MILAVIA > Air Shows > Rhode Island Air Show 2018 Last updated: 21 July 2018
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Air Show Report : Rhode Island Air Show 2018

Rhode Island National Guard Air Show 2018

The Rhode Island Open House & Air Show 2018 at Quonset Point, North Kingstown, hosted by the RI National Guard took place on June 9-10. Photo report by Dave O'Brien from Friday's practice and Saturday's show.

It was another great weekend for an air show in Rhode Island. The weather was beautiful Saturday morning, temperature in the low 70s °F (20s °C), nice breeze and clear blue skies. A C-130J Hercules from the resident 134th Airlift Wing took off first with the US Navy Jump Team. This was their first time jumping at the Rhode Island Air Show. While they did their climb, the TBM Avenger and FG-1D Corsair II performed some fly-bys.

Greg Colyer flying the T-33 "Ace Maker" went up next for a short teaser. as his full routine was planned for the afternoon right before the Blue Angels. The GEICO Skytypers went up next, it was tough seeing they just lost a pilot a week prior in a crash in NY. The 134th AW presented their C-130J two-ship demo. They dropped a crate to mock a supply drop and then the second Hercules landed, dropped off a HMMWV and took off again.

The next demo up was the one I was so excited about and really made the air show for me. The USAF Heritage Flight was always scheduled to be part of the show. It was going to be the F-35 Lightning II piloted by Capt. Andrew "Dojo" Olson and a P-51D Mustang flown by Andrew McKenna.

However there was a late addition of the F-16 Viper Demo to the show, piloted by Maj. John "Rain" Waters. He came in late on Friday so he had to practice his demo after the Blue Angels landed. The F-35 Lightning II went up with him then and they made multiple passes. On Saturday they stuck to their Heritage Flight demo of three passes after the F-16 demo was finished.

Mark Murphy flew his P-51D Mustang "Never Miss" with the FG-1D Corsair, flown by Charles Lynch. Then came the Shockwave Jet Truck, which was followed by Michael Goulian, Sean D Tucker. This is Sean’s last year performing at air shows the announcer stated. Greg Colyer went back up with his T-33 for the full display, and then it was time for the Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels did not have "Fat Albert", which was ground for maintenance issues. Because the clouds rolled in around noon, the Blue Angels had to do their low show. Still a lot of speed, but not much vapor in these conditions, which was a letdown.

The next Rhode Island Open House & Air Show is scheduled for June 29-30, 2019, featuring the USAF Thunderbirds.


Thanks so much to the 143rd AW PAO for allowing me the media access on Friday and for putting on a great show.

US Navy Parachute Jump with the American Flag
Greg Colyer and his T-33 arriving at Rhode Island
USAF T-6A Texan II arriving to participate in the static display
Mike Goulian practicing his aerobatic routine
USN E-2C Hawkeye inbound at Rhode Island
USN E-2C Hawkeye taking part in the static display
P-51D Mustang 'Never Miss' takes off to practice the display
FG-1D Corsair 'Godspeed' takes off to practice the display
FG-1D Corsair dedicated to John H. Glenn, who flew a USMC Corsair coded N51, downed three MiG-15s in Korea flying USAF F-86 Sabre, and later became a Mercury astronaut and U.S. Senatord
Mark Murphy flying his P-51D Mustang 'Never Miss'
P-51D Mustang and FG-1D formation
P-51D Mustang and FG-1D formation
P-51D Mustang and FG-1D formation
Mark Murphy after a successful practice with his P-51D Mustang 'Never Miss'
GEICO Skytypers
Sean D. Tucker practicing his display
Sean D. Tucker cutting the ribbon with his Oracle Challenger
C-130J Hercules of the resident RI ANG 143rd AW
Commander Eric Doyle
LCdr Damon Kroes taking up the #7 two-seater for Friday's practice, instead of the #2 two-seater
USN Blue Angels main formation starting their take-off run
Commander Eric Doyle on the first take-off of the weekend
USN Blue Angels solo #6 flown by Lcdr Brendan Hempler
USN Blue Angels main formation practice display
Mirror flight by the Blue Angels solos
Afterburners lit
USN Blue Angels formation practice
USN Blue Angles formation practice
USN five-jet formation
USN Blue Angels having completed their practice
USN Blue Angels #7 Lt Andre Webb is the narrator
F-16 Viper Demo joined by the F-35 Lightning II
F-16 Viper Demo and F-35A Lightning II in tight formation
The F-35A Lightning II would perform the USAF Heritage Flight during the air show
F-35A Lightning II 11-5036
F-35A Lightning II afterburner shot
F-16 Viper Demo
F-35A Lightning II producing some vapor clouds
F-35A Lightning II producing some vapor clouds
F-35A Lightning II high speed pass with afterburner
F-16 Viper Demo high speed pass without afterburner
F-35A Lightning II 11-5036 back on the RI runway
F-35A Lightning II 11-5036 on the taxiway
F-35A Lightning II 11-5036 close-up
F-35A Lightning II 11-5037 and 11-5036 on the ramp
F-16 Viper Demo pilot Maj. John 'Rain' Waters waves
USN F/A-18C Hornet of VFA-37 arriving for the static show
KC-135 Stratotanker on Saturday morning
C-130J Hercules of the resident RI ANG 143rd AW
USAF T-6A Texan II in the morning sun
USAF HH-60G Combat Search and Rescue helicopter
USN E-2C Hawkeye looking like a bad-ass with its eight-bladed propellers
Museum's F-14 Tomcat in VF-101 Grim Reapers CAG-bird colors
The VFA-37 F/A-18C 'Legacy' Hornet on Saturday morning
USN Blue Angels ground crew at work
USN Blue Angels ground crew member making sure #2's canopy is spotless
DC-3 landing at Rhode Island
Andrew McKenna arriving with the P-51D Mustang for the USAF Heritage Flight
C-130J Hercules take-off with the US Navy Jump Team aboard
RI National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk
TBM Avenger and FG-1D Corsair taking off
The US Navy parachute display including smoke
TBM Avenger and FG-1D Corsair formation
TBM Avenger and FG-1D Corsair formation
Greg Colyer takes off for a little teaser of his T-33 'Acemaker' display
The CT-133 disguised as USAF T-33 looking great
Shockwave Jet Truck
Shockwave Jet Truck
GEICO Skytypers formation split
Respect for the GEICO Skytypers who continue to fly shows this season despite having lost a team member this year
GEICO Skytypers numbers 1 and 2 waiving
US Navy Jump Team members
C-130J 51435 taking off again, this time for the Hercules tactical demo
C-130J 51435 take-off
C-130J 91431 performing a supply drop
C-130J 51435 back on the ground to deploy the HUMV/V
C-130J 51435 catching up with the HUMV/V
C-130J 51435 taking off again
F-35 Lightning II takes off for the USAF Heritage Flight
P-51D Mustang takes off for the USAF Heritage Flight
F-16 Viper Demo takes off for his solo display and the USAF Heritage Flight
F-16 Viper Demo afterburning turn
F-16 Viper Demo knife edge pass
USAF Heritage Flight of the F-35 and P-51D joined by the F-16 demo
USAF Heritage Flight: P-51D F-16C F-35A
USAF Heritage Flight: wingspan P-51D 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m), F-16C 32 ft 8 in (9.96 m), F-35A 35 ft (10.7 m)
USAF Heritage Flight: length P-51D 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m), F-16C 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m), F-35A 50.5 ft (15.67 m)
F-35A Lightning II 11-5037 flew Saturday's Heritage Flight
F-35A Lightning II 11-5037 afterburner
F-35A Lightning II 11-5037 climbing away
F-35A Lightning II 11-5037 afterburner fly-by
P-51D Mustang high speed pass
F-16C Viper Demo landing
F-35A Lightning II landing
P-51D Mustang landing
FG-1D Corsair 'Godspeed' and P-51D Mustang 'Never Miss' take off
FG-1D Corsair turning in
FG-1D Corsair 'Godspeed' this year was flown by Charles Lynch
FG-1D Corsair 'Godspeed' and P-51D Mustang 'Never Miss' formation fly-by
Shockwave Jet Truck brake chutes out
Sean D. Tucker plans to retire after this year
Greg Colyer taking his T-33 up again for his full display
T-33 'Acemaker' top shot
USN Blue Angels leader taxiing out for Saturday's display
Lcdr Nate Scott thumbs up
Lt Tyler Davies rock on
USN Blue Angels #2 take-off
USN Blue Angels' photographer getting her shot of #5 as well
USN Blue Angels #6 staying level all the way until the end of the runway
USN Blue Angels main formation as Saturday's clouds came in
USN Blue Angels tight formation display work
USN Blue Angels opposing solos
USN Blue Angels opposing solos
USN Blue Angels solos #6 with #5 inverted
USN Blue Angels main formation
USN Blue Angels formation stacked
USN Blue Angels main formation
USN Blue Angels #5 solo high speed pass
USN Blue Angels #5 and #6 two-ship slow pass
Conditions were not humid enough for the big vapor condensation trails usually seen when the Blue Angels fly the low altitude routine.
USN Blue Angels break for landing
Sun breaking out of the clouds as the USN Blue Angels are back on the taxiway
F-35A Lightning II takes off as the program has come to an end
F-35A Lightning II gear up
F-16C Viper Demo aircraft following suit

Report and photos by Dave O'Brien ( view portfolio )



First Published: 21 July 2018
Last Modified: 21 July 2018