August Cover Story:
Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino, Calif.
Story by Gil Buvens

There was a bit of everything that airshow fans love at this year's 2005 Planes of Fame Airshow sponsored by The Air Museum at Chino, Calif. airport. More than 12,000 aviation enthusiasts attended the two-day event.

Probably nowhere else in the world today could you attend an airshow featuring no less than 30 of the most famous aircraft ever produced, all in one place, all in perfect flyable condition! Each day the show began following the National Anthem with a missing man formation of four Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. There were an unbelievable seven of these rare "Jugs" on the field for all to see, a rare sight indeed!

Before the flying show, the ramp areas in front of the hangars were open for fans to see and photograph each aircraft. Then, following aerobatics by Rob Harrison in his yellow Zlin 50 and a wing-walking act by Margi Stivers on a Stearman biplane flown by Hartley Folstad, the crowd was treated to a performance by Ron Hackworth in the museum's one-of-a-kind Northop N9M Flying Wing.

Next came flights showing the aircraft of various wars beginning with a Victory over Japan Navy Flight featuring two Japanese Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero fighters against a Douglas SBD Dauntless, a Grumman FM-2 Wildcat, Vought F4U Corsair and Grumman F6F Hellcat.

For the Korean air war there was an impressive jet demonstration by a North American F-86 Sabre and a Russian Mikoyan--Gurevich MiG-15 flown by Steve Hinton and Chris Fahey doing dog fights and a tail chase.

World War II was represented by a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, two British Supermarine Spitfires, a Hawker Hurricane, a couple of Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, a British Hellcat, as well as two P-51s and a Thunderbolt. Bombers got into the act with two North American B-25 Mitchells and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

Not to be forgotten were warbirds that came along too late for wartime action but perhaps gave the show the most impressive performances, a Grumman F7F Tigercat, three Grumman F8F Bearcats and, from Britain, two Hawker Sea Furies.

For those who love to see the current warbirds in action there were thrilling demonstrations by a USAF Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, usually referred to as the Warthog, and a Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Also on hand for viewing were three Beech Staggerwings, a gorgeous Waco ZPF biplane, a British Folland Gnat, a Cessna L-19 Bird Dog plus an assortment of antique autos. Something for everyone! Visit the web site below to learn about next year's airshow.