
Ryan Munson
Sun, Aug 8, 2010 : 2:38 p.m.
I can't tell you how awesome it was to assist with getting attendees into the gate and ensure I and other volunteers were the first cheerful faces they saw welcoming them in. Also, where else on Earth can you direct WW II battle tanks to move through an intersection? Ha Ha! Freak'n amazing!
Epengar
Sun, Aug 8, 2010 : 2:17 p.m.
Many readers may recall that that the Yankee Air Museum suffered a terrible fire a few years ago. The historic hangar that they used for their aircraft and exhibits burned in a fire. They saved nearly all their aircrafts, but lost a lot of artifacts, aircraft parts and other important material. While reading this report on the airshow, I wondered what their status is now, and I just checked their website, and was delighted to discover good news! On October 9th and 10th of this year, they are having a grand opening of their new Yankee Air Museum Collections & Exhibits Building! Saturday night, the 9th, is special Inaugural Gala at the new building. It will be a formal event, with gourmet food and notable veteran pilots as speakers. The following afternoon, Sunday the 10th, the new building will be open to the public, and admission is free. To celebrate they'll have the Misty Blue All-Women Skydiving Team dropping in, a World War 2 battle re-enactment, and special static displays of aircraft. I had no idea this organization had made so much progress. Congratulations to the Yankee Air Museum! http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/101010.php
Kristine
Sun, Aug 8, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.
My dad was a B-17 tail-gunner stationed in England. This was an extremely moving show to witness. Thank you to all the Yankee Air Museum volunteers for the great job they do each year.
harley
Sun, Aug 8, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.
A great family event.
Top Cat
Sat, Aug 7, 2010 : 7:19 p.m.
A wonderful event for families for as stated, kids under 15 are free. Also, this could be the last time you can ever see 8 vintage WW2 B-17 bombers in the sky at the same place. Plus the are men that flew these are there as well for their final mission.