JBLM Airshow & Warrior Expo 2023

Airplanefreak2000 · Post by **Airplanefreak2000** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 12:47 am

Five from a good show today!

Airplanefreak2000 · Post by **Airplanefreak2000** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 11:56 pm

More shots from a fantastic airshow!

Airplanefreak2000 · Post by **Airplanefreak2000** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 11:59 pm

Airplanefreak2000 · Post by **Airplanefreak2000** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 12:39 am

The army choppers rocked! Plus one eagle!

awal2049 · Post by **awal2049** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:02 am

Caught the live streams. They were pretty good despite some tech problems early. One thing I noticed today is Greg’s speed brakes were down during his demo. He still finished his performance. What a professional.

kalamazookid · Post by **kalamazookid** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:52 am

Great photos, Aaron!

Fun show! Perfect way to spend a day off from hiking and just about exactly what I was hoping for when I decided to incorporate this airshow into my vacation. Thanks to those who recommended the shuttles - they could not have been easier. Arrived to the base around 8:15 a.m. and was on the second bus from the DuPont lot. Got through security by around 9:15 a.m. Watched the Thunderbirds from near the exit, hopped on the next bus and drove right off base.

Show was awesome! Loved the Erickson warbirds, especially the 109, which I didn't get to see fly when it visited Oshkosh last year. The F-15 was a great surprise and I loved all the helicopter action. I don't think I've ever seen Apaches flown in an airshow before (only arrivals/departures), which was a nice treat. Tora, Acemaker, Yellow Thunder and the C-17 were also fun. Looked like Acemaker couldn't get the speed brakes to retract, which is why I'm guessing he didn't do his typical aerobatic routine. Strong static lineup, too. It's been ages since I've seen a CP-140, and the F-15, Growlers, tankers and warbirds were fun to look at. Also major points to the show for allowing the crowd to walk around the hot ramp before closing it off. I haven't been to many military shows where that has been the case and that was an unexpected surprise.

One question on Tora - do they not use any Val replicas anymore? Seems like they had one or two Vals last time I saw them fly, but I could be misremembering.

Airplanefreak2000 · Post by **Airplanefreak2000** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:58 am

awal2049 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:02 am Caught the live streams. They were pretty good despite some tech problems early. One thing I noticed today is Greg’s speed brakes were down during his demo. He still finished his performance. What a professional.

It was interesting with Greg. I’m not sure what happened with his speed brake but I know on his entry photo pass I was looking at him head on in the pyro field and it looked like he deployed them. He came back around and did a slow pass to verify if they were down. He proceeded on a few passes but definitely wasn’t his entire demo.

Also wondering if anyone got photos of the F-15 with the opening pyro. I shot that pyro shot each day for it!

Airplanefreak2000 · Post by **Airplanefreak2000** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 2:01 am

kalamazookid wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:52 am
One question on Tora - do they not use any Val replicas anymore? Seems like they had one or two Vals last time I saw them fly, but I could be misremembering.

Our Val is down for has been/awhile. It flew to the Fagen show last year but didn’t fly in the show. Can’t go into details. You probably won’t see it for a bit.