35 cents
VOL. 3/ISSUE 20
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015
Tico Warbird Air Show thrills crowds in Titusville Mary Kemper STAFF WRITER
mkemper@veteranvoiceweekly.com
The Air Force Thunderbirds highlighted the 2015 Tico Warbird Air Show at the Valiant Air Command in Titusville March 13-15. With this year’s theme being “Remembering Vietnam,” the VAC celebrated its 38th show in style, beginning with a flight of its signature C-47 “Tico Belle.” The Leap Dogs Parachute Team dropped out of the sky carrying the United States and POW-MIA flags, and audience members were encouraged to take off hats and either salute, if veterans, or place their hands over their hearts. Next came Jerry McCart and his “Wicked Willy,” a jet-fueled “(F)or my money, it’s the Tico car that raced show every time.” an actual jet, winning by a sizable margin. C.J. Dowd, a Navy veteran who attended the 2015 Tico Warbird Next came Air Show in Titusville demonstrations in vintage aircraft by John Black and his Super Decathlon Team, F86 pilot Doug Matthews and Paul Schulten and his Christen Eagle Aerobatics. Further performances were given by AT6 pilot Gene McNeely, and VAC vintage bombers and fighters piloted by the VAC team. After Matthews gave a performance in a P51 Mustang, there was a re-enactment of the “Red Baron vs. Snoopy,” featuring an authentic World War I-era triplane. Next were performances by fighters from the Vietnam and Korea eras. The Sky Soldiers Parachute Team performance highlighted service in Vietnam, and was titled “Rescue at Dawn.” Afterward, Rick Svetkoff gave a performance in an F-104 Starfighter.
Staff photo by Mary Kemper Mel Bonifacio, Cocoa Beach, and his daughter, Scarlet, don matching flight suits to attend the 2015 Tico Warbird Air Show at the Valiant Air Command, Titusville, March 14. Bonafacio is an Air Force veteran. The six pilots from the Thunderbirds provided the grand finale, streaking across the sky and performing their awe-inspiring routines, which included flying as close as 2 feet from each other, earning cheers almost as deafening as their engines. Not to be outdone, helicopters of several types were on hand to give displays and thrilling rides to white-knuckled passengers.
Because “Remembering Vietnam” was this year’s theme, a special tribute to Vietnam pilots was included in the air show program, written by retired Col. Terry Yon, who was formerly the director of public relations for the VAC. It tells the story of Maj. Bruce “Snake” Crandall and Capt. Ed “Too Tall” Freeman
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