After a four-year sequestration-induced hiatus, the Millville Wings and Wheels Airshow made its' grand return on the second weekend of May 2015. Advertising to feature the only local performance by the Thunderbirds (AC had Blue Angels), the airshow was almost guaranteed to get everybody attracted. The show was organized by David Schultz Airshows, as well as the Millville Army Airfield Museum. It was a short 45-minute drive from Philadelphia, without much traffic getting in my way.
Upon entry to the grounds, I could tell that the layout changed drastically from past years. You enter from the Big Sky Aviation lot, and turn in and find the F/A-18F Super Hornets, as well as the rest of the other performing planes crowded onto the Big Sky ramp. To make the crowding worse, there was a small static area that took the place of the infamous hill of planes. I pulled my Tamron 150-600mm out to catch some arrivals, and I could barely even picture a Seneca at 600 mm. It was then when I realized that the box isn't going to be the best to shoot. Aside from that, it was hazy and any break in the clouds could make a backlit crapfest.
Frustrated with the arrival shots, I went on to check out the static aircraft. A couple of surprises such as a spectacular Tiger Moth, the B-25J Panchito, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's TBM Avenger, and most notably, a Vamlet L-90.
Upon entry to the grounds, I could tell that the layout changed drastically from past years. You enter from the Big Sky Aviation lot, and turn in and find the F/A-18F Super Hornets, as well as the rest of the other performing planes crowded onto the Big Sky ramp. To make the crowding worse, there was a small static area that took the place of the infamous hill of planes. I pulled my Tamron 150-600mm out to catch some arrivals, and I could barely even picture a Seneca at 600 mm. It was then when I realized that the box isn't going to be the best to shoot. Aside from that, it was hazy and any break in the clouds could make a backlit crapfest.
Frustrated with the arrival shots, I went on to check out the static aircraft. A couple of surprises such as a spectacular Tiger Moth, the B-25J Panchito, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's TBM Avenger, and most notably, a Vamlet L-90.
STATIC DISPLAYS:
Static Displays:
- 1995 Pitts S-1S - N907MG - Jason Flood Airshows
- Extra 300L - N51E - Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows - Support Plane
- 1993 Extra 300S - N911CG - Jack Knutson
- 2007 MX Technologies MXS-RH - N540RH - Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows
- 1940 North American SNJ-2 Texan - N60734 - GEICO Skytypers
- 1942 de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth - NL82CZ - Deleware Aviation Museum
- 1958 Aeronca Champ - N7513E - Deleware Aviation Museum
- 1944 North American TB-25N - N9079Z - Deleware Aviation Museum PANCHITO
- 2004 Cessna 172SP - N582LP - Big Sky Aviation
- 1995 Valmet L-90 - N17VT - Private Owner
- 1966 Cessna 150G - N4715X - Commemorative Air Force
- 1973 Bishop Stampe - N711SV - Private Owner
- Consolidated-Vultee BT-13 Valiant - N941CN - Cumberland Belle
- 1945 Grumman TBM-3 Avenger - N109K - Mid-Atlantic Air Museum
To sum up, that was a pretty good static lineup for a small town airshow, with some bang for your buck. However, with the Thunderbirds' appearing at the airshow, I would think that this static display list lacks something. With the noticeable lack of military aircraft, it wouldn't be that obvious that the Thunderbirds are there. I'm not necessarily asking for a B-52 or a B-1, but an F-16 from Atlantic City, or a C-130 would make a really good addition. At the 2011 show, they had a CONA P-3C, a C-130, T-6, and T-45 on display, along with some warbirds. Speaking of warbirds, I was surprised that Tom Duffy didn't pull anything out for static display. I know that the Commemorative Air Force had a B-17 scheduled, which didn't show up due to engine issues, but a P-47 would make a nice historic static display.
RATE: 6/10
- 1995 Pitts S-1S - N907MG - Jason Flood Airshows
- Extra 300L - N51E - Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows - Support Plane
- 1993 Extra 300S - N911CG - Jack Knutson
- 2007 MX Technologies MXS-RH - N540RH - Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows
- 1940 North American SNJ-2 Texan - N60734 - GEICO Skytypers
- 1942 de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth - NL82CZ - Deleware Aviation Museum
- 1958 Aeronca Champ - N7513E - Deleware Aviation Museum
- 1944 North American TB-25N - N9079Z - Deleware Aviation Museum PANCHITO
- 2004 Cessna 172SP - N582LP - Big Sky Aviation
- 1995 Valmet L-90 - N17VT - Private Owner
- 1966 Cessna 150G - N4715X - Commemorative Air Force
- 1973 Bishop Stampe - N711SV - Private Owner
- Consolidated-Vultee BT-13 Valiant - N941CN - Cumberland Belle
- 1945 Grumman TBM-3 Avenger - N109K - Mid-Atlantic Air Museum
To sum up, that was a pretty good static lineup for a small town airshow, with some bang for your buck. However, with the Thunderbirds' appearing at the airshow, I would think that this static display list lacks something. With the noticeable lack of military aircraft, it wouldn't be that obvious that the Thunderbirds are there. I'm not necessarily asking for a B-52 or a B-1, but an F-16 from Atlantic City, or a C-130 would make a really good addition. At the 2011 show, they had a CONA P-3C, a C-130, T-6, and T-45 on display, along with some warbirds. Speaking of warbirds, I was surprised that Tom Duffy didn't pull anything out for static display. I know that the Commemorative Air Force had a B-17 scheduled, which didn't show up due to engine issues, but a P-47 would make a nice historic static display.
RATE: 6/10
THE AIRSHOW:
The airshow portion of the airshow was pretty good in anyone's book. The airshow attracted big time military performers such as the Thunderbirds, Golden Knights, and the Navy's F/A-18F Super Hornet Demo Team from VFA-106. Where the military performers go, you can bank on seeing some excellent aerobatics. World Aerobatic Champion Rob Holland, Jack Knutson, and Bill Gordon kept the spectators on their toes waiting for the next aerobatic. Along with that, some local spice was added in with Jason Flood, the Raiders Demo Team, and the GEICO Skytypers. All in all, it was a really good, well balanced lineup.
To start the show, two Champs, two Grasshoppers, the Tiger Moth, and a Stock Stearman took to the skies for some race track patterns. As a warbird fan, I had to picture each and every one of the "L-Birds", as they are called. Maj. Gen. Tommy Williams made an excellent debut performance flying Jim Beasley, Jr.'s P-51D Mustang "Bald Eagle". Tommy is now Jim Beasley's second pilot, taking over Heritage Flights that Beasley can't fly due to court dates. The Raiders then took to the skies to fly their only performance of the day, which was their famous 3-ship demo with Marty Sheehan, Jeff Daniel, and Tom Reynolds flying their Yak-52s.
The official start occurred when the Golden Knights dropped the American flag into Millville Municipal Airport, followed by their signature "Showline Spread". Rob Holland then took the box to fly his famous 4-minute freestyle that has won him many championships in aerobatics. Jason Flood, an aerobatic competitor himself, took his Pitts S-1S up for a couple of spins, to show off his stuff. Andrew McKenna then took to the stage, to show off his Mustang, which is temporarily named "Dorrie R". Andrew named his Mustang that for a flyby over Washington DC along with warbirds from Texas Flying Legends, Military Aviation Museum, and Commemorative Air Force. Jack Knutson then took his Extra 300S up for a great aerobatic performance.
Larry Kelley then took Panchito up for a demo flight, to show off the beautiful profile of the B-25 Mitchell. Rob Holland then went up for the second of three times, this time with his full demo. Needless to say, it was amazing. The late, great Bill Gordon then went up in an ex-Red Baron Pizza Squadron PT-17 Stearman 450. As expected, Bill also did an amazing job and probably flew the best Stearman demo I have seen yet. A Blackhawk from the NJ National Guard then took to the stage, to drop off enlisted personnel for the Thunderbirds. It would have been nice to get a flyby at least, so the entire airshow could get a plain view of the UH-60 Blackhawk. The Skytypers then flew their amazing performance with six SNJ-2 Texans. That was followed by the Golden Knights with their full demo (announcer jump, tandem, cutaway, mass exit).
Jack Knutson and Rob Holland flew for their second and third time (respectively), with the 2-ship Firebirds Demo. It is amazing to watch the trust that them two aerobatic pilots have for each other on display. Its easy to say that they shredded the sky. Following that, FONDA and IAD...S made noise over MIV with the F/A-18 Super Hornet. It is amazing how they could pull of their full demo with a shorter than usual runway at Millville. They went for a pass that clocked at Mach .97 to a high alpha pass of less than 100 miles per hour. Outstanding! The Thunderbirds were the last act, as expected. They had to pull off a remote show from ACY, but still kept the crowd in awe. They pulled some amazing vape throughout their show, along with the Super Hornet.
RATE: 8.5/10
To start the show, two Champs, two Grasshoppers, the Tiger Moth, and a Stock Stearman took to the skies for some race track patterns. As a warbird fan, I had to picture each and every one of the "L-Birds", as they are called. Maj. Gen. Tommy Williams made an excellent debut performance flying Jim Beasley, Jr.'s P-51D Mustang "Bald Eagle". Tommy is now Jim Beasley's second pilot, taking over Heritage Flights that Beasley can't fly due to court dates. The Raiders then took to the skies to fly their only performance of the day, which was their famous 3-ship demo with Marty Sheehan, Jeff Daniel, and Tom Reynolds flying their Yak-52s.
The official start occurred when the Golden Knights dropped the American flag into Millville Municipal Airport, followed by their signature "Showline Spread". Rob Holland then took the box to fly his famous 4-minute freestyle that has won him many championships in aerobatics. Jason Flood, an aerobatic competitor himself, took his Pitts S-1S up for a couple of spins, to show off his stuff. Andrew McKenna then took to the stage, to show off his Mustang, which is temporarily named "Dorrie R". Andrew named his Mustang that for a flyby over Washington DC along with warbirds from Texas Flying Legends, Military Aviation Museum, and Commemorative Air Force. Jack Knutson then took his Extra 300S up for a great aerobatic performance.
Larry Kelley then took Panchito up for a demo flight, to show off the beautiful profile of the B-25 Mitchell. Rob Holland then went up for the second of three times, this time with his full demo. Needless to say, it was amazing. The late, great Bill Gordon then went up in an ex-Red Baron Pizza Squadron PT-17 Stearman 450. As expected, Bill also did an amazing job and probably flew the best Stearman demo I have seen yet. A Blackhawk from the NJ National Guard then took to the stage, to drop off enlisted personnel for the Thunderbirds. It would have been nice to get a flyby at least, so the entire airshow could get a plain view of the UH-60 Blackhawk. The Skytypers then flew their amazing performance with six SNJ-2 Texans. That was followed by the Golden Knights with their full demo (announcer jump, tandem, cutaway, mass exit).
Jack Knutson and Rob Holland flew for their second and third time (respectively), with the 2-ship Firebirds Demo. It is amazing to watch the trust that them two aerobatic pilots have for each other on display. Its easy to say that they shredded the sky. Following that, FONDA and IAD...S made noise over MIV with the F/A-18 Super Hornet. It is amazing how they could pull of their full demo with a shorter than usual runway at Millville. They went for a pass that clocked at Mach .97 to a high alpha pass of less than 100 miles per hour. Outstanding! The Thunderbirds were the last act, as expected. They had to pull off a remote show from ACY, but still kept the crowd in awe. They pulled some amazing vape throughout their show, along with the Super Hornet.
RATE: 8.5/10
the photography conditions:
As you could have probably told, this wasn't only my first show with a T5 and Tamron 150-600mm. I left it on auto, because I wasn't sure of how to shoot each act. It was also really cloudy and foggy, or terribly backlit. Personally, I would rather have cloudy shots than backlit shots, so I wasn't too pleased when the clouds broke off. The box also wasn't the greatest. I was struggling to fill the frame, even at 600mm, with the plane right in front of me.
RATE: 5/10
RATE: 5/10
THE COMMUTE HOME:
As soon as the Thunderbirds landed back at ACY, the crowds started rushing to the gate. I always wait a little while for the crowds to die down, so I went to hang out with some people that I couldn't find. So I just went to the car and had a tailgate sandwich and soda. As soon as there weren't any cars in our way, we pulled out. The road after leaving the airport took 20 minutes to get out of, with smooth sailing following it.
RATE: 7/10
RATE: 7/10
OVERALL:
PROS:
- Exceptional performer booking/Great bounce back from 2011's Blue Angels Cancellation
- Short Runway, No Problem (F/A-18F Super Hornet)
CONS:
- The Thunderbirds had to do a remote appearance
- Opening ceremonies was 5 acts late
- Extremely Backlit and Full of Heat Haze
- Far Box
- Could have brought more variety to static display (Tom Duffy, Military)
- Exceptional performer booking/Great bounce back from 2011's Blue Angels Cancellation
- Short Runway, No Problem (F/A-18F Super Hornet)
CONS:
- The Thunderbirds had to do a remote appearance
- Opening ceremonies was 5 acts late
- Extremely Backlit and Full of Heat Haze
- Far Box
- Could have brought more variety to static display (Tom Duffy, Military)