When the sun rose on the 11th Annual Corsicana Airsho, it was partly cloudy, 68 degrees, and winds were south-southeast at 17 with gusts to 24. It soon warmed up to 88 degrees and the winds calmed to less than 12. Perfect weather for an air show!
The Coyote Squadron hopes you were at C. David Campbell Field, the Corsicana Municipal Airport, on Saturday, May 9, for the air show. If you were there, we hope you enjoyed the show. If you weren’t there, let me give you an idea of what you missed.
The theme for this year’s air show was “A Gathering of Trainers,” and we had a lot of them. There were several primary trainers: one PT-17, the Stearman biplane trainer that preceded the PT-19; five PT-19s, including the Coyote Squadron’s own recently renovated airplane; and three T-6 Texans. Other WW II aircraft included: a Nanching CJ-6A, the Chinese version of the Soviet Yakolev, or “Yak,” fighter; two replicas of the Zero, the famous Japanese fighter; some observation aircraft including two L-2 Grasshoppers by Taylorcraft, and an L-3 Grasshopper by Aeronca; and last, but certainly not least, was a Mitchell B-25 bomber by North American Aviation. If you were at the air show, we hope you stayed to see the B-25 take off. It was breathtaking!
We had an A-26 Invader, an attack bomber, used extensively in WW II, in the Korean War, and in the Vietnam War.
We also had aircraft used in the Vietnam War including a UH-1 (the “Huey” helicopter), an O-2 (an observation aircraft—the military version of the Cessna 337 Skymaster—with a propeller ahead of the cockpit and a “pusher” propeller behind it), and an OV-1 Mohawk (a twin-engine airplane used by Army Intelligence).
There was formation flying by two different flying clubs: Texas V-Tails, a group that flies Beech Bonanzas, and Falcon Flight, a club of RV owners. RV, in this case, does not mean recreational vehicle; RVs are fully aerobatic, kit-built planes designed by Richard VanGrunsven and classified as experimental aircraft. Good pilots make formation flying look easy, but it really takes considerable skill. Each pilot must maintain the same air speed, altitude, and distance from other planes. And they must do that in a formation of aircraft that are apt to have different engine sizes.
In addition, Texas Heat Wave and the Corsicana Miniature Aircraft Club entertained over the noon hour with their radio-controlled aircraft including the “Flying Lawnmower.”
Finally, three car clubs displayed a number of cars including antiques, classics, hot rods, “muscle” cars, and race cars. Many of the cars earned trophies for their owners.
Parking was a challenge because airport grounds were too wet to permit it. We tried to park visitors on the service roads beneath the US-287 viaduct and move them to the airport ramp with shuttle busses. People who parked there reported that parking was convenient and worked very well. Others chose to park on the shoulders of Navarro Road and then had to walk some distance to the ramp. We hope parking will not be an issue next year.
We would be remiss if we failed to note the contribution of many volunteers without whose help the air show would not have been possible. We especially recognize the assistance provided by the Tyler Civil Air Patrol unit who helped with gates and parking. Their help was invaluable, and those young people are a credit to their parents and to the leadership of their organization.
Mark the second Saturday in May, 2010, on your calendars. That will be the Coyote Squadron’s next air show. We hope you can make it.
SPONSORS OF THE 2009 CORSICANA AIRSHO
AIRCRAFT SPONSORS
(These persons provided funding for specific aircraft to attend the Airsho)
Mayor C. L. Brown – B-25 “Pacific Prowler”
Jim and Candy Wells and Ken Authier -- Huey helicopter
PLATINUM
Corsicana Chamber of Commerce
Bank of America, Annie Lee Robbins Charitable Trust
T.L.H. Enterprises, Inc. dba Colortyme
Community National Bank and Trust (J. Tom Eady Charitable Trust)
Keeton Services, Inc. (College Station)
Chris McKeown Investments
Pumping Services, Inc. (Palestine)
Green Worx Printing (formerly Corsicana Graphics)
GOLD
City of Corsicana
4-H Flowback Services Inc. (Palestine)
Haynie Drilling Co., Inc.
Hall Volvo-GMC (Tyler)
Orkin Pest Control
Prosperity Bank
Capital T Properties dba I-45 Sales
Computer Fastlane
Navarro Regional Hospital
Express Energy (Fairfield)
Corsicana Inn
Navarro County Times
SILVER
Azurite Service Company (Palestine)
Freestone Disposal (Palestine)
Custom Hose (Palestine)
Turbyfill’s Machine Shop (Palestine)
Vitters Tractors, Inc.
Richard Cummins
Jackson Leisure Properties
K & S Towing
Dr. Pete McElroy, D.D.S.
McKee Lumber Co., Inc.
True Value Co.
Guardian Industries
Two Doors Down
GoCo Trucking
Winters Oil Partners LP
Aircraft Insurance Agency by Duncan
HEB
Corsicana Sheet Metal Co., Inc.
Jones Medical Service
Holiday Inn Express
BRONZE
Bryder Chiropractic Clinic
C & C Trading Post
J. Forrest Green
Meineke
Rylie Transports, Inc.
United Rentals
Bobby’s Tires (Jacksonville)
Clear Signal Radio
Jordan Paint and Body
Micro Title Navarro County, LLC
Texas Lifestyle Furniture Outlet
Ryder Oil Co. (Buffalo)
Tim’s Tires and Wheels
Eagle Realty – Reva Horton
City National Bank
Brent Magness, DDS
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Re-Cal Services, Inc. (Palestine)
24/7 Ice
Donica Construction/Development
Corsicana Fire Department
City of Corsicana
Navarro County Emergency Management
Corsicana Parks and Recreation
Dr. Pepper
Corsicana Aviation Services
Watkins Construction
Collin Street Bakery
Corsicana Tee’s
Griffin Roughton Funeral Home
Micar Transportation (Palestine)
Calhoun Construction (Palestine)
Hilltop Backhoe Service
U.S. Army
U.S. Navy
U.S. Marine Corps
RAFFLE PRIZES DONATED BY
Sears
Home Depot
McKee True Value
Olé Foods
The Other Place
T & Company
Victorian Sample Florist
Col. Tom Peters
Col. Dan Summerall
Col. Candis Wells
Col. Chris Richmond
Please patronize these merchants and thank them for supporting the Coyote Squadron’s Airsho.
* Airsho is the name trademarked by the Commemorative Air Force for sanctioned air shows.
|
