Barksdale AFB
The show overall was stellar!!! Friday practice was a complete wash out. I was the first pilot up and as soon as I got to the runway, it started raining. So I turned around and they called it for the day. It did not clear up in time for the twilight show either.
Saturday morning was overcast at 2,000 ft. and stayed that way till about noon. I flew about then and it was breaking up almost completely. We had a little wind in the afternoon but it was manageable. We had a B-1 bomber pass through, and had a couple F-4's and A-10's do a heritage flight. The Saturday night party was at a downtown casino hotel and was very nice.
Sunday was severe clear and we had a great show. Opened with Kirby Chamblis circling Red Bull jumpers and then Kirby did a teaser show. Dave Leedom, who is local, flew a nice routine in his Pitts S-1C. I flew after Dave Leedom and had a great flight going. I had a small mechanical problem so I cut my flight short by about 2 minutes. A formation T-6 Phoenix Flight was next and they flew a nice smoke-on formation routine. Of course we had a B-52 run. Kevin Coleman, who is from Shreveport, flew a nice routine in his Extra. Jason Newberg was there with his Viper Pitts and flew quite well also. He is very talented! The Black Diamond Jet Team was there also. On Saturday, they had a mechanical problem with one jet so they flew a 3-ship plus Mig 17 flight. They always do an awesome job. They flew both days. #5 jet was fixed by Sunday. Kirby took off for his flight and within about 1 minute, he was throwing oil all over and elected to land right away. He blew a gasket but was fixed by that evening. With my shortened flight and Kirby's aborted flight, we had a few minutes of down time before the T-birds flew but Larry Strain did a great job of filling the time. Then the T-birds flew to close the show. Wind was blowing about 30-40 kts. by the second half of Sunday so I was glad I had flown earlier!
Barksdale AFB has the best show in the country! They really know how to put on an airshow and it shows. This is my third year there and it's just a treat to be there. I hope to fly it again soon. If I flew only one show a year, it would be Barksdale!
Jacquie Warda