Wings Over Pittsburgh 2011
Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station, Corapolis, Pennsylvania
September 10-11, 2011
An estimated 150,000 people attended the Wings Over Pittsburgh weekend event that was held on the ten-year anniversary of 9/11. The air show took place aboard the Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station located at Pittsburgh International Airport in Corapolis, Pennsylvania. The facility is home to the Air Force Reserve Command’s 911th Airlift Wing which flies the C-130 Hercules as well as KC-135T Stratotankers of the 171st Air Refueling Wing. In addition, the Civil Air Patrol is represented by the Golden Triangle Composite Squadron 603.
Announcing this year’s show was Larry Rutt. Rutt is called “The Voice of Experience” in the air show industry because he has been narrating for 35 years! Flying began at 10:00 a.m. with teaser performances by Sean Tucker in his Oracle Challenger, Art Nalls in his L-39 and Kirby Chambliss in his Edge 540. All three performers would return to the sky later in the day to perform their full routines, but this “preview” was a great way to start the show!
Following the opening ceremonies, the Sky Soldiers Demonstration Team appeared from the right, flying two Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters. Pilots CW-3 Patty Meek (retired) and Lieutenant Colonel Peyton DeHart (retired) did an outstanding job of presenting the Army Aviation story to all in attendance. Once the Sky Soldiers had exited the area, six aircraft from the Northeast Raiders Flight Demonstration Team began their performance. This was my first time seeing the Raiders and I enjoyed their formation aerobatics in the CJ-6 and Yak-52!
After the Raiders demonstration had ended, Art Nalls took to the skies in his Sea Harrier – the only privately-owned Harrier in the world! Nalls performed loops and rolls in the SHAR (as the Sea Harrier is called) before demonstrating the unique characteristics of the aircraft – backward flight, side-to-side flight and the amazing hover and “bow” to the crowd! It was impossible to hear the crowd’s reaction while Nalls conducted these signature maneuvers, but as soon as he landed, everybody up and down the flight line clapped and waved to him in approval! As Nalls taxied back to the ramp, Larry Rutt announced that a surprise was in store for us - we would be treated to a flyby from a B-2 Spirit bomber! The B-2 made three passes during Saturday’s show and the crowd murmured in awe as the bat-winged aircraft flew silently past.
Next up was the Air Force Viper West F-16 demonstration flown by Captain Garrett “Mace” Dover. Mace flew a high-energy demonstration that culminated in a two-ship Air Force Heritage Flight when he was joined by none other than Dale “Snort” Snodgrass in the “Glamorous Gal” P-51 Mustang! Sean Tucker then returned for his complete performance which included his signature triple ribbon cut.
With Sean Tucker’s performance complete, it was now time for the C-17 West Coast Demonstration Team. This demonstration is a rarity on the air show circuit and the aircrew put on a great show! When the C-17 recovered, the Red Bull Air Force took center stage. This included skydivers, Kirby Chambliss in his Edge 540 and Chuck Aaron in his Bo 105 helicopter! Aaron is the first and only civilian pilot to be certified to perform helicopter aerobatics in the United States and he does things that have to be seen to be believed! The locally-based 911th Airlift Wing then dispatched two C-130s for a paratrooper airdrop on the field.
Finally, it was time for the headlining act – the Heavy Metal Jet Team. The civilian-owned jet team is in its first season on the air show circuit for 2011 and operates five L-39s and a single MiG-17 in an Arctic camouflage paint scheme. It was exciting to see a different jet team (aside from the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds) and I can’t wait to see more of them next year!
After two consecutive years of air shows, Wings Over Pittsburgh will take a break in 2012. Organizers have announced the next show will take place in 2013 and then biannually after that in order to accommodate operational requirements. I’ll be there and I hope to see some of you as well!
Anthony Svihlik (anthony@aviation-enthusiasts.com)
