Feeds‘Thunder Over Michigan’ takes flight Saturday
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The 10th annual “Thunder Over Michigan” will fly-high this weekend at the Yankee Air Museum.Thunder will fill the air this weekend as the Yankee Air Museum “Thunder Over Michigan” show takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
In honor of the 10-year anniversary, the museum promises to make Thunder Over Michigan air display the best “war bird show ever,” officials said.
“One of the big things is the 10th anniversary so we’re bringing the best of the last 10 years in a conglomeration show,” said Kevin Walsh, director of the event. “It’s going to make for a neat celebration.”
The 10th annual event will feature a salute to the ‘rough and tough’ P-47 Thunderbolt, plus a special segment dedicated to the beloved World War II Heavy Bombers. A wide variety of vintage and modern military fighters, bombers and transports will help celebrate the anniversary, too.
“In only 10 short years, we are proud to have put Detroit on the map in the aviation event industry,” said Walsh. “Our spectators are from all over the U.S. and Canada and we even have fans traveling overseas from England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
“There’s something for everyone,” he added. “It’s an entertaining venue in the Detroit area with a variety of items going on. It’s a show within a show.”
New this year, the air display will introduce North America’s largest armored World War II battle reenactment, featuring numerous vehicles and aircraft. The museum has brought in special guest Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey. Golden Globe nominee Ermey, who stared in the film “Full Metal Jacket”, will sign autographs and take pictures within the tent.
“The battle reenactment will have 3,000 actors and more than 50 vehicles in the field show,” said Walsh. “Also, there’s a World War II dogfight with bi-planes and tri-planes; a mock air to air battle between the British and the German aircrafts so the public will just love it; a dogfight in the sky.”
The U.S. Navy’s F/A-18C Hornet Single Ship tactical demonstration and the U.S. Air Force F-16C Viper Single-Ship Tactical demonstration teams will also put their respective jets through ‘hard core’ demonstrations reaching speeds more than 700 m.p.h., which is just under the speed of sound.
Officials said pilots will pull in excess of 8 G’s in their maneuvers to show the tactical capabilities of the modern fighter jets. The single-ship demonstrations also show them flying as low as 500 feet and climbing straight up to altitudes of more than 15,000 feet, they said.
“Both teams limit the number of shows they do annually in the U.S. and both made sure Detroit was on their schedule,” said Walsh. “The Navy’s team is only doing 21 shows this year and the Air Force’s team is only participating in 16 shows, making this their third consecutive year for being part of the Thunder.”
The F/A-18C Hornet is from the VFA-106 Gladiators based at Naval Air Station Oceania in Virginia, with demonstration pilot Lt. Chris “Sarge” Miranda. The team will also conduct a legacy flight, where a restored vintage aircraft will fly with the Hornet in a series of passes for the Thunder crowd.
The F-16C Viper from the 20th fighter wing at Shaw Air Force base in South Carolina, will be piloted by Capt. George W. “Dog” Clifford. The air force will conduct its own heritage flight where a restored World War II P-51D Mustang fighter that will fly a number of profiles with the modern-day F-16 Viper.
Also new to the event is an exclusive flight-line chalet, allowing guests to upgrade their ticket and enjoy the show in a comfortable and close-up view, according to officials.
The flight-line chalet is a spacious, tented area designed for viewers to enjoy the shade and have access to table and chairs.
Space is limited to 300 people per day. Advance tickets are $25 for people 16 and older or $40 per day if purchased at the show. Children under 15 are free when accompanied by an adult. It does not include air show or parking tickets.
Lauded as the best war bird show in America, the Yankee Air Museum 2008 Thunder Over Michigan air display will also keep with their strong theme of saluting vintage and modern aircraft, officials said.
“Because of its unique line-up, people travel across the country to see these things,” Walsh said. “There’s a uniqueness to the gathering that makes us different from every other air show.”
Tickets are $20 or $25 at the gate. The Yankee Air Museum eliminated youth fees last year and allows children under 15 for free. Parking is $5 before or $10 at the gate.
All proceeds of the event will go toward the rebuilding efforts after the October 2004 fire that devastated the hangar and most contents. Tickets are available at www.starticketsplus.com, by phone at 1 (800) 585-3737, at Meijer stores or at a StarTicketsPlus kiosk.
Thunder Over Michigan is located at the historic Willow Run Airport in Belleville. For more information, visit www.yankeeairmuseum.org.
