MILAVIA > Air Shows > Westfield International Air Show 2017 Last updated: 29 September 2017
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Air Show Report : Westfield International Air Show 2017

Westfield International Air Show 2017 - Barnes ANGB, MA

Photo report by Dave O'Brien from the Westfield International Airshow and Barnes ANGB Open House hosted by the 104th Fighter Wing.

Seven years have passed since the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base and the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport hosted the Westfield International Airshow 2010. The air show finally returned this year, celebrating a century of American airpower and the U.S Air Force’s 70th anniversary. The 104th Fighter Wing’s 131st Fighter Squadron of the MA Air National Guard also celebrated its 70th anniversary this year. Organized at Barnes Airport from the wartime 333rd Fighter Squadron, the 131st FS as part of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was extended federal recognition on 24 February 1947.

The Westfield International Airshow 2017 was held over the weekend of August 12-13, with the practice day on Friday being accessible to the media and DOD members and their families. Weather for this weekend started tough, on Friday and Saturday, the two days I attended, it was very humid and muggy with light winds and flying in and out of clouds. Combined with the smoke most of these acts use, it made photography very difficult. If you attended on Sunday you were treated to the best day with blue skies.

The show opened on Saturday with two F-15s from the 104th FW and two A-10s from the 122nd FW of the Indiana ANG. The Warthog had been a long-time resident of Barnes when the A-10 equipped the 104th FW / 131st FS. The unit transitioned to the F-15 back towards the end of 2007. Third Strike Wingwalking with Carol Pilon out on the wings followed the fighters.

A C-17 of the 105th AW from Stewart ANGB performed a sweet demo. It always amazes me how tight a plane so large can turn. It sometimes acts like a fighter up there, as it banks to do a 360 at mid field. The P-51 “Quick Silver” and aircraft from the National Warplane Museum went up next. They included C-47 “Whiskey 7” which made static line paratrooper drops to mimic the D-Day drops made at Normandy in 1944. The P-40 Warhawk, F4U Corsair and a B-25 took command of the sky, so the C-47 could come and make a safe drop.

Greg Colyer took up his T-33 “Ace Maker II” and was followed by the US Navy TAC Demo by VFA-106, which used the F/A-18C 'Legacy' Hornet. The Trojan Horsemen performing their AT-28 tactical demo was next in the show, the six beautifully restored T-28 Trojan aircraft in varied military color schemes flew tight formations. The next display slot was appropriately reserved for the A-1E Skyraider of the Collings Foundation.

The sun started to come out and the clouds broke enough that the Black Daggers Special Ops parachute team could finally jump with the American Flag. They were followed up by aerobatics by the Geico Skytypers, Jason Flood, Matt Chapman, and Michael Goulian.

Closing out the show was the USAF Thunderbirds performance. It had been five years since I last photographed the Thunderbirds. I really wish the clouds and wind would have helped more on Saturday. They put on a great show, I hope to catch them again soon in better weather.

USAF Thunderbirds on the ramp
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle surrounded by DOD members and their families
AFRC 439th AW C-5A Galaxy arriving from Westover Air Reserve Base for the static display
AFRC 439th AW C-5A Galaxy 70-0461 would be retired to storage with AMARG at Davis-Monthan AFB in September 2017
T-28 Trojan restored in USN c/s, behind it another example in USMC c/s
T-28 Trojan beautifully restored in USN markings
USAF Thunderbirds #7
USAF Thunderbirds #7
Jason Flood in his Pitts Special
Matt Chapman in the Extra 330LX
The Alabama Boys
Third Strike Wingwalking take-off
Third Strike Wingwalking Carol Pilon
Third Strike Wingwalker Carol Pilon
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III take-off
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III take-off
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III display
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III thrust reversers engaged
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III loadmaster
P-51D Mustang 'Quick Silver' take-off
P-51D Mustang 'Quick Silver' display by Scott Yoak
P-51D Mustang 'Quick Silver' aerobatics by Scott Yoak
P-51D Mustang 'Quick Silver'
P-51D Mustang 'Quick Silver' with P-40M Warhawk 'The Jacky C. II'
P-51D Mustang 'Quick Silver' and P-40M Warhawk 'The Jacky C. II'
P-51D Mustang 'Quick Silver' landing
P-40M Warhawk 'The Jacky C. II' landing
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 301 take-off
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 301 take-off
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 301 returning
USAF Thunderbirds crew chiefs
USAF Thunderbirds pilots
USAF Thunderbirds' photographer at work
USAF Thunderbirds ready for taxi
USAF Thunderbirds take-off
USAF Thunderbirds take-off
USAF Thunderbirds #5 solo take-off
USAF Thunderbirds diamond formation
Greg Colyer T-33 'Ace Maker II' display
Greg Colyer T-33 'Ace Maker II' high speed pass
Greg Colyer T-33 'Ace Maker II' landing
Greg Colyer T-33 'Ace Maker II' back on the ground
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 take-off
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 take-off
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 display
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 high speed pass
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 air brake
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 touch & go
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 touch & go
USN Tac Demo F/A-18C Hornet 307
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 307 return
C-47 Skytrain 'Whiskey 7'
Trojan Horsemen T-28 six-ship formation
T-28 Trojan restored in USAF c/s
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle taxi to runway
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle taxi to runway
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle take-off
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle take-off
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle take-off
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle take-off
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II take-off
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II take-off
104th FW F-15C & 122nd FW A-10C formation
104th FW F-15C & 122nd FW A-10C
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II
Third Strike Wingwalker Carol Pilon
Third Strike Wingwalking take-off
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle landing
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagle landing
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II landing
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II return
Indiana ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II return
IN ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW F-15C Eagles return
C-47 Skytrain 'Whiskey 7' take-off
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III take-off
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III climb
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III touch down
NY ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III
New York ANG 105th AW C-17A Globemaster III
B-25 Mitchell 'Miss HAP' was used as General Hap Arnold's RB-25 VIP aircraft in 1943-1944
C-47 Skytrain 'Whiskey 7' static line paratrooper drop
P-40M Warhawk 'The Jacky C. II'
F4U-5NL Corsair
Greg Colyer T-33 'Ace Maker II' take-off
Greg Colyer T-33 'Ace Maker II' display
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 301 take-off
USN Tac Demo F/A-18C Hornet 301
USN Tac Demo VFA-106 F/A-18C Hornet 301 touch & go
GEICO Skytypers
Trojan Horsemen take-off
Pyro show
A-1E Skyraider in USN VAQ-33 markings
Matt Chapman in his Extra 330LX
Michael Goulian in his Extra 330SC
U.S. Army Special Operations Command Black Daggers parachute demo team
U.S. Army Special Operations Command Black Daggers parachute demo team
KC-135R Stratotanker crew enjoying the air show
USAF Thunderbirds
USAF Thunderbirds
USAF Thunderbirds opposing solos
USAF Thunderbirds #5 solo
USAF Thunderbirds #6 solo
USAF Thunderbirds #1 formation lead
USAF Thunderbirds #3 waiving
A-1E Skyraider with wings folded
IN ANG 122nd FW A-10C Thunderbolt II
USAF 325th FW F-22A Raptor from Tyndall AFB
Massachusetts ANG 104th FW two-seat F-15D Eagle
District of Columbia ANG 113th WG two-seat F-16D Fighting Falcon
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188A Hornet

I would like to thank the huge hospitality of the 104th PA unit for the great media day.

I look forward to the next Westfield International Airshow because of the way this show was run. The changes to the media day really made the day be the best time I have ever had on a media day. From the ease of signing in on Friday, to getting on the ramp to get to be ready for the practices. The huge media pit right in between the large tents provided ample space and with the hot ramp far to the left, the view was unobstructed. It was such a nice change. Because of welcoming DOD members and their families on the practice day, most of the vendors were open on Friday, also enabling the media folks to actually grab food and drinks throughout the day. It was also possible to walk the ramp along with the DOD families, this again beats other media days where you’re trapped in a small media pit for the entire day.

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



First Published: 29 September 2017
Last Modified: 29 September 2017