Texas Air Festival

[Bird]

We've been gone all day about 125 miles south of here at the Texas Air Festival at Texas State Technical College (TSTC), formerly an Air Force Base, at Waco, TX. Last year was the first time we had gone, so we went again this year with my brothers. It's a good air show with a lot of WW II planes, a Pearl Harbor reenactment, lots of pyrotechnics, stunt pilots, etc. They were supposed to have an F-15 demo, which they had last year, but since the F-15s have been grounded, a couple of F-16s came and put on a good show.

Of course, I'm not much of a photographer, but snapped a number of snapshots of the static displays and aircraft before the actual air show began. However, this is a tractor forum and I was surprised to see the display with these two tractors. The Farmall B on the right is a 1940 model, but I don't know what year model the Farmall A on the left is.

 

[RoyJackson]

Cool pics, Bird...thank you!!!
Any idea why those tractors where being displayed?

And...gonna post more pics from the airshow (since you've fulfilled the tractor obligation)?

 

[Egon]

Was it yesterday or 60 years ago when those tractors were new Bird?

 

[Bird]

OK, Roy, as long as everyone knows you asked for it. I was just walking around snapping some pictures without thinking of things such as lighting so some aren't bad; some are. Here's pictures of some (not nearly all) of the planes that were flown in the show.

And yes, they flew several of the radio controlled miniatures; both propellor and jets. The ones they flew had 7 to 8 foot wingspan, weighed around 32 pounds, the jets had 27 pounds of thrust and the prop jobs had 100 cc engines that were about 10 hp.

 

[Bird]

Here are pictures of some that did not fly yesterday. And Roy, as to why the tractors; I don't know, but right behind the tractors was a display with a bunch of antique motorscooters. The scooters were there last year along with some antique cars that were not there this year. In fact, they had a lot more static displays last year than this year. Last year, a single F-15 put on quite a show and was scheduled to do so this year, but since they've grounded the F-15s, a pair of F-16s put on a show. Most of the planes were parked for the static display before they were flown, but the F-16s arrived in the air for the show, then parked for people to look at closely.

President Bush was at his ranch at Crawford nearby, so two of the helicopters used as "Marine 1" and four Blackhawks made a few passes down the runways without ever landing.

 

[EddieWalker]

Pretty cool Bird.

I love those old planes and admire the pilots that flew them!!!!

Eddie

 

[Bird]

I didn't make any pictures of him, but John MacGuire put on a show with this same Super Cub.

And Jill "Raggz" Long put on a show with this same Pitts.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks, Bird!
They are great pictures of some great old (and not so old) aircraft! It's nice to see old iron (or aluminum...or wood and fabric) still operating...even if just for fun!

 

[mike4038]

Bird great pictures, wish I could have gone.
There is a web site that is looking for a picture
of one of the planes that you shot. You mite
want to post it over there. Thanks Again.

Aircraft N143TX Profile

 

[Bird]

Mike, I looked at the link you provided, and I don't understand. You say they want a picture of one of the planes I shot???? They're showing the owner of the airplane they're talking about to be Texas State Technical College, and the college is where this air show took place. I'm confused.