Madera CA Airshow 5-22-2010

[CAMike]

Hosted and announced by AW's own "HuggyU2", the event Saturday was quite a success. OK, So what exactly does that mean? For me it means the crowd was manageable and the show was presently professionally with lot's of good background info about each of the the performing aircraft. The last performer was a Rhino from NAS LeMoore (a Red-Cock I think) and it was great right up until they departed the runway. Their program was performed on the far side (west side) of the main runway which left the audience wondering why their performance was so far away from the crowd. Maybe tomorrow they'll fly over the runway and let us take a look at them close up. Overall Madera was one of those intimate venues where visitors can easily interact with the performers on the flight line. An awesome time and highly recommended for Sunday or also next year. Attached are some photos from Saturday's show. Sunday has some precipitation forecasted by mid day.

I know I'm getting old and out of touch but is the A-10 driver doing a Dr. Evil salute. I was looking through he viewfinder during his taxi and all of a sudden found myself anticipated him kissing the back of his pinky nail- he didn't get that far though. Am I missing something?

Anyway, photos here may be updated in an AW album after Sundays show. Thanks HuggyU2- great performance.

 

[BusyBee604]

CAMike

+1...Neat photos! Have great memories of Madera. Back in '66/'67, our A-4 Squadron (VA-146 @ Lemoore) had a PR program where we assigned each of our 14 aircraft to a local city in the central San Joaquin Valley. On each side of the upper fuselage of each Skyhawk, was painted "City of xxxxxxx" in large oriental script. The A/C assigned to me, was the City Of Madera. During the combat deployments of '66 & '67, each assigned Squadron Pilot would write a "howgozit" letter to the City Manager which was then published in the local paper. Gave our local valley communities an opportunity to become involved in "their Naval Air Station" by coming out to the base, seeing "their Skyhawk", and meeting the Pilots and Sailors of the Squadron. It was a very successful program.

Below photo of the "City Of Madera" with the 2 assigned Pilots, Plane Captain & the Squadron CO during the '66 USS RANGER combat cruise.
BzB

 

[Ace_Austin]

Pimp My Ride get their hands on that A-10? Chrome job on that GAU-8 is money.

 

[Clux4]

Pimp My Ride get their hands on that A-10? Chrome job on that GAU-8 is money.

Chromed out grills !

 

[HuggyU2]

I just got home and checked AW for the first time since Thursday.
CAMike, thanks for the kudos. It was my first time announcing a two-day show. My voice held out... just barely.
And thanks for the pics.
About 6-7 Mustangs, a P-40E, a Sea Fury, Yak-11, four B-25's, four Texans, two T-28's... what a sound.
Madera was such a major warbird show back in the 70's and 80's, and I sure hope they can bring it back to it's former glory.
BusyBee, there was an A-4 on the ramp that was a museum piece brought out: it might have been the same jet.

 

[BusyBee604]

Artifact?

BusyBee, there was an A-4 on the ramp that was a museum piece brought out: it might have been the same jet.

Museum piece? arrrgggh! If in fact it's the same A/C, then I would be happy that it didn't end up on the "chopping block". It sure did carry the mail back in the day in NVN. I guess that makes me a museum piece as well! lol:slaphappy
BzB, stroking long white beard...

 

[Dennis B.]

BusyBee, your a fellow I've been after for sometime. I need some color photos or at least some information to go on regarding A-4C City Of Madera. As a resident of said town and a Scale Model Builder I have been looking for more information to build said aircraft for the City to display. I do have the above photo already, but need more information on the tail/colors, etc... Drop me a note if you can. Thanks!

 

[brownshoe]

BusyBee, your a fellow I've been after for sometime. I need some color photos or at least some information to go on regarding A-4C City Of Madera. As a resident of said town and a Scale Model Builder I have been looking for more information to build said aircraft for the City to display. I do have the above photo already, but need more information on the tail/colors, etc... Drop me a note if you can. Thanks!

I was on the phone with BzB last night, Dennis, his computer "went south" about ten days ago. I'll be talking with him over the weekend and I'll let him know about your post here at AW, I'm sure he'll help you once he's back on line.

Steve

 

[Dennis B.]

Thanks Brownshoe.

 

[BusyBee604]

BusyBee, your a fellow I've been after for sometime. I need some color photos or at least some information to go on regarding A-4C City Of Madera. As a resident of said town and a Scale Model Builder I have been looking for more information to build said aircraft for the City to display. I do have the above photo already, but need more information on the tail/colors, etc... Drop me a note if you can. Thanks!

Hi Dennis, you found me. Just got back up on line w/ a new 'Confus'...er, Computer! If you PM me your e-mail address, I'll send you some photos showing paint scheme, coloring & lettering of "City Of Madera". I'll be happy to help with your project in any way I can.

I was checking your profile & noted that you were 18 days old on the day (25 June 1966) I was shot down in "City Of Tulare". Luckily , I was not assigned Madera that day!
*Brownshoe, thanks for the tip!
BzB

 

[Dennis B.]

Thanks so much for your help and service.
email (anti spam way) castle50 at comcast dot net
Tail flash looks to be a checker of some sort and the numbers correspond to buzz numbers?
This is a C model correct?

 

[BusyBee604]

Thanks so much for your help and service.
email (anti spam way) castle50 at comcast dot net
Tail flash looks to be a checker of some sort and the numbers correspond to buzz numbers?
This is a C model correct?

Dennis, e-mail enroute.
BzB