Post
by kalamazookid » Sun Jul 01, 2018 10:32 pm
Just stopping for dinner on my way home from Battle Creek. Fun airshow today! The Super Hornet, Osprey and Class of '45 act were the highlights for me. I was really surprised by the speed and maneuverability of the Vampire. After the take-off roll, I thought for sure it was going to be a plodding, slow demo, but that little bugger can really move! The Prowlers of the Pacific act was a bit of a letdown (could have used a different announcer telling about the aircraft rather reciting the entire history of the Pacific War, and more flying in front of the crowd), but it was still cool to see the Helldiver, Dauntless and Corsair flying around. There was a good variety of acts without over-saturating a particular type of flying.
The show seems to have changed a lot since my last visit, which was probably eight or nine years ago, and definitely for the better. Maybe it's just that I was in a bad spot during previous visits, but it seemed like the show line is now aligned with the runways much better and the aircraft seem to fly a lot closer to the crowd. I didn't expect to get any photo opportunities today and was surprised that most of the aircraft taxied in front of the crowd. Haven't had a chance to go through any yet, but I might actually have a few keepers. Being able to bring a cooler was nice on such a hot day and the atmosphere was really relaxed. I was very impressed with the show!
One of the reasons I hadn't gone to Battle Creek in so long is that it always seems so civilian-heavy, and aerobatic flippy-dips just don't do anything for me. I hope the attendance numbers and feedback support a warbird-heavy theme more often, even if it's only once every few years. I'll definitely be making this show more of a priority in the future. We had a great time!
0 x
Matt