MCAS New River
In my opinion, MCAS New River’s Sounds of Freedom Past and Present air show was the best air show New River has put on.
Headlining the aerial acts was Team AeroShell, the US Army Black Daggers Parachute Demo Team, the Viper East F-16 Demo Team from Shaw AFB, Patty Wagstaff, Greg Poe, Gary Rower, Mike Wiskus, and Dale “Snort” Snodgrass. In addition New River unleashed it’s own aircraft: the F/A-18D Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, AH-1W Cobra, UH-1N, MV-22 Osprey, CH-53, and KC-130J Hercules. Also the Navy’s F-18C Hornet the Navy’s older “heritage” model as opposed to the larger newer Super Hornet.
This contrasted nicely with the V-22 Osprey flights. New River had multiple Ospreys in the air at the same time. To watch this aircraft in flight is like watching a butterfly flutter across the sky. The Osprey is not a traditional loud pointy nose speed demon, it is quiet, and flies gracefully then hovers as it comes in for a landing, more akin to helicopters than traditional prop powered transports. The Air Force was well represented with the F-16C demo. Watching the Viper soar through its maneuvers was impressive. And at Saturday’s show the contrails coming off the wingtips made for awesome photos.
The civilian aerobatic fliers were top notch. Greg Poe in his MX2 put on a nice show. Same can be said for Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts S-1-11b SS Modified biplane. Mike very enjoyable to watch, his Pitts is a beautiful aircraft and he knows how to entertain a crowd. Gary Rower in his red and white Stearman also were new. His big Pratt and Whitney radial engine has a unique rumbling sound that’s hard to mistake. With smoke turned on he blasts through the sky leaving a smoke trail in his wake. A nice act reminiscent of the barnstormers days. “Snort” Snodgrass took a P-51 and ran it through every conceivable stunt a low level master can achieve.
The P-51 Mustang flew wing on the F-16 for the USAF heritage flight. Patty Wagstaff and her Extra 300S continues to put on one of the best aerobatic shows of any civilian pilot. I’ve been watching her act for quite a few years, and it just keeps getting better and better every year. Patty did loops, twists, turns, and rolls, made a nice inverted pass, and just kept the crowds on the edge of their seats. She’s without a doubt one of the best pilots on the air show circuit today. New River put on a great, crowd-pleasing air show and I will be back for their future shows.
By Steve Finch