Aviation Nation 2011

Finally. After 4 days of editing, I finished the processing last night.

Let me start by saying that this was my first time ever at Aviation Nation 2011, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew that the afternoon light was going to be great for the static displays, and it was; unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the morning light, which made most of the morning performances backlit. After the show “officially” started, it was just pure epicness. First of all, a Rammstein-based C-130J dropped a group of paratroopers, who landed just before the National Anthem, then we got performances by the Patriots and their L-39s, a B-25, T-6 and Mitsubishi Zero, a dogfight between the Planes of Fame F-86 and MiG-15 while an A-1 Skyraider and a Canadair T-33 flew around the base, a heritage flight, a close air support demo involving ground troops, Blackhawks, F-15s and A-10s, a simulated attack to the base by the 64th AS F-16s and then F-15s and F-16s from the Weapons School getting scrambled to defend the base, and finally, the Thunderbirds. In all, one amazing airshow. While I didn’t get a chance to attend on Sunday, when the B-2 was flying, I still got to see it on display for the first time.

The Aggressors displayed two new paint schemes, arctic blue and arctic grey/black, not to mention that the Thunderbirds were performing at home, and the amazing performance of the C-17.

Remarkable displays (in my opinion)

-CAF P-51C “Tuskegee Airmen” / “By ReQuest”

-RC-135V Rivet Joint

-B-2 Spirit

-Hispano HA-200 Saeta

-F-15 from the 65th AS and F-16 from the 64th AS [Read more]

-Mil Mi-24 Hind

-General Motors TBM-3 Avenger

In the “civvie” area

-LVMPD MD-530 Helicopter

-Utah State University (Diamond DA-40 & DA-42)

-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus (Diamond DA-42NG)

-LAPD Eurocopter Ecureuil

-Nevada DPS (Crown Victoria, Mobile Command Center and Cessna R182)

Also, I’m proud to say that Maj. Aaron Jelinek (Lead Solo, #5) and Maj. JR Williams (Opposing Solo, #6) are Embry-Riddle Prescott graduates.

And here’s the photos