US - AZ - Luke Days - Luke AFB - Mar 24-25, 2007

[391st Eagles]

Welcome to FenceCheck! Great to have you here...

 Thank you RaptorsTalons !! 
   
   300,000 is not bad considering last year MCAS Miramars attendance was 625,000.
    One things for sure there was a lot more people on Sunday than on Saturday.
    Also nice to see the vapor shots as you rarely get enough moisture for it here in AZ !

[Bill-Oz]

Sorry about the overcast sky.

[Bill-Oz]

The Strike Eagle

[391st Eagles]

The Strike Eagle

     Nice job Bill-Oz !!

[jsch33]

Bill-Oz, agree with you 100% about the Raptors,  I could not believe either that Luke is the largest F-16 training school and the only 2 F-16's that flew were the ones that raced the Dodge Vipers.  The funniest thing I saw in the free pogram that I got said on the second page that Luke is one of the most diverse airshows in America.     I don't know if I would waste my time again going there, even though it's only an hour from the east valley. This show is disappointing compared to the other places I've been (Edwards, Miramar and Vegas).  

Should have my pics up soon (Sundays show)

John

[391st Eagles]

No Lukes show can't really compare to the big shows like Miramar, Edwards or Nellis regardless what the
program states. I was at the '03 & '05 shows. Their static display is usually pretty good with either or
both the C-117 or C-5 present. In '05 they used the same falcons in the viper vs. viper race only to be recovered later. If they schedule a F-16 demo they use the West coast viper team out of Hill AFB.
But I do agree with it being the largest and only F-16 training base it should have had Lukes own Vipers
put on some kind of demo. I guess it's all in what you want to see, for me the B-2, Strike Eagle and Rhino made it a great show. I don't live far from Luke so they're always flying over the house so I really
wasn't dissappointed not seeing more of the F-16 but I understand your complaint as some of you might rarely get to see them. Anyways I'm enjoying all of your photos !
BTW the Nellis airshow usually has an F-22 demo but as mentioned above is nothing special at this point.
I'm sure they will incorporate more into it in the coming years as the Raptor gradually replaces the F-15C.

[Bill-Oz]

Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a good show.  Not Nellis, but then again, there's only a couple shows as good as Nellis.  I'm sure there are constraints on what the base can do.   I would think that a base like Nellis has a lot more allowance available to host their airshow.  Nellis is kinda one of the USAF trophy bases, and well deserved.  I was an AF kid, so I've been going to airshows for over 35 years.  I've been going to Luke airshows for 20+ years, and Nellis for a couple since 2003, and will continue to, forever, F-22 demo or not.  I live in the East Valley, and even go to Luke occassionally, just to catch some F-16 action. 

The B-2, F-15E, and F-18F did a great display.  Though the F-15E is one of my favs, I have to say, that F-18F demo was awesome. 

I do have thoughts sometimes that they must have the wrong people involved in producing the shows.  They need someone who absolutely loves flying demos.  Maybe it's harder for them to get USAF, USN, & USMC performers than I would think.  There are many times where multiple airshows are going on around the country, and resources are somewhat limited.  I say somewhat, because even with the Iraq situation, there's plenty of aircraft and aircrews available.  I know the USAF and rest of the military don't exist to put on airshows, but they spend a billion or so each year to recruit, and that's what the airshows are, recruiting mechanisms, so I would think they could have more cooperation in getting flying displays.  They had a B-2, which had to fly 1300 miles each way to get here, and there's only 20 or 21 of those. 

I'll accept whatever the bases can provide, always wishing, sometimes bitching, for more.  Glad to have the F-22's, even if they weren't ripping vapor out of the air.

Can hardly wait for the Nellis show this year.  As the 60th anniversary of the AF, and it being the pride of the fleet, it should be a helluva show, hopefully.

I'm more upset that most of my photos didn't turn out well because of the clouds.  Not Luke's fault, maybe I could have done something to get better photos.  Next post I'll have a couple more photos.

I know there were others there who are FCers, come on, post some pics, give people something to see, as mine, admittedly, haven't been that great.  I blame the grey clouds, but maybe I just don't know what I'm doing.

[Bill-Oz]

A-10
The Bat departs
A little prop blur, a little plane blur to go along.

[Rob Guess]

Perhaps someone might create a website called "Airshow-bashing.com".

Lets face it not all air shows can be perfect. If i wanted to i could bash on nellis or Oceana and others out there but i dont. The fact of the matter is, it takes a lot of time and effort to plan one of these shows sometimes a year in advance. Also while Luke has a lot of F-16's on base it is a training base other than a perhaps formation flypast with one of each squadrons jet in the formation they cannot perform a demo of the aircraft like Viper W or E is allowed to do as the Air Force nor the FAA will not allow it.

Some of the unique points that Luke has offered over other shows i have seen at the larger bases are:

Tribute to active duty troops that just served overseas
Tribute to the Tuskeegee Airmen
Tribute to fighter aces that trained at Luke
Dodge Viper vs. F-16 drag race

This expands the show from the raw brute force of flying skills to showing the human side of the equation of air power most shows put on nothing but flying acts and then say have a nice day.

Yes Luke Days did have a few gaps in the program that caused delays but it also gave myself a chance to reset the camera, change CF cards get a drink etc. Did i want to see the Raptor fly?? Not really they flew over my house Saturday morning.

The C-17 demo would have been nice. Tora Tora Tora with P-40's flying not a P-51 would have been nice.  A/C moving past the crowd line would have been nice but unfortunatly that would have moved to crowd line well back into the static displays. Overall i thought the crew at Luke did a great job and should be applauded for there hard work and dedication to not only the show but also to performing there everyday task on base. with all that went on Sat and Sun with the crowds and public one forgets that the largest F-16 base in the world was fully operational Monday morning at 7AM.

JMHO Rob

[JWright]

I'm inclined to agree with Rob.  I made the trip over to Luke from San Diego to see the Thunderbirds (I found out after making my plans that the Birds were coming to Miramar this year.)  While the show was different than what I am used to, I was impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the Air Force personnel I encountered.  As a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer, I was treated with courtesy and respect by everyone I met. 

One thing I appreciated was that there were several aircraft present that we don't usually get to see at Miramar.  I was particularly pleased to see an AH-64A Apache helicopter of the AZNG.  I worked at Teledyne-Ryan here for 15years and the Apache was one of the aircraft I worked on.  The particular aircraft at Luke was one of "mine"...

   

[Craig Scaling]

Yes - I agree. The Public Affairs folks were great! Very polite and accomindating!

ONe question..........did anyone happen to get the BU# of the F-18F that performed the Demo on Saturday? I missed it, and can't make it out in any of my photos, as it was dark / crappy outside and that is a seriously low-vis jet.
Please help me out if you can,  thanks!   

[Jan-Arie]

Feeeeuw just came home after sooooooome delay'sssssssssssssssssssssss got some awsome pictures of the show wich i attended with Warthog was cool to meet some other fence checkers don't know al there names but got to meet Scottydemco and his father and Yeovil and his friends. and a couple of others guys.
But i neeeeed some sleep i'am so tired i will put up some photo's tomorow 

[Bill-Oz]

Hey, spin my comments any way you like.  I wasn't bashing Luke, or any of the performers, or non-performers, just wishing for more.  Tell me what is wrong with that.

Since this is the Airshow Reviews Photo section of the site, I'll keep to posting photos, not defend my position on what I said about the airshow.  My last word on the subject would be to ask those who want to criticize me directly, or indirectly, to really read what I said.  Nobody enjoys the airshows more than I, and nobody appreciates what it takes to put one on, more than I.

Enjoy the pics, hopefully.
Bill

[Jan-Arie]

F86 the A10 and P51 Gunfighter in hot Persuit

[Jan-Arie]

Here is one of the F-27 with Scotty inside the plane and one the heritage flight from the otherside of the field