MILAVIA > Air Shows > Rhode Island Air Show 2015 Last updated: 14 June 2015
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Air Show Report : Rhode Island Air Show 2015

Rhode Island National Guard Air Show 2015

When the display teams announced their 2015 schedules, it was clear that the annual Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show was going to be bigger this year with also the Canadians plus the Breitling Jet Team from Europe. Report and photos by Dave O'Brien

On May 30-31, 2015, the Rhode Island National Guard Open House and Air Show was hosted again at the Quonset State airport, North Kingstown. This is one of the premier shows in the North East not only for its line-up, but also the lighting and how close the taxiway and runway is to the crowd line.

The weather gods were very nice to us on Friday and Saturday, beautiful blue skies and warm temps were so much better than the hazy and cloudy skies we had just two weeks ago during the air show in Westover, MA.

This year’s air display program was loaded with three main demo teams; two of them not being from the US military.

Since there was no jump team this year Sean Tucker opened the show with a nice teaser, Sean is always a staple at the New England air shows. C-130J Hercules transports from the 143rd AW at Quonset and four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters gave a small demo. It wasn’t the Combined Arms Demo that we’re used to be blown away with, but it was a nice show of local airpower.

Next up was a first for me, Ace Maker is a T-33 flown by Gregory Colyer. Another act I had never seen was the Breitling Jet Team from France. This six-ship team of L-39s is on its American tour.

The Geico Skytypers went up next in their T-6 Texans performing WWII maneuvers, taught at the time for evading enemies in the sky. Mark Murphy took off next in this P-51D Mustang “Never Miss” followed by the Canadian Snowbirds. Even though I just saw the Snowbirds two weeks ago at Westover, the show at Rhode Island was so much nicer because they were able to perform closer to the crowd line.

John Klatt went up next followed by The Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco flown by Jeff Boerboon. It’s still difficult to get used to hearing a jet engine under a propeller-driven biplane. Up next was one of two passes made by Les Shockley’s Jet truck. You can feel the percussion when he’s pumping the fuel in 100 ft away from you.

The Air Combat Command’s F-16 Viper Demo is back this year and Rhode Island was lucky enough to also get this act. This year’s pilot is Capt. Craig “Rocket” Baker. After his afterburner-powered demo, he was joined up with a P-51 Mustang flown for the Heritage Flight. What was so special about this show’s Heritage Flight is that John Klatt took off with a WWII vet to watch the Viper and Heritage show from high above.

Sean Tucker went back up for this full show followed by the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Hornet Demo; the CF-18 Demo’s paint scheme for 2015 is dedicated to the Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary. This turns the Hornet into just a gorgeous aircraft to photograph in blue skies.

The U.S. Navy demonstration team’s Fat Albert and the Blue Angels closed out the day to a perfect show. You couldn’t ask for a better day.

F-15C Eagle arriving for the static display
A-10C Thunderbolt II pair breaking for landing at Quonset State airport
A-10C Thunderbolt II on its way to the static display ramp
C-17A Globemaster III arriving to join the static display
Early morning on the show day, one of the A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft
Sean D. Tucket in the Oracle Challenger III opening the air show
UH-60 Black Hawk taking off for the National Guard's demo
Rhode Island ANG C-130J-30 Hercules demo
Rhode Island ANG C-130J-30 Hercules fly-over
UH-60 Black Hawk demonstration
UH-60 Black Hawk formation
T-33 'AceMaker' take-off
T-33 'AceMaker' display by Greg Colyer
T-33 'AceMaker' display by Greg Colyer
Breitling Jet Team formation take-off
Breitling Jet Team paired take-off
Breitling Jet Team paired take-off close-up
Breitling Jet Team display
Breitling Jet Team display
Breitling Jet Team display
GEICO Skytypers formation
T-6 Texan of the GEICO Skytypers
GEICO Skytypers joined by Rob Holland
Rob Holland in his MXS aerobatic racer
GEICO Skytypers formation fly-by
GEICO Skytypers maneuvers
GEICO Skytypers T-6 Texan head-on
P-51D Mustang 'Never Miss' taking off from Quonset State airport
P-51D Mustang 'Never Miss' fly-by
Canadian Snowbirds formation take-off
Canadian Snowbirds formation display
Canadian Snowbirds
Canadian Snowbirds crossing
Canadian Snowbirds breaking formation
Canadian Snowbirds at the top of the looping
Thrilling moment of the Snowbirds
Snowbirds taxiing out for Saturday's display
Canadian Snowbirds section one take off
Canadian Snowbirds section two taking off
Canadian Snowbirds formation turn
Canadian Snowbirds formation
Canadian Snowbirds formation looping
Canadian Snowbirds formation looping
Canadian Snowbirds section
John Klatt's aerobatic performance
John Klatt close-up
John Klatt back on the ground following his performance
Sasquatch Jet Waco biplane
Shockwave Jet Truck
Shockwave Jet Truck braking parachute
Shockwave Jet Truck billowing flames and smoke
John Klatt taking a WWII vet to the sky to view the Heritage Flight from above
Air Combat Command's F-16 Viper Demo making its comeback
It was great to experience the F-16's afterburner again
F-16 Viper Demo
USAF Heritage Flight formation
USAF Heritage Flight's P-51D Mustang
F-16 Viper Demo
F-16 Viper Demo climbing away in full afterburner
F-16 Viper Demo high-speed pass
USAF Heritage Flight formation on Saturday
USAF Heritage Flight formation on Saturday
F-16 Viper Demo landing back at Quonset State airport
F-16 Viper Demo pilot Craig “Rocket” Baker
Sead D. Tucket cutting the wire
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet demo dirty roll
RCAF CF-18 Hornet demo wears a special 75th Anniversary Battle of Britain c/s
The special paint scheme looking magnificent against the blue sky
RCAF CF-18 Demo high-speed pass
RCAF CF-18 Demo overhead
RCAF CF-18 Demo turning in
RCAF CF-18 Demo
CF-18 Hornet afterburners on
RCAF CF-18 Demo take-off for Saturday's display
RCAF CF-18 Demo climbing away
RCAF CF-18 Demo knife-edge pass
RCAF CF-18 Demo overhead
RCAF CF-18 Demo back on the ground presenting another clear view of the special c/s
USN Blue Angels 'Fat Albert' commencing the Blue Angels show
USN Blue Angels 'Fat Albert' low level pass
USN Blue Angels starting their practice display on Friday
USN Blue Angels solo
USN Blue Angels main formation
USN Blue Angels main formation
USN Blue Angels opposing solos
USN Blue Angels formation overhead
USN Blue Angels mirror formation
USN Blue Angels opposing solos
USN Blue Angels 'Fat Albert' taking off for Saturday's display
USN Blue Angels 'Fat Albert' touch down
USN Blue Angels 'Fat Albert' finishing its run on Saturday
USN Blue Angels leader taking off on Saturday
USN Blue Angels solo high AoA take-off
USN Blue Angels formation on Saturday
USN Blue Angels opposing solos
USN Blue Angels formation roll
USN Blue Angels solo mirror flight
USN Blue Angels stacked formation
USN Blue Angels solo high-speed pass
USN Blue Angels smoke on!
USN Blue Angels dispersing
USN Blue Angels main formation breaking for landing
USN Blue Angels solo high-G turn

I would like to thank the PAO of the 143rd AW for their generous hospitality.



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



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First Published: 14 June 2015
Last Modified: 14 June 2015


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