Tyndall AFB 2008 Airshow and Fence Check Photo Pit by Mike Riffle

On March 29, 2008 Tyndall AFB hosted the Gulf Coast Salute airshow. An estimated 72,000 spectators attended the Saturday-only show. While the F-22, Thunderbirds, and a free concert by country artist Aaron Tippin drew most of the spectators to the show, a select group of Fence Check members were there for a special reason: the first Fence Check airshow photopit.

The concept of the Fence Check photopit was born in 2007. The potential benefits were twofold. First, the photopit would offer photographers exclusive, media-like access to selected airshows. Second, it would allow airshow organizers to promote their shows by linking from their websites to the Fence Check forum thread with photographs taken by photopit members. Participation would be open to Fence Check subscribers and/or members, based on the discretion of the show organizer. (The Tyndall photopit was for subscribers only.)

Liza Eckardt, Fence Check’s airshow boss, accepted responsibility for establishing the photopits. Calling her contacts from the International Council of Air Shows, she soon found a willing collaborator in David Schultz Airshows. David formulated a plan to incorporate a photopit into his own airboss area near show center. With final approval from the 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, the stage was set for a first photopit at the Tyndall AFB airshow.

The photopit allowed Fence Check access to the Friday practice show. That morning, the photopit members met at the Bonita Bay Outdoor Recreation Complex on Tyndall AFB. Although it was overcast, we still managed to photograph some of the arriving static display aircraft.

At 11:30 we boarded a media bus for the trip to the flight line. When we arrived at the airboss area, David Schultz greeted each one of us and explained the rules for the show. The area in front of the airboss platform was ours to use. This ground-level photopit was huge, roughly 80 feet by 30 feet, with no fencing or obstructions. David then told us that the empty platform next to his airboss platform was ours to use for elevated shots. Both locations offered excellent views of the Thunderbirds ramp area, the Golden Knights drop zone, taxing aircraft, and the aerobatic box.

At the end of the practice show, those of us still in the photopit gathered for a group photo. David Schultz surprised everyone by escorting the group to Thunderbird #8, where his company photographer, Stan Piet, took a group photo.

Front row, from left to right: DanW, Brooklyn Bum, bcw210, and MikeRiffle. Back row, from left to right: Smoke Eater, bigtnbob, RockyController, Glen Childress, Coz, largeflyer (Schultz Airshows' ground boss), and David Schultz. Missing from the photo are BillF, f84thunder, FalconFan, and Steve Rice.

Saturday morning dawned with clear skies as we meet at 07:30 for early access to the show. This gave us the opportunity for some crowd-free static shots. Tyndall has a reputation for a large static display, and this year was no exception – more than 40 aircraft were exhibited under shelters or open skies.

With the Golden Knights carrying the flags of the United States and Canada, Capt. Edward Torres from the 919th Special Operation Wing at Eglin AFB opened the show by singing the national anthems of each country. Four F-15 Eagles from the 325th Fighter Wing performed a flyby to conclude the airshow opening.

Over the next six hours, more than twenty different civilian and military acts thrilled the spectators. The civilian acts included Neal Darnell's Flash Fire Jet Truck, Fowler Carey's Vintage T-33 Thunderbird, the Aerostars, the Alabama Boys comedy routine, Patty Wagstaff, the Red Bull Air Force and BO-105 CBS helicopter, Dan Buchanan, Tim Weber, Greg Koontz, Team Aeroshell, John Mohr, and Ed Hamill.

The small warbird contingent included the B-25 Mitchell Pacific Prowler, an SB2C Helldiver (the only one still flying), an SBD-5 Dauntless (one of three still flying), an AT-6 Mosquito, and a replica Japanese Zero.

The military acts saw the final performance at a Tyndall airshow by the F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team out of Eglin AFB. After 25 years of performances the team is being retired and will be replaced by an F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team.

Other acts included a C-17 demo from Charleston AFB, the Golden Knights, the F-22 Demonstration Team, a QF-4 Phantom from the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, and a Heritage Flight consisting of the P-51 Crazy Horse 2, QF-4, F-15, and F-22.

The Thunderbirds demonstrated the grace and precision that have earned them the title Ambassadors in Blue. In the photos, you may notice a difference in the formation between Friday’s practice show and Saturday. On Saturday, the lead and slot aircraft were two-seat F-16Ds, while on Friday just the slot aircraft was an F-16D.

By the accounts of all who took part, the Tyndall photopit was an outstanding success. The access it allowed enthusiast photographers was unprecedented, outside of a true media pass. Hopefully it will set an example for all Fence Check/David Schultz photopits that follow.

I would like to acknowledge the individuals who made this photopit a reality: Liza Eckardt, Fence Check’s Airshow Boss; David Schultz, president and airboss of David Schultz Airshows LLC; and Mr. Thomas Bonifay and Lt. Amanda Ferrell, 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs.

[ More photos from the Tyndall AFB Photo Pit ]
[ More photos from the Tyndall AFB Gulf Coast Salute 2008 airshow ]

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