Awaiting final restoration is the operational Hawker Sea Fury of Sandy Thompson, seen here at Thunder Over Michigan, the Air Show we like to call "Tom," in 2005. The aircraft is looking mighty fine as it is...the final paint scheme a mystery.

Thunder Over Michigan 2005

by Duane Hover
Reno Vids 4 U
with Gerard Walczak

Photography by Duane Hover and Gerard Walczak

Thunder Over Michigan of 2005 was one of the largest and most spectacular Air Shows yet held in support of the Yankee Air Museum, which suffered a devastating fire in the fall of 2004 and is working hard to acquire new artifacts and aircraft displays in order to return to the glory that it was before the events that led to the catastrophic fire. SSNS Staff Correspondent Duane Hover provides us with his report:

Fellow Journalist Gerard Walczak and I arrived about 30 minutes before the gates open as usual, and there was a healthy line already started. We thought instead of standing for an hour in line it was better to sit for a few before getting in line.

Big Mistake.

There had to a line a 1/4 mile long at that time so we waited a few minutes longer and then proceeded to get in line. One thing about standing in line for a few was there are always some interesting people to talk to and listen to.

Just before the entrance there was the Jeep that had been destroyed in the YAF hanger fire last fall. It looked a mess but the YAF had attached a Plexiglas box on the back of it to accept donations for the new hanger.

There were also a few YAF volunteers sitting just inside the gate and they were looking also for donations, but were handing out a form to all that was to be used if any supporter had any item that they wished to donate to the new museum.

So many priceless artifacts were lost in the fire and it was good see the Yankee Air Museum volunteers looking for new artifacts to replace those lost in the museum fire. I, myself, have just a few artifacts, but when the time comes they'll be donated to the museum for sure.

Gerard and I walk in and sure enough, the field is full of Boeing B-17's. I do a quick count and can only see 8, but a few minutes later I hear the YAF B17, Yankee Lady do a flyby and set up for a landing, that made 9 !

"Whoa!," I thought: "9 B17's in one place at one time ~ simply outstanding!"

Towards the end of the day they all went up and did several flybys and then flew out and came directly towards the show line in formation 3 and 4 at a time. During the flybys, one B-17, not sure which, banked hard so everyone could see the entire top of the bomber and the crowd got righteously loud with whoops, hollers, and applause, to say the least.

One of the B17’s in that group was the “Nine O Nine” from the Collings Foundation. This holds a special memory for me as I had seen it years ago at the Detroit City Airport Airshow back in the late 80’s. Shortly after that airshow, I read where it had gone off the end of a runway and was damaged pretty badly. All 4 engines were torn off and the nose was crushed to the cockpit area. I have seen it since then, but it always amazes me the damage that occurred back then and the shape it’s in today.

I had a buddy email me regularly from Minnesota to update me on the number of B17's scheduled to attend the 2005 show so to say the least, I was looking forward to seeing all 9 show up. Eight were G-models with the chin turret, while the nineth was the famous "Memphis Belle" from the movie of the same name, owned by Warbird collector Dave Tallichet, who also founded a number of restaurants, including the Proud Bird near Los Angeles International Airport, and the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron.

Here’s a listing of the B17’s that attended:

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" - Yankee Air Museum
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Liberty Belle" - The Liberty Foundation
Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" - Dave Tallichet
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Fuddy Duddy" - Currently operated by EAA
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Thunderbird" - Lone Star Flight Museum
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" Commemorative Air Force - Arizona Wing
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Chuckie" - Doc. Hosper
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Nine O Nine" - The Collings Foundation
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Aluminum Overcast" - Currently operated by EAA

The group of B17’s was nice to see, but the real eye catcher was the Bf109 sitting just inside the main gate. It was beautiful!

I personally had never seen an Me109 up close and this one had an original Daimler Benz engine, and even better, it looked like they were doing a pre-flight on it preparing to take it up. Just seeing this aircraft was a treat, but as a small crowd gathered, the crew started the Daimler Benz motor.

I was only 15 feet from it when they ran the engine and then proceeded to taxi her out. Very nice indeed! This is reportedly the only flying Bf-109 in North America, with its German original engine, and is one of only two or three in the world.

The audience applauded when the Bf-109 taxied in after its display! The aircraft is an actual veteran of World War II, and let me tell you: there's something about being that close to an aircraft that rare that was undeniably the high point of my day.

The Bf-109 also want up later in the day and was chased down by the 3 P-47 Thunderbolts that were at the show while simulated German ground fire was going off. Another nice touch added to the show.

The Bf-109 didn’t stay in the air very long and landed right away. Walking over to it shortly afterwards, the ground crew had most of the cowlings off. Not sure if there was a problem that had developed or this was just regular maintenance after the 2 flights they took on Saturday.

(Additional reports and captions coming soon! ~ Ed.)

The Sandy Thompson Sea Fury, frontal view favoring the starboard side. Hopefully, Thompson will get qualified for Air Racing...seems a shame that someone named Thompson wouldn't want to race, so we're placing our bets and the possibility that he will! <G> I mean, one win of any consequence and he's "officially" got himself a "Thompson" Trophy Air Racer! <running, ducking from the Society of Air Race Historians...>

You see! Already he's lined up with the Pace Plane (The Red Knight, background). What better omen for a racer that a rookie can do that before he's even trained for racing! <running, ducking from Sandy Thompson!>

Rugged beauty of the Hawker Sea Fury is seen in her exterior lines and riveting. Designed as a carrier based fighter, the Sea Fury was built to dish out destruction and take punishment at the same time. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of carrier landings attest to that!

Cowling, nose cap and propeller details on the Sandy Thompson Sea Fury are meticulously prepared, as seen in this detail photograph shot by Duane Hover at "Tom" in 2005. Hover shoots detail photography as part of his RC Modeling endeavors, something that our readers who also share a modeling interest should enjoy and feel free to hapilly partake of.

Imagine having a motion picture camera mounted at this position, aimed in this manner, while this aircraft is in flight and approaching, then hitting the deck of the HMS Victorious at sea in stormy weather during landing operations. White capped waves toss to and fro beneath as the wings waggle back and forth in the gusts. The wheel turns slowly in the prevailing wind caused by the forward motion of the aircraft. The deck comes immediately into view as the Sea Fury drops down almost vertically onto the flat top. Sudden impact! A burp of smoke from the friction of deck and burning rubber. A quick roll of the wheel. The arresting hook kicks in, sudden deceleration. Crews in multi-colored uniforms surround the aircraft to move her below deck. The quick ride down the elevator. The roll into the hangar for any maintenance work that's needed. A mechanic looks into the camera, smiles since its still there, reaches to switch it off...

...cut to black!

Theme music to all of this: "Victory at Sea!"

Of course, the oil catcher has got to go! <G>

Owner Sandy Thompson says it all. Note that Air Racer and National Champion Neil Anderson flew a harrowing ferry flight in the aircraft after its sale by the Neil McLain Estate.

Apparently no Air Racing planned..."We aspire to a boring future."

Gun blisters on the upper surface of the Hawker Sea Fury's wings. The history of the aircraft notes that many of the parts were outsourced from Australia, which operated a large fleet of land and carrier-based Hawker Sea Furies in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

No arresting hook as of yet on NX1324, though it appears equipped to handle one. Check out the rivet lines...all in perfect straight lines. Incredibly accurate work by the men and women of Hawker Aircraft, Ltd., now part of British Aerospace.