GFAFB Friends & Neighbors Day: Saturday, June 29, 1996

1996 begins a series of airshows we lightly photographed. My co-pilot, Bob Nelson and I still look forward to going to airshows, but we’re less interested in photographing the same aircraft. Bob shot one roll of film, which is a new low for him. I shot two rolls. I thought recording some videos would be worthwhile and borrowed my sister’s video recorder. My footage was terrible. Its only redeeming quality was recording aircraft information.

There were scattered rainstorms during the morning but it cleared by noon. We arrive at the south entrance of the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Bob was loaded up with camera gear and audio recording gear at the crowd control fence. I wandered off. I’m trying out the camcorder. Two F–15C ‘Eagles’ take off, I didn’t get the camcorder on them until they were little dots in the sky. They never returned. I recorded the A–10 ‘Warthog’ aerial demonstration and the Security Police demonstration. This was fun to see: smoke, helicopters, trucks, armored cars, and machine guns.

I went back to the van to re-supply, changed into shorts, and grab a slice of pizza. I rejoined Bob to photograph the B–25J ‘Mitchell’ and the CF–18 ‘Hornet’. It was too windy for the skydivers. After the aerial show, I walked the flight-line again and shot another roll of film. Bob caught up to me at the F–16B two-seat ‘Falcon’ trainer. Bob spoke with pilot and made notes. I asked the pilot (Brian?) about breaking the sound barrier locally. Bob and a Canadian CT–133 pilot where having a Q&A. Bob photograph me with the Canadian CF–18 before we hopped on the USAF bus to the parking lot. Bob recorded a postscript to the air show. (in the gallery)

Eagles LeaveTwo McDonell-Douglas F-15C 'Eagle' fighters from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, FL., perform a pass and then leave . af88-118. Photo by Bob Nelson on Saturday, June 29, 1996 at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Photographs

See the Full Gallery or the Gallery Slideshow for more photos from my trip to the Grand Force Air Force Base: 53 in total with detailed photo/airplane descriptions. Bob Nelson’s photos (Color Print CN164–165) are ©1996, 2018; used with permission. My photos are color print film. ©1996, 2019.

Each aircraft link goes to its first photo in the gallery. The numbered links go to addition aircraft information, usually Wikipedia.

Aircraft On Display

• A–10A ‘Thunderbolt II’ MY 70th FS of the 347th Wing at Moody AFB, GA. “White Knights”. (Air Demonstration: af80–158, af80–170) Static display: af80–192. “Warchild” Pilot Dagwood.. Captain Tom Crozan, DCC Ssgt Gary Willis, ADCG Sgt Paul Boschan, ADCG A1C Brennan. 1
• AT–6 ‘Texan’ #42 Marines N77TX. 1
• 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
• B–52H ‘Stratofortress’ 0015. “No Antidote”. 23rd Bomber Squadron in Minot ND. Ssgt J. Sternod, SRA S. Howell, A1C J. Strunk. “Kiai Oka Lewa” Hawaiian: Guardians of the Upper Realms. 1, 2
• C–141 ‘Starlifter’ 500239 60th AMW, 349 AMW. Travis AFB. AMC Air Mobility Command. Crew Chief Tsgt Bomen. Air Force Reserve. 1
• CF–18 ‘Hornet’ 188742 Canadian Forces. Captain Wayne “Karp” Karperien. Lynx Squadron. 1
• CT–114 ‘Tutor’ 114085 Canadian Forces. [behind F–16B]. 1
• F–15C ‘Eagle’ FF demonstration flight. Two. 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, FL. EG af88–118. 1
• F–16B ‘Falcon’ fighter-trainer, (Block 15L) af82–1036 on display for the NDANG 178th FS "Happy Hooligans. 1, 2, 3
• HH–1 ‘Iroquois’ local. US Army National Guard 0–21687. 1
• KC–135R ‘Stratotanker’ aerial refueling tanker aircraft. 319 ARW Grand Forks AFB 62–3562. AMC. Crew Chief: Ssgt Schmuck. 1
• KC–10 ‘Extender’ aerial refueling tanker aircraft. Travis AFB 60033. AMC. 1
• OH–58 ‘Kiowa’ is a helicopter used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell manufactured the OH–58 for the United States Army based on its Model 206A JetRanger helicopter. 114 Trpl-stx.
• P–3 ‘Orion’ LU 007. 1
• P–51D ‘Mustang’ painted as BC-CH “Dazzling Donna” flown by Robert Odegaard. 44–74404, NL151RJ. 1, 2
• S–1S Pitts Special flown by Bill Witt (Wilt?). 1, 2
• T–28C ‘Trojan’. North American Aviation trainer. VA–122 Navy 146286 “Devil Dog” E #461, NX146GF. Greg Fieber: owner/pilot. 1
• CT–133 ‘Shooting Star’ [behind B–52H] Canadian Forces/Forces Canadiennes 133592 #592 1
• T–37 Tweet Captain Jon Erickson, Mr. Scotty Hurst. VN af59–347 OK. 1
• T–38 ‘Talon’ on display from the 12th FTW, Randolph AFB, TX. AETCRA. Pilot: Captain Joe Deitz. af66–382. 1
• T–43A ‘Gator’ USAF Military 737. T43A af72–0288 “City of Grand Junction” 1
• TBM–3E “Avenger” torpedo bomber CC 89, N1293E. Bu. No. 53892 1
• Experimental Aircraft
• Firetruck
• UND Aircraft

Canadian Forces HornetA McDonell-Douglas (Northrup) CF-18 'Hornet' on display from the Canadian Forces: Lynx Squadron. Flown by Captain Wayne 'Karp' Karperien. 188742. Photo by Craig Maas on Saturday, June 29, 1996 at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Schedule Of Events

0830 Gates open to the public
0930 Radio Controlled Airplane Modelers
1000 Military Working Dog Demo
1030 Wings of Blue: flag jump
1100 Crop Duster Demo
1120 P–51D ‘Mustang’ Demo
1140 TBM–3E ‘Avenger’ Demo
1200 Pitts S1S Demo
1220 KC–135R ‘Stratotanker’ Flyby
1240 A–10 ‘Thunderbolt II’ Flyby (2 ship)
1300 Rodeo Team Return, Base security demo
1305 Military Working Dog Demo
1320 79th Rescue Flight Helicopter Demo
1340 AT–6 ‘Texan’
1400 T–28C ‘Trojan’
1420 B–25J ‘Mitchell’
1440 CF–18 ‘Hornet’ Demo (2-ship)
1500 F–15C ‘Eagle’ Demo
1530 Wings of Blue Demo. USAF Parachute Team
1700 Gates close

1996 GFAFB MapJune 29 1996 GFAFB Friends & Neighbors Day aircraft placement map. Notes

• F–16B. Painted with 1 coat primer MIL P85582A, 2 Coats Gray MILC-C- 85285B NADEP ALAMEDA 3/12/93
• CF–18. Warhead.guided missile.training dummy AK 70 Mod 1 Drawing 30003 G3BASZ900 Contract No. X00019–61-c–0404
• A–10. Warning engine run up, taxi, or flight is prohibited with battery circuit breakers pulled if falt has caused trip, repair cause and immediately reset.
• A–10. Caution check shroud door latches to assure that the latches are engaged and locked prior to closing the nacelle door.
• KC–135R. Mission: Tanker/Transport. Power 4 CFM F003-CF–100s High bypass turbofan type 88,000 lbs total thrust. Speed: .9 Mach (Max). Range: 9000+ miles. Ceiling: 49000 feet. Gross Weight: 322,500 lbs (Max). Offload Rate: 7,000 lbs/min (1000 gal/min). Crew: four (Aircraft Commander, Copilot, Navigator, Boom Operator.) Global Reach.
• MK–12. Reentry system with one reentry vehicle installed. This is the payload for the Minuteman III ICBM.
• Air Mobility Command
• Air Force Space Command
• 321st Missile Group, Global Power For Peace
• 319th Air Refueling Wing