Air show celebrates 100 years of flight

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

John Mohr barnstorms in his 1943 stock 220 Stearman biplane. His grandfather was a barnstormer, meaning he toured around the country performing aerial tricks, in the early 20th century. Mohr learned to fly from his father at age 5. (Photos provided)

When Wilbur and Orville Wright nursed the world’s first airplane through the sky almost 100 years ago in Kitty Hawk, N.C., they had no idea what the next century would bring.

Their original airplane, the Wright Flyer, was the first aircraft to make sustained flights when the brothers accomplished the feat four times on Dec. 17, 1903.

A replica of the Wright Flyer — along with dozens of other aircraft through the last century — will be on display this weekend in Tullahoma for the Century of Flight Air Show. This free air show takes place Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Tullahoma Regional Airport.

The air show will celebrate 100 years of flight with 17 of the most renowned military and civilian aerial acts in the country. There will also be a large number of aircraft on display on the ground, along with a variety of kids activities.

“People can bring their lawn chairs and their blankets and just lay out and enjoy the day,” said Bob Pullen, an official at Arnold Engineering Development Center which is helping to sponsor the air show. Pullen said an estimated 100,000 people attended the last AEDC-sponsored air show at Tullahoma’s airport in 2001.

Featured performers include aerobatic pilot Jimmy Franklin and his wing-walking son, Kyle. Jimmy, who flies a 1937 Waco biplane, has been on the air show circuit for 35 years.

Jimmy’s parents ran the local airport in a small New Mexico town and he began learning to fly when he was in diapers. He says he took his first solo flight at age 12 when his parents were away from the house for awhile.

If his aerial acrobatics aren’t enough, Jimmy does them while his own son is on the wing. Kyle, 23, is the youngest wing walker on the air show circuit.

“It’s a little different when you have a professional stunt person and you’re paying them to do this,” Jimmy said. “When it’s your own flesh and blood who you might be putting in harm’s way, it gives you a different feeling. So I had a sit-down with Kyle and talked it over so that he understood the risk involved with this.”

Asked what possesses him to try such death-defying aerial maneuvers, Jimmy simply says he gets bored easily. As a result, he’s continually searching for stunts to grab people’s attention.

For other aerial acrobatics, John Mohr of Minnesota will fly his 1943 stock 220 Stearman biplane. With more than 25,000 hours of flying, Mohr performs extremely difficult maneuvers in his meticulously restored Stearman biplane, an aircraft that not only weighs twice as much as today’s aerobatic planes, but uses only half the horsepower.

Mohr, who makes a living as a commercial airline pilot, learned to fly from his father at age 5. He also flies as a helicopter pilot and collects vintage planes.

If you would rather see people leap from airplanes, you won’t want to miss the Army Golden Knights, a parachute demonstration team.

The team has been entertaining spectators with precision demonstrations for more than 40 years. Team members have performed more than 10,000 shows in all 50 states – and in 47 countries. Each year, the team performs more than 27,000 jumps before and estimated 12 million people.

And if you want to see vintage aircraft, a Douglas C-47 with a Normandy invasion paint scheme will be on display.

One of the most important aircraft in the history of aviation, the twin-engine Douglas DC-3 first flew as the Douglas Sleeper Transport on Dec. 17, 1935, and had established itself as a commercial aircraft long before it put on a uniform as the C-47 in 1940.

The U.S. Army Air Corps became the largest operator of the C-47, absorbing more than 10,500 of all versions, compared with the 448 civilian versions built before the outbreak of World War II. After the war, a number were modified to reconnaissance aircraft, search and rescue aircraft and staff transports.

Not only did the C-47 go on to serve in Korea and Vietnam, it has also operated in all parts of the world under almost every flag and has been used for just about all airborne roles – including ground attack.

Other attractions include former astronaut Joe Allen, who made two space shuttle flights. He will sign autographs Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m., 1 to 2 p.m., and 4 to 5 p.m. He will also be available Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m.

There will be a pedal airplane booth where children can climb into realistic, pedal-powered airplane simulators. The exhibit is aimed at introducing young people to the experience of flight.

Parking will be adjacent to the airfield for $5 per passenger vehicles. Food and beverages will be available on site in booths run by local civic groups. No coolers, backpacks or alcoholic beverages are allowed. Air show visitors may bring folding chairs.

2003 Air Show Events Schedule
This is the order in which events will take place. Times have not been provided:
Gates Open to Public at 9 a.m.
Opening Ceremonies
Invocation
Airport Closes to Fly-In Traffic
Warbird Flight (B-17, B-25, TBM, OV-1D, P-51, P-47)
Downed Airman Demo
Golden Knights Flag Jump w/National Anthem
Golden Knights Mass Exit/Showline Spread Demo
John Mohr Stearman Solo
Bill Leff SNJ Aerobatics
Jimmy Franklin Waco Demonstration
Careers in Aviation L-39/Strikemaster Dogfight
Red Eagle Airshows (Solo Pitts)
AT&T Dale Snodgrass F-86 Demo
Pepsi Chipmunk Demo
Jimmy & Kyle Franklin Wingwalking
Vintage Thunderbird T-33
USN F/A-18C Hornet Demonstration
Jim Leroy Pitts
USAF F-15 Demo
USAF Heritage Flight w/F-86
Patty Wagstaff
USAF T-6A Texan II Demo
USAF T-6/T-6 Texan Flight
US Army Golden Knights Full Show
Jim Leroy vs. Waco Dogfight
Red Eagle Airshows (two-ship Pitts)
Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
Airshow Ends, Gates Close at 7 p.m.