News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
No one knew what was going to happen next thanks to the Skeleton Fire in Bend.
Frequent sorties by fire-fighting aircraft made it necessary for all air show performers to make quick changes in their routines. Even the USAF Thunderbirds couldn't escape interruption.
What saved the day was the extraordinary diversity of aircraft, vehicles, and other displays on hand for spectators to enjoy.
Not only was general aviation aircraft well represented, with home-builts, kit-planes, helicopters, historic and WW II aircraft, but there were military aircraft, motorcycles and historic autos also on exhibit.
Among the display of historic vehicles was a 1928, four-cylinder Henderson motorcycle. It isn't every day a person can just walk up to such a unique vehicle as the Henderson, and look it right in the eye.
The tiny 30-horsepower engine used in this early motorcycle was a favorite source of power for several early sport aircraft designs of the day -- among them the parasol-wing Dormoy Bathtub race plane.
While at one time, air shows were pretty much limited to aircraft -- such as Saturday's beautiful aerial ballet by Manfred Radius in his fiberglass glider, and a smooth three-helicopter routine -- the Central Oregon air show also had the Oregon National Guard on hand.
Their display of battle tanks provided an opportunity for children and adults to view these machines of war, inside and out.
The Oregon Air Guard parked huge C-130 refueling tanker along the main spectator-route, where air show fans could have a close-up look. And throughout the day hundreds of people were grateful for its long wings that provided cool shade to escape the blistering heat.
One unique piece of "equipment" put on a demonstration Saturday that didn't have to cope with the flow of firefighting air craft -- an auto-gobbling mechanical "T" Rex.
This towering piece of metal and hydraulic machinery -- built on the same scale as Tyrannosaurus Rex -- picked up and tried to "eat" a person who got too close (but "let him go"), and then mangled an auto -- much to the enjoyment of spectators.
The Canadian Air Force (CAF) "Black Knights" 414 Squadron sent a Lockheed T-33, built in the `50s, and still on active duty.
The T-33 "T-Bird" is a derivative of the USAF F-80, but built in Canada and designated as the CT-33. It was flown to the air show by Capt. Ken King and Electronics Officer, Capt. Roger Burton. King has been flying with the CAF for over 12 years, and is an "Instructor Pilot" in several types of fighter-trainers, including the CT-33.
One role the CT-33 handles with aplomb is that of a target. That may sound a bit dangerous, but no one actually shoots live bullets or missiles at it. The "T Bird" is a radar target. Capt. King spends a great deal of his time in US and NORAD Airspace placing his CT-33 on radar screens as a "threat" for the Navy, Army and Air Force.
An electronic device in the nose of the CT-33 emits a signal that will fool radar receivers into believing it's an Exocet or Harpoon missile, or an F-18, F-15, F-16,even a Russian bomber.
Among the several historic US aircraft at the air show was a beautifully restored 1946 Fairchild 24, owned and flown by Elwood and Betty Hedberg of Portland.
The Fairchild is powered by a thundering 135-horsepower radial engine, has plenty of room for four people, and can be identified easily because of the high, gull-like wing.
The Hedbergs purchased the Fairchild 24 in the early `60s, when it had just a little over 300 hours on it. Even though it had slept for years in a hangar, and not flown, the engine only required minor cleaning and was ready to fly.
The fabric covering, on the other hand, was another story. Over the years Elwood and Betty, with the help of their three children, recovered the entire aircraft. Now the Hedbergs have the joy of flying their six grandchildren in the beautiful old yellow Fairchild 24.
The big crowd-pleaser that everyone at the air show was looking forward to were the USAF Thunderbirds. They performed their close flying routine Saturday so smoothly, and made it look so easy, that a fan remarked, "Hey, I could do that!"
Thunderbird pilots spend hundreds of hours practicing their aerial ballet in classrooms, flying exercises and critiques all year long. What they do with an F-16 may look easy, but it takes practice -- and lots of it -- to be that perfect.
On three different occasions Saturday, the Thunderbird pilots had to quickly regroup, go into a long holding pattern, and wait as firefighting aircraft used the runway.
There were no similar interruptions on Sunday, and those that came to see the show loved it, according to air show director Ken Gasior.
While crowds were smaller than in previous years, Gasior said there was no way to predict the effect surrounding fires and heat would have on attendance.
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