The team is hard at work prepping things at the Temple airport. Crews have been out marking sponsor and vendor locations, mowing the grass, staging equipment and generally getting things ready for the weekend.
Discounted tickets are available online for one more day. Once Friday gets here - onsite ticket prices are in effect. Buy now and save!
Attendees to the Central Texas Air Show will have the opportunity to lace up their boots and take part in a virtual mission at the United States Army’s Virtual Army Experience. The high-tech, team-based mission challenges participants, 13-years and older, to employ teamwork, rules of engagement, leadership and state-of-the-art military technology to successfully complete their mission. The experience, where participants can also play the America’s Army PC game against Real Soldiers, is open to air show attendees Saturday and Sunday of the Airshow,
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One of the few remaining flyable WWII B-17 Bombers, TEXAS RAIDERS, will be making its debut after eight years of extensive restoration in Houston, Texas. The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, a non-profit 501-c-3 organization, recently completed work on the B-17 “Flying Fortress” bringing it into airworthy status at a cost of $600,000 and 250,000 hours of volunteer and contract work.
Born in the shadow of the jet age, the AD Skyraider became a favorite of American pilots during the Korean War and in Viet Nam. At the close of World War two, the U.S. Navy was looking for a high performance dive and torpedo bomber to replace the venerable Helldiver and Avenger. Production of the AD Skyraider, sometimes referred to as “Able Dog” began in December of 1946 in Southern California. This low wing monoplane with its massive Wright R-3350 radial engine, went through several modifications during its service, yet is always fondly remembered as a tough and dependable fighter plane. What made the Skyraider such a deadly aircraft in the shadow of the modern Jet was the tremendous amount of firepower that could be employed against enemy targets. Under each wing are seven hard points that could support a wide array of ordinance. The large wings made this Able Dog highly maneuverable at low speeds, along with the heavy armor in key locations to protect the pilot and key systems, the Skyraider could take a beating and successfully bring its pilot home.
There was a time seventy years ago or so, that seeing an airplane flying overhead would instill awe and wonder. After World War one, there were many young pilots who managed to buy surplus biplanes at a real discount, most likely a Curtiss JN-4 or commonly known as a “Jenny.” As strange as it seems today, these early acrobatic pilots would often thrill rural audience across the country and many small towns here in Texas. Back then it was common practice for a pilot to visit a rural area and drum up business to perform for audiences and maybe give a lucky passenger the ride of his or her life.
