GENESEO — The Greatest Show on Turf Turns 30
Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the Geneseo Air Show, an event the warbird world in the East has come to know as the “Greatest Show on Turf”. As with every show held in this NewYork valley in the Finger Lakes Region since 1979, it was an unqualified success. My first visit to Geneseo dates back to 1987 and since that time I have been hooked on this unique air show event for two reasons – Firstly for the incredible vintage aircraft flying they always put on, but secondly and perhaps more importantly for way the people of Geneseo and the 1941 Historical Aircrtaft Group (HAG) Museum personnel greets you upon your arrival and the warmth they offer to all visitors.
I was so enamoured by their kindness and down-to-earth attitude, that I started spreading the word about this event to all my aviation friends – a sort of warbird evangelist. Since that weekend in 1979, I have made the trip to Livingston County each year to join all my aviation comrades, enthusiasts and event organizer friends. Like a big family reunion, we come together to share our passion for flight and vintage warbirds with each other -whether we are pilots, history buffs, modellers or photographers. There is no other place that provides you with this richness of experience, this kind of pleasure – all under the summer sun, in a relaxed ambiance and surrounded by the beautiful Geneseo River valley. Start with the family picnic atmosphere, bucolic country setting and mix in the incredible flying display HAG puts on every year and you have a recipe for pure thundering magic.
This past summer’s event was as good as ever featuring a tribute to naval aircraft. As always, HAG assembled a line-up of rare and historic aircraft that would be the envy of any other air show.
The 1941 Aircraft Group was established in 1994 with the primary mission to continue with, organize and support the traditional air show based on the lovely “turf” air strip at the Geneseo airport and to highlight the classic aircraft of the past with a particular focus on Second World War aviation.
In the spring of 2001, the Group was granted a Provisional Museum Charter by the New York State Board of Regents. The group's Board of Trustees was increased to five members and its name was officially changed to the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum, Inc..
The 2009 HAG Airshow at Geneseo
Dominating the flight line in 2009 were legendary naval aircraft of the Second World War – and what a selection there was. At the “heavy” end was Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s PBY Canso. Glen Goldman touched down on the “grass carrier” in Dave Tinker’s barrel-like Grumman TBM Avenger. The widely based Commemorative Air Force showed up with their rare Grumman F6F Hellcat and the one and only flying Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Sandy Thomson, a favourite visitor to Vintage Wings of Canada and the Classic Air Rallye, flew down from Canada in his massively powerful Hawker Sea Fury, trapping the “grass wire”. Mike Gillian’s rare Grumman FM-2 Wildcat was sandwiched in with three brutish blue Corsairs. Two of the legendary “bent-wing” fighters were Goodyear FG-1 models – one from the Fighter Factory in Virginia Beach and the other from the American Airpower Museum out of Farmingdale, New York on Long Island. Joining them was the Chance Vought F4U-5NL from the Collings Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts. This one was flown throughout the weekend by the legendary fighter-deity, Dale Snodgrass, who put together a stunning low level display featuring thundering low flybys in not only Collings Corsair but also in Warbirds of Long Island’s North American P-51D Mustang.
Other warbirds in attendance included the very rare B-25D Mitchell from the American Airpower Museum, the Spirit of Freedom’s gorgeous C-54 from the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, a Cessna Bobcat from Tom Huf, a Douglas DC-3 from Bill Dahler, HAG’s own Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Beech C-45 Expeditor, the world famous B-17 from the movie “Memphis Belle” and a large amount of trainers and liaison aircraft such as T-6s, Stearman biplanes. The Luftwaffe was represented by my friend Olivier Lacombe from Mascouche, Quebec in his FW-149.
Civilian acts provided some aerobatic entertainment between warbird sequences. These included such flying luminaries as Rob Holland, Jerry Wells with his Bucker Jungmeister, a Pitts special and Manfred Radius with his exquisitely beautiful glider act.
Related Stories
Click on image
Modern military presence consisted of a NY National Guard Chinook, a NY ANG C-130 Hercules that participates every year and the USAF F-15 Strike Eagle which performed in the USAF Heritage Flight with the P-51 - an incredible flying display. The USAF Heritage flight always supplies the patriotic “yankee” spectators at show with an emotional flyby. Same goes to the salute to the veterans with a missing man formation performed by the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association.
Other perennial acts which, once again, provided superb performance were the First World War bi-planes from the Great War Museum and the yellow thunder and amazing grace of the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team. I have seen them often, but they seem to be get better season after season. There is nothing more visual than to see three beautifully restored yellow Harvards doing their routine against a nice blue sky.
Of course the stars of the weekend were the Second World War fighters and bombers. Staggered in different schedules, the F6F Hellcat, FM-2 Wildcat and the SB2C Helldiver strutted their stuff, followed by the PBY Canso and the TBM Avenger. It felt like the Battle of Midway all over again!
The B-25 Mitchell and its escort, the P-51 Mustang buzzed the airport while three Navy Corsairs provided top cover. Then, each broke off for individual flybys. On Sunday Dan Dameo and Dale Snodgrass executed a flawless performance with very smooth aerobatic routine, demonstrating just how elegant the Corsair is the air.
Before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye. This is always a difficult thing at Geneseo, for they are like family.
Being deeply involved in the production of large-scale aviation events in Canada’s National Capital Region I fully understand how much work is required to provide a very warm and relaxing event – the proverbial calm duck above water – with feet going like crazy under the water.
There is no doubt that the Geneseo air show is as it is billed - The Greatest Show on Turf, not only for the breathtaking flying, but also the time spent with old friends, some who you know you won’t see again until next year.
I will like to thank Graham, Michael Raftus, Greg and Anna Wadsworth pilots of the C-45, John Beart, Dan Dameo Corsair pilot and Jim Vocell B-25 pilot for setting up the air to air flight. Also all the volunteers, pilots and friends who make this, Geneseo’s 30th year a memorable weekend.