Thunder & Lightning Over Arizona 2023

Discussion relating to 2023 airshows/fly-ins/exercises/other events. Post news before the event and post your photos afterwards! Please create only one thread per event.
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n33d4sp33d_85
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 21, 2023 12:06 pm

The Planes of Fame Air Museum will be sending their P-51 Mustang and F8F Bearcat.

https://planesoffame.org/visit/flight-schedule
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avravalleyaviation
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Location: Tucson

Post by avravalleyaviation » Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:02 am

I left out in my earlier comment that a C-5M Super Galaxy will show up for static, not sure which base but likely Travis.


Here’s some info on a few of the arrivals:
Thunderbirds- Sometime Thursday
Maid in the Shade- 12:30PM
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Tangoringo
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Post by Tangoringo » Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:19 pm

I see the gates open at 9 but any updates on when the flying is likely to start and finish? Assuming the T-birds will be closing the show?
Also, with the addition of the POF Bearcat are there any plans for a USN heritage/legacy flight with a Growler/Rhino?
Last edited by Tangoringo on Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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avravalleyaviation
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Post by avravalleyaviation » Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:28 pm

Added statics:
CAF SOCAL wing A6M3 Zero
CAF SOCAL wing F6F-5

And to answer the question stated above,
Rhino demo won’t be there, at least the West Coast one. I believe the Growler legacy team will be present and the Bearcat is the legacy bird. Flying started around 10:30 last time (2021 show) and if I had to guess it’s the same this year. T-Birds usually close off the shows around 4.
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Tangoringo
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Post by Tangoringo » Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:32 pm

avravalleyaviation wrote: Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:28 pm Added statics:
CAF SOCAL wing A6M3 Zero
CAF SOCAL wing F6F-5

And to answer the question stated above,
Rhino demo won’t be there, at least the West Coast one. I believe the Growler legacy team will be present and the Bearcat is the legacy bird. Flying started around 10:30 last time (2021 show) and if I had to guess it’s the same this year. T-Birds usually close off the shows around 4.
Perfect.
Thanks for the info @avravalleyaviation ...nice couple of additions in the static...
Last edited by Tangoringo on Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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avravalleyaviation
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Post by avravalleyaviation » Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:01 pm

No problem, happy to help. Some more general info, Friday is the local STEM day and practice day. So if you are interested in coming down to see the practice show, that’s the day to do so. Thunderbird 8 arrived earlier and it’s expected the other ones and static display aircraft arrive tomorrow. It’s looking to be more than 25 aircraft should be arriving tomorrow (excluding performers).
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avravalleyaviation
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Post by avravalleyaviation » Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:18 am

Info on the Thunderbird arrivals,
The Thunderbirds will be arriving tomorrow from Nellis AFB and should arrive between 1:36 and 2:06 pm. The first to come will be Thunderbirds 5 and 6, who will perform a site survey of the area for half an hour before the rest (1-4) come and do the same.
To reiterate, tomorrow should be chalked full of arrivals. One of the two T-33 shooting stars has been parked on the DM ramp for awhile now, and the HC-130 for the CSAR demonstration is parked near the Compass Calls. To my knowledge, the F-86 from Heritage Flight is still there, she might be grounded for some type of hard maintenance or she could be a static display, just pure speculation though.
Last edited by avravalleyaviation on Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Nick
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Post by Nick » Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:30 pm

avravalleyaviation wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:18 am Info on the Thunderbird arrivals,
The Thunderbirds will be arriving tomorrow from Nellis AFB and should arrive between 1:36 and 2:06 pm. The first to come will be Thunderbirds 5 and 6, who will perform a site survey of the area for half an hour before the rest (1-4) come and do the same.
To reiterate, tomorrow should be chalked full of arrivals. One of the two T-33 shooting stars has been parked on the DM ramp for awhile now, and the HC-130 for the CSAR demonstration is parked near the Compass Calls. To my knowledge, the F-86 from Heritage Flight is still there, she might be grounded for some type of hard maintenance or she could be a static display, just pure speculation though.
The F-86 could be static, but they had some type of maintenance issue within the past year, I might be mistaken, but sometimes it varies where's it's parked, if its like off the show site and near the hangars its most likely maintenance issues, if parked like away from the hangars and probably like putted in one of the huts, then its probably static. But yeah Its still like fifthy.
Last edited by Nick on Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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avravalleyaviation
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Location: Tucson

Post by avravalleyaviation » Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:11 am

We had multiple arrivals today, but not all.

Looks like a few are still left to come including the C-5 but we had a good number of arrivals today including the:
-Thunderbirds
-Old Number 30
-F6F Hellcat
-A6M3 Zero
-PB4Y Privateer
-T-38 Talon (Tyndall)
-Growler demo
-Pylon Aviation Bo105
-Red Bull Edge 540
-Vicky Benzing (Stearman)
-T-33 Shooting star
-Kent Pietsch (Interstate Cadet)
-T-6A Texan II
-MV-22 Osprey
-HU-16 Albatross
-T-33 Shooting Star
-Stearman
-PT-19 Cornell
-PA-48 Enforcer
-F-104G Starfighter
-KC-10 Extender (AMARG)

Also looks like a CBP demo was added, with a UH-60.
Weather looks perfect, with a high of 67 on both Saturday and Sunday with sunny skies.
Last edited by avravalleyaviation on Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Lpuente
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Post by Lpuente » Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:29 am

The thunderbirds always make an amazing entrance an extra 30 minute show on top of Friday practice in my opinion the best sneak passes are on arrival day
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