It Ain't an Air Show Without Warbirds

Camarillo, CA Air Show August 2004 Its unfortunate both the Santa Maria and Camarillo air shows were scheduled for the same weekend. No doubt both could have been better attended if held on different dates. I chose the Camarillo show because I've not been to that one before and because the last year the Santa Maria show was devoted to T-28s. Knowing my luck, this year the Santa Maria show had a squadron of Spitfires on the ramp. From a photographic perspective, Camarillo is far better situated for aerial photos.		Antonov AN-2 A shinning example of function over form, the AN-2 is touted as the world's biggest biplane. It is a functional beast. I understand the Shvetzov engine is a license built Wright R-1820 of roughly 1,000 horsepower. To give an idea of scale, the prop is just over 11 feet in diameter
	T-28a Trojan North American's answer to the USAF's need for a more capable trainer entering the jet age. The "a" model looked odd with its two blade prop. The later versions with larger air inlet and three blade prop are better proportioned. This early example is a less commonly seen today.
	FM-2 Wildcat If you think the Wildcat looks slow, you're right. Just imagine what could have been if the design was completed as a biplane, as originally envisioned. Though outclassed by the Zero, it none the less gave as well as it got.
	Grumman F6F Hellcat Lessons learned with the Wildcat in combat lead directly to the F6F. The Hellcat has always looked ponderous to me, but then I've never seen one with the coal poured to it. While I'm more of a Corsair fan, there is no denying Hellcats were the bread and butter of American fighter air power in the Pacific.
	Yakovlev Yak-3M According to the FAA web site, this Yak was manufactured in 1945. I know there are, or have been, Yaks built recently in Russia on original wartime tooling. Don't honestly know if this is one of the continuations or a vintage plane. The engine, I assume, is an Allison V-1710. Whatever its origins, its great to see these eastern block planes filling out the warbird ranks at shows.

Camarillo, CA
Air Show
August 2004

Its unfortunate both the Santa Maria and Camarillo air shows were scheduled for the same weekend. No doubt both could have been better attended if held on different dates. I chose the Camarillo show because I've not been to that one before and because the last year the Santa Maria show was devoted to T-28s. Knowing my luck, this year the Santa Maria show had a squadron of Spitfires on the ramp. From a photographic perspective, Camarillo is far better situated for aerial photos.

Antonov AN-2

A shinning example of function over form, the AN-2 is touted as the world's biggest biplane. It is a functional beast. I understand the Shvetzov engine is a license built Wright R-1820 of roughly 1,000 horsepower. To give an idea of scale, the prop is just over 11 feet in diameter

T-28a Trojan

North American's answer to the USAF's need for a more capable trainer entering the jet age. The "a" model looked odd with its two blade prop. The later versions with larger air inlet and three blade prop are better proportioned. This early example is a less commonly seen today.

FM-2 Wildcat

If you think the Wildcat looks slow, you're right. Just imagine what could have been if the design was completed as a biplane, as originally envisioned. Though outclassed by the Zero, it none the less gave as well as it got.

Grumman F6F Hellcat

Lessons learned with the Wildcat in combat lead directly to the F6F. The Hellcat has always looked ponderous to me, but then I've never seen one with the coal poured to it. While I'm more of a Corsair fan, there is no denying Hellcats were the bread and butter of American fighter air power in the Pacific.

Yakovlev Yak-3M

According to the FAA web site, this Yak was manufactured in 1945. I know there are, or have been, Yaks built recently in Russia on original wartime tooling. Don't honestly know if this is one of the continuations or a vintage plane. The engine, I assume, is an Allison V-1710. Whatever its origins, its great to see these eastern block planes filling out the warbird ranks at shows.

BACK

Camarillo, CA Air Show August 2004

Camarillo, CA
Air Show
August 2004