Waco Veterans Day Airshow, 10 Nov 07
Falcon Flight again performs at the annual Waco Air Fiesta Veterans Day Airshow. Falcon Flight was invited again this year to perform at the annual Waco Air Fiesta Veterans Day Airshow on 10 Nov 07. The challenge this year was that Dubya was going to be at the Ranch the whole weekend, this year hosting the German Chancellor. That put a 30 mile radius TFR around the Ranch, extending out about 7 miles to the east of TSTC Airfield (KCNW) where the airshow is conducted. Initially there were no rooms for Falcon Flight Friday night as sporting events and Dubya's entourage had them booked up. However, the week before, all USAF F-15s were grounded and there was supposed to be an F-15 team in to perform, so their rooms opened. Falcon Flight was offered four rooms at the Waco Hotel for Friday night. Since the forecast for Austin and Georgetown area was for fog until 1000 Saturday morning, and with the Pilots Meeting scheduled for 0900, Falcon Flight accepted the rooms.
Falcon Lead coordinated with Waco Approach to rendezvous east of the TFR, squawk a special code, and enter the TFR as a flight of four. Falcon, Gunnbody, and Pfantom took off out of Georgetown, with Jarhead departing Hicks Airfield, and rendezvoused 5 miles east of the TFR. Once joined, Falcon squawk the assigned code and contacted Waco Approach. Falcon Flight was cleared into the TFR and entered initial with a 4-ship for a pitchout to land. After landing, they tied down, registered, were given a car, went to the hotel, and attended an airshow party at the hotel. While at the reception, word came in that a Twin Beech scheduled to perform had lost an engine and would not be coming, so the organizers asked if Rocket would be available with his Twin Beech. A call confirmed he could come, and that Falcon Flight would do its 7-ship performance with the Twin Beech "The Beast" tacked on the end, as previously performed at the Central Texas Airshow.
Saturday morning saw low ceilings from San Antonio to Dallas, so the Pilots Meeting was delayed until 1000. Arriving Falcons (Checker, Rooster, and Gecko) had to delay takeoffs until the weather improved and file flight plans to get into the TFR. All finally arrived, registered, and were briefed. The biggest concern was adhering to the TFR procedures while airborne and peforming with special squawks issued for each act. After the weather cleared the day was perfect for an airshow and the crowd of several thousand arrived.
Falcon Flight was scheduled as the first act in the show and also as the last act conducting the Missing Man. Falcon Flight of 7 took off 15 min early for a warm up while the RC aircraft and Presidential helicopters performed. Then Falcon Flight of 7 was cleared in and performed its usual maneuvering routine (Double V, Arrow, Airplane, Eze, Delta, Cluster, Pass in Review, Photo Pass, and then to Initial. While Falcon Flight performed, Rocket taxied the Beast to the runway, and on call took off as Falcon was coming to Initial for the Pitch Up. On que, the Narrator expressed great concern about this aircraft violating Falcon Flight's airspace and kept the narration going for the performance. As The Beast conducted a left climbing turn toward show center, Falcon Flight joined as a flight of 7 in close trail for the In Sight pass, then after passing show center The Beast turned back around while Falcon Flight put 3 planes on each wing and one in trail for the Surrounded pass over show center. In the next turn, Falcon Flight put 3 in front of The Beast and 4 behind for the Captured pass. In the next turn, Falcon Flight put 7 in front with The Beast close behind for the In Tow, and all came to Initial for a Pitch Up to Land. After landing, Falcon Flight conducted two 90* swivel turns in front of the crowd, parked, and debriefed.
At the end of the show, Falcon Flight of 7 took off before the last act and headed east. Only 4 Falcons were to conduct the Missing Man, but in order to get the other 3 out of the TFR and on their way, they departed with the 4-ship with its special squawk out of the TFR and headed home, and the 4-ship came back into the TFR and orbited until the 5 minute call. On the call, Falcon Lead started the 5 minute count down timer, and when the GPS ETE agreed with the count down turned inbound for a perfect time over target for the Missing Man. Falcon Flight then exited the TFR and headed to home bases.
Another Falcon Flight performance in Texas for the Waco Airshow receiving outstanding comments from the organizers and crowd.
See the Waco Airshow images in Media Gallery
Falcon Lead coordinated with Waco Approach to rendezvous east of the TFR, squawk a special code, and enter the TFR as a flight of four. Falcon, Gunnbody, and Pfantom took off out of Georgetown, with Jarhead departing Hicks Airfield, and rendezvoused 5 miles east of the TFR. Once joined, Falcon squawk the assigned code and contacted Waco Approach. Falcon Flight was cleared into the TFR and entered initial with a 4-ship for a pitchout to land. After landing, they tied down, registered, were given a car, went to the hotel, and attended an airshow party at the hotel. While at the reception, word came in that a Twin Beech scheduled to perform had lost an engine and would not be coming, so the organizers asked if Rocket would be available with his Twin Beech. A call confirmed he could come, and that Falcon Flight would do its 7-ship performance with the Twin Beech "The Beast" tacked on the end, as previously performed at the Central Texas Airshow.
Saturday morning saw low ceilings from San Antonio to Dallas, so the Pilots Meeting was delayed until 1000. Arriving Falcons (Checker, Rooster, and Gecko) had to delay takeoffs until the weather improved and file flight plans to get into the TFR. All finally arrived, registered, and were briefed. The biggest concern was adhering to the TFR procedures while airborne and peforming with special squawks issued for each act. After the weather cleared the day was perfect for an airshow and the crowd of several thousand arrived.
Falcon Flight was scheduled as the first act in the show and also as the last act conducting the Missing Man. Falcon Flight of 7 took off 15 min early for a warm up while the RC aircraft and Presidential helicopters performed. Then Falcon Flight of 7 was cleared in and performed its usual maneuvering routine (Double V, Arrow, Airplane, Eze, Delta, Cluster, Pass in Review, Photo Pass, and then to Initial. While Falcon Flight performed, Rocket taxied the Beast to the runway, and on call took off as Falcon was coming to Initial for the Pitch Up. On que, the Narrator expressed great concern about this aircraft violating Falcon Flight's airspace and kept the narration going for the performance. As The Beast conducted a left climbing turn toward show center, Falcon Flight joined as a flight of 7 in close trail for the In Sight pass, then after passing show center The Beast turned back around while Falcon Flight put 3 planes on each wing and one in trail for the Surrounded pass over show center. In the next turn, Falcon Flight put 3 in front of The Beast and 4 behind for the Captured pass. In the next turn, Falcon Flight put 7 in front with The Beast close behind for the In Tow, and all came to Initial for a Pitch Up to Land. After landing, Falcon Flight conducted two 90* swivel turns in front of the crowd, parked, and debriefed.
At the end of the show, Falcon Flight of 7 took off before the last act and headed east. Only 4 Falcons were to conduct the Missing Man, but in order to get the other 3 out of the TFR and on their way, they departed with the 4-ship with its special squawk out of the TFR and headed home, and the 4-ship came back into the TFR and orbited until the 5 minute call. On the call, Falcon Lead started the 5 minute count down timer, and when the GPS ETE agreed with the count down turned inbound for a perfect time over target for the Missing Man. Falcon Flight then exited the TFR and headed to home bases.
Another Falcon Flight performance in Texas for the Waco Airshow receiving outstanding comments from the organizers and crowd.
See the Waco Airshow images in Media Gallery