Gathering of Mustangs & Legends

[OH Flier]

Played hookie on Friday and flew into Bolton Field, OH with a few friends and guess who we parked next to?

Anyway, what a great show. Walked for miles past row after row of Mustangs various airshow acts practiced off the runway. Jumbotron screen helped you see the flight line while reviewing the static displays. Nice idea.

Great finish, B17, B25, Lancaster bombers with cover from Mustangs, King Cobra (never seen one fly before), Lightening, Thunderbolts, and a very rare Mustang "A" model with an original Allison and above the cowling induction.

Flew home, sun burned face and sore feet, can we do it again on Sunday?

Gary Gembala

 

[gprellwitz]

Did you See Steve, or just his plane?

Looks like it was a lot of fun!

 

[OH Flier]

Just his unmistakable bird.

 

[Steve]

Hey Guys!

I got home yesterday around 2:30pm local. Made a stop at MSL to top off the tanks. A Mustang trying to get around the weather followed me there before turning home in Kansas.

I landed at Bolton on Monday before GML opened and I must say the FBO Capital City Jet Center was very hospitable. Tuesday night after ramp duty I drove out to check on the plane and put the canopy cover on as there was lightning to the west. They had moved the plane into a hangar for safe keeping. The lineman on the night shift even called me the next day and asked if it was alright to put the cover on as they had moved the plane back onto the ramp. This saved me another trip to the field so I made sure he got a nice thank you on my departure yesterday morning.

The week at GML was a real treat. I ended up assisting with plane movements in/out of the "photo booth" at the north end of the ramp next to where FedEx had an A310 on display so I didn't get out in the Mustang display area very much until late Saturday and all day Sunday. A professional photographer took a picture of every Mustang that flew in except for one that had mechanical issues and couldn't be towed for its "closeup". Despite what you might read as an "official" count,we ran 76 Mustangs through the photo booth plus a P-40 and two P-47s.

I got pretty good at spotting Mustangs in their slot on the ramp with a tractor as I ended up tugging the first 30 or so Mustangs into position for their photo shoots. I got a competent replacement driver after that. The photographer had a slaved strobe system with about a dozen strobes and the planes needed to be set within a few inches of the mark to get consistent results. Look for a coffee table book in about a year available through the GML website (at least that was what I was told). A video is also in the making.

I ended up leaving my camera in my flight bag in the motel so I will have see what else went on by looking at others photos. Too much to keep up with during the day while on duty. Nice pic of the IAR, btw.

I am now in recovery and hope to be back at full strength for the AMW hobgoblin hoedown at the end of the month.

 

[tonycondon]

sounds like you had a great trip. did you happen to see Matt Sawhill out there? Look forward to seeing you at Ames.

 

[Steve]

I did not knowingly see Matt. There were several people there...

sounds like you had a great trip. did you happen to see Matt Sawhill out there? Look forward to seeing you at Ames.

 

[finsjb]

I flew into Bolton as well and was very impressed from the nice people in the tower to the ones working inside at Capital City Jet. I would like to thank all the volunteers that gave their time to work the show. Just to see that much history in one place was unbelievable. I'm still packing a grin around two days later. The best show I have been to. Period.