The Sound of Freedom Thunders On....

By Rob Milford 

“If things go well, we should break the 400 mark for warbirds this year.” With those words, Warbird Chairman Bill Fisher has a smile on his face, knowing he’s got his work cut out for him this week. “We will have an amazing variety of warbirds… it will literally be a step back in history.”

Wearing the other hat as Executive Director of the EAA’s  Warbirds of America, 7,100 members strong, Fisher says “This is real solid…encouraging…a good mix of fighters and trainers and bombers.”  As we talk at the Warbird Café, a steady stream of T-6’s taxi in, followed by a Beech SNB-1 (think AT-11 in Navy colors).

The warbirds represent a very popular part of the airshow, with Fisher pointing out “They bring back a lot of memories…and there’s a soft spot in people’s hearts for these aircraft.”

The “featured” aircraft, one’s that have really gotten attention so far, include the Polikarpov I-16, from the Commemorative Air Force, on display at Aero Shell Square, Dick Hanson’s P-40 Warhawk, and a “good contingent” of P-51 Mustangs. A clinic for Mustang drivers has been held at Kenosha the weekend of the 26th-27th, and Wednesday the 30th will feature an “All Mustang Airshow.”

You should also notice a larger contingent of Jet warbirds: “We have L-39’s BAC Provosts, and of course, the Classic Jet Aircraft Association here” says the 43 year old Fisher, who’s been on the EAA job a little more than a year.

For the Warbirds of America group, there is a general membership meeting Thursday night at 8, and all members are invited to be there for their annual gathering.

Warbird lover and CAF Colonel Larry Flynn from San Antonio, TX was spotted digging through the gift shop “ This is absolutely fantastic” he says “This is my favorite place at Oshkosh, I could come here and never leave.” Flynn knows his warbirds, as a veteran of two tours with AC-130 Spectre gunships in Southeast Asia.

And how does Bill Fisher wear both hats, and make sure things go “just right” at the warbird center of operations?  “Checklists” he says, “Lots and lots of multi-tasking checklists.” “It’s been non-stop prep for the last three months, but we’ve been working hard to put together a great show.” He
has more than 300 volunteers on the Warbird flightline, including some who have been working 20+ years.

The Warbirds will be in the air every afternoon, EXCEPT Thursday the 31st and Monday the 4th.

FMI: www.airventure.org, www.warbirds-eaa.org