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Purdue Aviation Day
TBM Reunion/Salute to
Veterans
C-47 "That's All, Brother"
At National Museum of the USAF
2024 Airshows
Coles County Airport Airshow 2024
Photo Review
Warbirds at Coles County Memorial
Airport, Mattoon, IL - August 17, 2024
The Coles County Airport Airshow is done
every other year. It always features several warbirds among all of
the acts that perform during the three hour event. The show is
free to the public with no parking fees. For me, it is a six hour
round trip to get to the airport from my residence, but this rather
unheralded airshow among some of the larger and more well-known shows is
well worth the trip. I look forward to visiting each August that
it comes around. This year the show was even more satisfying for
me, as I was able to attend with my son and both of his sons. This
was the first airshow that my youngest grandson ever attended.
When asked about his favorite act of the show, it was the Skysoldier
pilot rescue.
This year the show opened with Army's Golden
Knight Parachute Team.
The last jumper down is several seconds away
from landing on the target as the rest of the team watches.
Below are a few photos of the warbirds that
flew in the event.
Susan Dacy in her 1942 Boeing Stearman was
the first of the warbird acts of the day. She would fly twice
during the three hour event.
The Skysoldiers returned their second
consecutive show. Here, the Cobra is attacking enemy ground forces
in preparation for rescue of a downed pilot.
The Cobra escorts the Huey in for the pilot
pickup.
I could watch Matt Younkin every weekend in
his 1943 Twin Beech. His aircraft may not be the newest nor
capable of the maneuvers of the newer high performance aerobic aircraft,
but the sights and sounds of this large twin radial engine aircraft
during Matt 's smooth routine are second to none.
This photo is of the second time the T-6
"Spanish Lady" flew during the show.
The C-47 owned by Jordan and Nicole Brown of
Center Point, IN was on static display and giving tours. As we
crossed into Indiana on I-70 on our trip home, this aircraft flew over
us on its final approach to Hulman Field in Terre Haute.
After her second performance of the day,
Susan Dacy taxied "Big Red" in front of the crowd. This is another
act I could watch every weekend.
P-51 "Gunfighter" was the last warbird act
of the day. Joe Shetterly put the aircraft through its paces.
The act was the highlight of the day for me. Included are three
photos from the photo pass at the end of the routine.
There should be more small shows like the
Coles County Airport Airshow. While not a mega show like many
others during the summer, it had everything that the average person
attending the event would want. Besides the warbirds and Golden
Knights reviewed on this webpage, there were also three very good
civilian aerobatic acts for the crowd's pleasure. It was also just
the right length of time with three hours of flying. The airport
has been able to find corporate sponsors that allowed for free admission
for the local populace. While several others like myself traveled
several hours to be at the event, we were the exceptions. This
event is meant to showcase the airport and aviation to the local
population of Coles County, IL. And to this end, it was
successful.
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