Wings Over the Wine Country
Story by Rick Pisio
All Photography by:
Rick W. Pisio/RWP
Photography
On August 20th
and 21st, 2005, California’s famous Wine Country
will be treated to the sights and sounds of aerobatic
aircraft, warbirds, and modern day jet fighters. This
popular event is hosted by the Pacific Coast Air Museum
at Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County
Airport. The “Wings Over the Wine Country”
airshow promises to build on the success of previous 15
years and bring a weekend of aviation excitement to
residents of Sonoma County and the Northern San Francisco
Bay Area.
The 2004 vintage of the Wings Over the Wine Country
Airshow featured an F-18 flight demonstration, an Air
Force Heritage Flight, and an aerobatic performances by
the late Sean Deroiser in his custom built One Design.
John Bagley also performed a smooth flight demonstration
in his extremely rare P-63 King Cobra. In addition, the
OK3 aerobatic team of Nadim Abuhaidar in his Edge 540 and
Greg Petersen in his Extra 300L did their duo
performance. Bill Cornick performed in his Pitts S2-C as
did the Patriots Jet Aerobatic Team in their 3 black L-39
Albatross jets.
Always a highlight of this event is the Warbird Flights.
In 2004 attendees were treated to a rare Grumman Cat
formation. The flight of four aircraft, led by Mike
Brown’s rare and beautifully restored F7F Tigercat,
also included an F6F Hellcat, Tony Banta’s F8F
Bearcat, and Tom Camp’s F4F Wildcat.
Later in the day, that same group of aircraft once again
took to the air. The four Grummans were joined by six
North American P-51 Mustangs, two Hawker Sea Furys, a
North American B-25 Mitchell, Curtiss P40 Warhawk, and a
pair of Yak-9’s for a mass formation flyby. After
the spectacular group flyby, the formation disbanded and
each plane took turns making passes along the crowd line.
One constant from year to year, and unique to this event,
is the open cockpits area. The Pacific Coast Air Museum
rolls out its impressive inventory of classic jet
aircraft onto the tarmac. The museum allows children,
young and old, to have the opportunity to sit in their
choice of an F-16N Viper, F-14A Tomcat, F-4 Phantom,
RF-86 Sabre, F-105 Thunderchief, F-106 Delta Dart, or an
A-6 Intruder.
Like a fine wine, this annual event gets better with age
and the 2005 vintage of the Wings Over the Wine Country
Airshow should be no exception. In addition to the
traditional legacy flight of P-51 Mustangs, B-25
Mitchells, Sea Furies and other warbirds, pilot Steve
Hinton is scheduled to perform a solo aerobatic
performance in a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.
The Pacific Coast Air Museum has arranged for an
impressive military line-up. For the 2005 show an A-10
Tactical Demonstration Team, F-15 Eagle Tactical
Demonstration, and a F/A-18 Hornet Tactical Demonstration
have all been scheduled. The Hornet will also be part of
the Tailhook Legacy Flight when it will be joined in the
air by two Navy piston powered fighters from the past, an
F8F Bearcat and F6F Hellcat. There is also a planned
flyover of a T-38 Talon during the show as well as a USCG
C-130 Hercules.
Jacquie Warda will be performing in her 1986 Pitts S-1T.
The plane, known as the “Red Eagle,” is one of
3 that were custom built by Curtiss Pitts to fly around
the Statue of Liberty during it’s 1986 re-dedication
ceremony. Jacquie not only flies a number of aerobatic
performances throughout the year but she also has been a
competitor in the Biplane Class at the Reno National
Championship Air Races. This year, 2005, will be her
fifth year competing.
Jon Nash, flying his Edge 540, will apply the skill and
mastery that he uses to compete in aerobatic competitions
to his aerobatic performance. His performance promises
slow flight virtuosity with amazing high speed tumbles.
His signature maneuvers include knife edge spins, tumbles
to a torque roll, and multiple “endos.”
The 2005 Wings Over the Wine Country Airshow is shaping
up to be the best yet and one that local residents will
not want to miss. The show starts at 10:00 AM and
concludes at 4:00 PM with gates opening at 9:30.
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