Fargo Airsho: Saturday-Sunday, August 12–13, 1995

One of the better airshows I’ve attended. No Blue Angels, no USAF Thunderbirds, but a nice collection of static displays and aerial demonstations from WW-II and modern military aircraft. It was one of the few Fargo airshows that was on the west side of the runaway, which meant the sun was in front of the performers rather than behind. Much better for photography especially on Saturday. The show was also meaningful because Doug Nelson, Bob’s father, joined us. Doug was an Engineer on the B–25J during WW-II. My parents and their cousins also attended, which was fun.

Saturday
It was sprinkling when we arrived, but soon cleared and the sun came out. There was a A–37 ‘Dragonfly’ on the end of the flight line. I left Bob and Doug to play tour guide for the Maas clan. When I came back, Doug Nelson talked about his duties and missions flying the B–25 during World War II. We watched the aerial demonstrations from under the shade of a KC–10 ‘Extender’ wing. (See schedule below) After the FA–18 ‘Hornet’ landed the show was over.

Sunday
Bob and I arrived at the Fargo Airsho as it opened. Unfortunately it was windy and the skies were overcast. We split up to photograph the static displays. Soon crowds arrived and photographing each aircraft without distract was impossible. Bob and I met up at the F–117 ‘Nighthawk’ stealth fighter. We stopped at the CAF booth to do some shopping. The aerial demonstrations were limited due to the low clouds. We watched the CAF ground crew refuel the B–25 ‘Mitchell’. I had Bob photograph me with the B–1 ‘Lancer’. We watched the morning run of ‘Shockwave.’ I did not photograph the M2 ‘Bradley’ fighting machine demonstration, I did photograph Bob driving the M977 refueling truck. We stopped to looked at the helicopters before leaving.

Ray & Char Maas with Norma & Gene Maas.Ray & Char Maas with cousins: Norma & Gene Maas in front of a Grumman TBF. This Torpedo Bomber was was painted like former President Lt. (jg) George Bush's 'Avenger' #63 Photo by Craig on Saturday, August 12, 1995 at the Fargo Airsho.

Photographs

See the Full Gallery or the Gallery Slideshow for more photos from this airshow: 161 in total with detailed photo/airplane descriptions. Bob Nelson’s photos (Color Print CN140–146) are copyright 1995, 2018; used with permission. My photos are color print film. ©1995, 2019. I shot one roll with my father’s Olympus 35-SP Rangefinder. A camera that was noted for it’s fine optics. I wanted to use a fill-flash, and its leaf shutter allows high-sync-speeds. I’m not sure it worked. I don’t see any photos with obvious fill-flash. Photos with an ‘a1’ suffix have major changes in Adobe Photoshop, usually to minimize distracting elements. I also struggled with color balance.
Each aircraft link goes to its first photo in the gallery. The numbered links are where I found information for the photo descriptions. Usually Wikipedia if missing.

Aircraft On Display

• Golden Knights US Army Parachute Team. 1
• S–2B Pitts, Sierra Aces Aerobatic Team: N777TA, N5350X N534IU. 1
• Stephens ‘Akro’ flown by Leo Loudenslager, “Laser 200” for Bud Light. 1, 2
• UPF–7 “Jolly Roger” flown by Jim Franklin, Kyle Franklin: wing walker. Waco PT–14. 1, 2, 3
• Super Chipmunk flown by Jim ‘Fang’ Maroney, “Little Toot”. 1, 2
• Super Shockwave, a jet powered truck driven by Ken High. 1
• A–10A ‘Thunderbolt II’ KC 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, MO. AFRES AF79–121, 122 [team, 121 is gray, 78–122 was in camo]. 1, 2
• B–1B ‘Lancer’ EL “Tigers” AF86–098 “Freedom One”; Also fly-by. at Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD. 1, 2, 3
• B–25J ‘Mitchell’ CAF “Miss Mitchell” Lt. Donald E. Oliver, Airplane Commander; T.Sgt Ray Ostlie, Crew chief, tail# 327493. Confederate Air Force. N27493. 1, 2, 3
• CF–18 ‘Hornet’ 199739 Canadian. 1
• EA–6B ‘Prowler’ Marines: Henry Kuehn and Rick Boyer, #03 tail: CB 16xx49. 1
• F–14 ‘Tomcat’ 210. 1
• F–15C ‘Eagle’ AF80–058 AK 54th FS from Alaska. Captain Mike 1
• F–15C ‘Eagle’ FF demonstration flight AF82–033. 1, 2
• F–16A ‘Falcon’ Fighter, (Block 15K) 82–0926 on display for the NDANG “Happy Hooligans” (178th FS) with John Dougherty. 1, 2
• F–16A ‘Falcon’ Fighter, (Block 15P) 82–1012 NDANG “Happy Hooligans” (178th FS). 1, 2
• F–16A ‘Falcon’ Fighter, (Block 15K) 82–0929 NDANG “Happy Hooligans” (178th FS). 1, 2
• F–16A ‘Falcon’ Fighter, (Block 15D) 81–0699 NDANG “Happy Hooligans” (178th FS). 1, 2
• F–16A ‘Falcon’ Fighter, (Block 15H) 81–0791 NDANG “Happy Hooligans” (178th FS). 1, 2
• FA–18C ‘Hornet’ 164879 Marines NJ 300, USS Abraham Lincoln, “Rough Raiders” VFA–125. 1, 2
• F–117A ‘Nighthawk’ AF82–802, 812. Holloman AFB, 49th Fighter Wing flown by Major Daniel Gruber. 1, 2, 3, 4
• KC–10 ‘Extender’ aerial refueling tanker aircraft. 1
• KC–135R ‘Stratotanker’ aerial refueling tanker aircraft. 1
• Learjet United States Air Force [white]. 1
• Learjet 35/36 Phoenix Air, ND, N522PA [gray]. 1, 2
• P–38J–20-LO ‘Lightning’ “Joltin’ Josie”, Josie Pond 44–23314, NX38BP, now N138AM. 1, 2
• P–51D ‘Mustang’ 44–74404 BC-CH “Dazzling Donna” flown by Robert Odegaard. 1, 2
• PT–17 ‘Kaydet’ [behind the TBM] Boeing-Stearman Model 75 WW-II trainer. 1
• Hawker ‘Sea Fury’ 105 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) WH587, N260X. 1
• TBM “Avenger” Lt. (jg) George Bush. 63. 1
• TBM “Avenger” CC 89, N1293E. 1
• T–37 ‘Dragonfly’, Cessna ‘Tweet’ trainer. 1
• T–38 ‘Talon’[behind the F–15C] NASA N965NA. 1
• T–38 ‘Talon’ behind the F–15C] Mx xx–3xx. 1
• M977 HEMTT Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. A refueling truck. 1

Char Maas with MustangChar Maas poses with Robert Odegaard's P-51D 'Mustang' at Hector Field. Photo by Craig on Saturday, August 12, 1995 at the Fargo Airsho.

Show Schedule

08:00 Blockbuster Blimp flyover. P–51/B–25 Wake up town until 10 am.
10:00 Flight briefing, Airport terminal board room
11:00 Pepsi Skywriter Demonstration (Skywrite)
11:30 Radio-controlled aircraft demonstrations
12:00 US Army Golden Knights, Flag Opener jump
12:15 KC–135R flyover, Grand Forks AFB
12:25 Leo Loudenslager, Laser 200, Ribbon
12:39 USAF Air Combat Command, F–15C demonstration
12:54 Pooh Bear glider demonstration
01:04 Jim Franklin, Waco solo, Ribbon
01:19 Jim ‘Fang’ Maloney, Chipmunk
01:31 USMC AV–8B II Harrier demonstration [did not show up]
01:43 Leo Loudenslager, Bud Light Laser 200
01:57 Super Shockwave, Race with the Waco
02:05 USA Golden Knights Main Jump
02:35 B–1 Bomber flyover, Ellsworth AFB
02:45 Jim ‘Fang’ Maroney, Little Toot
02:59 Kyle Franklin: Wing Walk Aerobatics
03:14 Shockwave Race vs Wing Walking Waco
03:22 F–16A, 4-ship, 119th Happy Hooligans
03:34 A–10, Demonstration with Pyro, Whiteman AFB
03:44 Warbird 50th anniversary salute, B–25, P–51, Sea Fury, TBM
03:59 USN F/A–18 Hornet demonstration, VFA–125
TBA Sierra Aces Aerobatic Flying Team, three S–2B Pitts

Ray Maas with LightningRay Maas with the Lockheed P-38J-20-LO 'Lightning' "Joltin' Josie" This was Ray's favorite WW-II aircraft as a child. Photo by Craig on Saturday, August 12, 1995 at the Fargo Airsho.