2011 Cleveland National Air Show
Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio September 3-5, 2011
The Cleveland National Air Show is very special to me as it was the first air show I ever attended back in 1976. The Labor Day Weekend tradition began in 1929 with the National Air Races. The National Air Races were held in Cleveland 12 times between 1929 and 1949 (no races were held between 1940 and 1945 due to World War II) and established Cleveland as the "Indianapolis 500 of Air Racing." The air show returned in 1964 to Burke Lakefront Airport and its setting on Lake Erie is magnificent!
For the third consecutive year, Danny Clisham and Rob Reider shared the announcing duties. “SkyTalker” Clisham has been the master of ceremonies at Cleveland since 1986 and was inducted into the Air Show Hall of Fame in 2007. Reider has been narrating for over 30 years and 2011 marks his 6th as a full-time air show announcer. Since both are recipients of the International Council of Air Shows Sword of Excellence (the air show industry’s highest honor), the attendees at Cleveland were in good hands!
Gates opened at 9:00 a.m. with the flying beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. Static displays included a KC-135 Stratotanker, MV-22 Osprey, AH-64 Apache, C-17 Globemaster III, C-27 Spartan, SH-60 Seahawk, C-130 Hercules, MH-53 Sea Dragon, CH-47 Chinook and CF-18 Hornet. The Army Golden Knights Black Demonstration Team opened the show with the flag jump during the National Anthem. Fans were then treated to a local and unique flyby of three EC145 helicopters belonging to Metro Life Flight. The helicopters are operated by Metro Aviation Incorporated and are used to provide time-sensitive medical transport service throughout northern and central Ohio.
Civilian acts were plentiful with top-notch names in the air and on the ground. The crowd was able to see aerobatics from John Klatt in his all new Air Guard MXS, Jim “Fang” Maroney in his Super Chipmunk and Jason Newberg in his Pitts S2S. Kent Pietsch flew three times each day in his Interstate Cadet, performing his comedy act, dead-stick landing and RV-Top landing. Two Warbirds: The Movie – Memphis Belle B-17 and a T-6 participated in a World War II aircraft parade and Paul Stender was present with the Indy Boys jet-powered School Time Jet Bus.
Military assets were also represented for those aviation enthusiasts who needed their heavy metal fix. The United States Navy provided an F/A-18C Hornet demonstration from the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron 106. A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from the United States Coast Guard executed a mock Search and Rescue operation. The United States Air Force sent two demonstration teams: A-10 East and F-4 Phantom East. The A-10 and F-4 then joined up with the P-51 “Moonbeam McSwine” for the Air Force Heritage Flight. For an international treat, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 14 Wing Greenwood out of Nova Scotia dispatched a CP-140 Aurora for a flyby!
Finally, it was time for the headlining act – the Air Force Thunderbirds! Just as soon as it began, the 2011 Cleveland National Air Show had concluded. The 2012 show will be held September 1-3 and the Blue Angels will be the featured act. It promises to be an event not to be missed with the War of 1812 Bicentennial providing an incredible opportunity to celebrate our Navy’s heritage!
By Anthony Svihlik (anthony@aviation-enthusiasts.com)
