The Rhode Island National Guard Airshow returned to Quonset, Rhode Island May 17-18 after being canceled last year because of the sequester. This is one of the top air shows in the US, drawing 70,000-90,000 visitors each day.
I have attended this show for many years as a guest of air show director and AMA member, USAF Captain Mike Martin. This year was special because Captain Martin allowed the AMA Lazy Loopers Flying Club (LLFC) to set up a booth at the show to promote model aviation.
Associate Vice President Steve Brehm and I attended the air show after returning from a great week at the Joe Nall event. Rick Heaton, LLFC president, and several club members set up a terrific display under two large shade structures with a variety of model aircraft on display including electric- and glow-powered fixed-wing, helicopters and multirotor aircraft.
They handed out AMA brochures and provided model aviation information to attendees all day. The multirotors/drones attracted the most attention and kept club secretary Tim Bailey busy fielding questions. The biggest hit with kids of all ages was getting flight time on one of the three RC flight simulators.
The air show was awesome and featured a range of vintage and ultramodern aircraft performing to their ultimate capabilities. I especially enjoyed the spectacular flight routines of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels team (see the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebw_kH8Azx4), aerobatic performances by Sean D. Tucker in his Oracle (see the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kGqo_gzG0g), Jeff Boerboon flying the John Klatt jet-powered Waco (see the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMriUsxMJM), and Rob Holland in the MX-2 (see the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohs0qPW0_hQ).
Thanks Captain Mike Martin, Rhode Island National Guard, and members of the LLFC for all of the efforts to make this air show the best in the world for promoting all facets of aviation.[dingbat]
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(L) The highlight of the show was the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flying the F/A-18 Hornets. (R) This was the first air show appearance of this jet-assisted Waco biplane.
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(L) The LLFC, from Wrentham MA, had two structures set up at the air show where they displayed a variety of model aircraft and multirotors. (R) The kids were lined up for turns on the club’s RC flight simulators.
