The Warbird 2009 Airshow Season is Underway

The low growl of a radial engine. The scream of military jets overhead. Flashes of red, silver, and blue in the sky. The 2009 airshow season is well underway, and even if you don't live next to a major airport, there's bound to be a show within a few hours of you.

Airshows provide more than excitement and entertainment. Most have at least a few, if not dozens, of military aircraft, many dating back to WWII or before. Some are privately owned, while others belong to museums, non-profits, and organizations dedicated to preserving not only the planes, but the history

surrounding them. Many pilots, aircrew, and volunteers dress in vintage attire, are knowledgeable about their planes and their history, and are willing to share that information. This makes airshows great learning experiences for kids as well as adults.

Aerobatic displays are another great feature, whether performed by military teams such as the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds, sponsored company planes/teams like those by Red Bull and Pepsi, or trained civilian pilots flying their own planes. Seeming to defy the laws of gravity, they loop, and swirl, like great colorful birds in the sky.

Static displays provide an up-close look at the machines, sometimes inside as well as out. Photo opportunities abound, and I've found that kids love asking the pilots for their autographs. Please be sure to obey all posted regulations, which may include no touching (especially important with some aircraft, which are actually constructed of fabric) and always no smoking (a hazard anywhere on the airport due to the presence of fuel and fuel vapors.

If you're lucky, there may be rides available in various aircraft. Rides in the large military aircraft (B-25, B-17) tend to be very pricey due to high fuel and maintenance costs, among other things, but some of the smaller trainers (T-6, Stearman bi-plane) can be quite reasonable. I've seen them offered for around $75-$100. Often times, there are 10 minute flights available in smaller, more modern aircraft (Cessna 172) for around $20 or even less. These are wonderful opportunities to experience your first flight, or to take your kids for theirs.

Many smaller, municipal airports hold airshows during the summer, albeit on a smaller scale. You might be surprised to find that those hangers you drive by every day harbor one or two very special occupants. Once you've been to a few shows, you may start to recognize the distinctive sounds of various engines; pretty soon, you'll be seeing planes overhead you've never noticed before.

Local airports can provide off-season fun as well. Some have cozy little restaurants attached, situated near the tarmac or runways, offering a view of the planes taking off and landing as you dine.

I'll provide links to two sites with major airshow schedules, but there are so many, it's virtually impossible to list them all. Local newspapers generally provide news articles and/or advertisements prior to the show. You can also visit your local airport; most have bulletin boards with postings about upcoming events like shows and fly-ins. A fly-in, by the way, is a somewhat informal gathering of pilots, sometimes for a meal, sometimes for the day. You're liable to see all sorts of aircraft from the general aviation community, as well as the occasional warbird or experimental.

Your local bookstore may also carry a few flying magazines; many of these post upcoming airshow information.
Summer is prime time for warbird spotting, but depending on where you live, it may begin as early as March and extend into November. So keep your eyes on the skies!