Events

PARADE OF PLANES FEATURED AT W-S AIR SHOW

Hurricane Hannah threatened the Saturday performance of the 2008 Winston-Salem Air Show. Fortunately, after initial forecasts of 600 foot ceilings and rain turned out to be pessimistic, the rain clouds departed by 9:30 AM or so and the rest of the day was sunny but windy. By the time the "Parade" was ready to roll, the weather was no longer a factor.

All but two of the pilots in the Parade of Planes were WSAA members. Seven planes were featured in Saturday's show and eight flew before large crowds on a balmy Sunday. Each plane was a different type, and the list included a Piper Comanche, a Piper Arrow, a Rockwell Commander 112A, a Cessna 172, a Cessna 170, a Grumman Cheetah, a Varga Kachina, an Allegro 2000, and a Piper Cub. Each plane taxied in front of the crowd down Taxiway Alpha, then departed one after another for several low passes down the right edge of Runway 33 (inside the aerobatics box) before landing. All of the planes were then towed to a static display area in the middle of closed Runway 4/22 so the crowd could see them up close.

This picture was taken Sunday morning at the Fire Station after the 9:30 AM Pilot Briefing required for all Air Show participants. From the left, Larry Bopp, Jay Bryant, Dave Morse, Andy Dale, Tom McKim, Tommy Redmon, Scott Piper, Bob Oglesby, and Steve Culler. Not pictured is Ken Dankwardt, who flew on Saturday.

The Parade of Planes was scheduled just before the formal aerobatics demonstrations. Pilots formed a line of planes on Taxiway Foxtrot and waited for the signal to start engines. Around noon on both days, the signal to start was received from the "Air Boss" (George Cline) and the line began to move toward Taxiway Alpha. Announcer MayCay Beeler introduced each airplane and its pilot to the crowd as the line progressed down the taxiway to Runway 33.

Parade Pilots stand in front of their planes in parade sequence on Taxiway Foxtrot on Sunday morning just before starting engines. Photo by Frank Barber

Jay Bryant's Cheetah is framed by Bob Oglesby's C-172 high wing as pilots wait at the end of Taxiway Alpha for takeoff clearance. Photo by Bob Oglesby

As the Parade of Planes flew several low passes, MayCay Beeler gave the crowd a running description of who was passing by at the moment. Thanks, MayCay!

And then it was time to come back to earth. Air Boss George Cline cleared the planes individually to land and taxi to the "sterile" area for shutdown. It was over too soon!

Andy Dale manually tows his Commander 112A to the Static Display area after shutdown. Air Show safety rules dictated that no props could be turning after passing back through the crowd line. (Note the PBY in the left background!) Photo by Nancy Dale

The general consensus of Parade of Planes pilots was that the Parade was a lot of fun. This was a great opportunity for local pilots to give Air Show attendees a look at General Aviation airplanes in addition to Warbird and Military displays. We are looking forward to next year's Winston-Salem Air Show. See you there!

Tommy Redmon poses in front of his Varga Kachina on the static display line after the Parade. Photo by Bob Oglesby

WSAA member Mike Steele flew his T-6 with the warbirds at the end of the formal show. Mike flies in two or three shows around the area each year. Photo by Bob Oglesby

Click <Here> to read about the First Annual WSAA Cookout held at the South T-Hangars on May 15, 2008.

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