2016 Leaseweb manassas airshow
manassas regional airport, va (KHEf)
May 7, 2016
Typically, I do not cover non-military airshows outside of a two-hour drive from Philadelphia. This was until I caught word of the 2016 Leaseweb Manassas Airshow in Manassas, Virginia, which for a small magnitude airshow promised a share of jet noise. This small town show was scheduled to feature Art Nalls in the only civilian registered Sea Harrier, as well as the Warrior Flight Team's L-39C two-ship routine, Greg Colyer in the T-33, as well as Andrew McKenna flying his North American P-51D Mustang. In terms of warbirds, this show did not look disappointing on paper. Staple some Stearman acts from the rarely seen Bealeton Flying Circus, Scott Francis in the MXS, and Chefpitts, and it looked like a definite show to attend. Photo conditions were not the greatest at this venue, and statics were tight among a smaller flightline, so here is a selection of what I have to show. I tried to include a photo of every act in the airshow for this gallery.
THE STATIC DISPLAYS
Statics were pretty impressive for the smaller flight line allocated to the airshow. The Air Force, Marines, and Navy were represented with a Boeing C-40 Clipper, a Boeing/Vertol MV-22 Osprey, and a Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk respectively. Customs and Border Patrol's Sikorsky S-76B was rounding out an amazing amassment of helicopters ranging from the Bell 206B to a Fairfax County PD Bell 429 GlobalRanger. Warbirds were represented by the Commemorative Air Force's TBM Avenger, along with a gaggle of North American SNJ/T-6 Texan aircraft. And of course, we're not ruling out the flight school's impressive fleet of Cessna, Diamond, and Piper single and multi engine aircraft.
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AIRSHOW ACTION
This was one of the best small, non-military airshow lineups scheduled in the United States for 2016. Starting off with a parachute jump, the airspace cleared for Chefpitts' newest act, a deadstick routine in the Pitts S-1S Special. Another new act to me took off next, with Charlie "V+12" Vandenbosche piloting a Yakvolev Yak-52TW. V+12 flew a nice routine in the YAK-52TW, which was followed up by the Bealeton Flying Circus' Stearman wingwalking act. The Flying Circus had a rare road show which was quite the treat to those from out of town. Scott Francis then took centerstage to fly his signature, surface-waivered MXS act. Chefpitts then flew his signature Pitts S-1S Special act.
The sound of jets then filled the air with Mark "Crunchy" Burgess and Bill "Pirate" Mills flying their respective Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross jets. These L-39s were painted in the colors of the VX-9 Vampires and VFA-106 Gladiators of the United States Navy respectively, paying homage to the pilots' former squadrons. Next was the American jet trainer, with Greg "Wired" Colyer of Acemaker Airshows flying the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star in a beautiful aerobatic routine. Lastly, the star of the airshow, Art Nalls flew a non-aerobatic display in the BAE Sea Harrier FA2, dazzling the spectators with a vertical takeoff and landing, as well as some high speed passes.
The sound of jets then filled the air with Mark "Crunchy" Burgess and Bill "Pirate" Mills flying their respective Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross jets. These L-39s were painted in the colors of the VX-9 Vampires and VFA-106 Gladiators of the United States Navy respectively, paying homage to the pilots' former squadrons. Next was the American jet trainer, with Greg "Wired" Colyer of Acemaker Airshows flying the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star in a beautiful aerobatic routine. Lastly, the star of the airshow, Art Nalls flew a non-aerobatic display in the BAE Sea Harrier FA2, dazzling the spectators with a vertical takeoff and landing, as well as some high speed passes.
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