This past weekend, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort hosted their bi-annual airshow. The base is located in Beaufort, SC, approximately halfway between Charleston, SC an Savannah, GA. This year’s show featured a wide assortment of aircraft operated by the United States Marine Corps, a United States Air Force F-16 demo, a United States Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter, and the United States Navy’s Blue Angels. The show also featured several civilian performers including the Geico Skytypers, Rob Holland, Gary Ward, and Redline Airshows. Warbird demonstrations were performed by Jim Tobul in his F4U-4 Corsair and Scott Yoak’s P-51D Mustang.
VMA-223 CO Lt. Col. Ryan Ward climbs out from hovering by selecting Wet Lift – dumping water into the turbine stages of the Rolls Royce F-402 engine. This allows for up to 90 seconds of higher thrust without over-temping the turbine fan blades, and is noticeable in the exhaust.
Condor 59, a CH-53E Super Stallion from HMH-464, extracts the Marine Raiders at the end of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) demonstration.
Jim Tobul and Scott Yoak in their gorgeous warbirds, Korean War Hero, and Quicksilver.
The Yoaks did an amazing job with this restoration, but seriously, black and polished aluminum?
This weekend’s Viper demo was brought to us by the 20th Fighter Wing from Shaw AFB. This bird celebrates 50 years of the wild weasel electronic attack role, and each of the three fighter squadrons that make us the 20 FW: the 55th, the 77th and the 79th Fighter Squadrons. The three FS insignias surround the FW insignia on the side of the inlet, and also share the bar at the top of the vertical stabilizer.
Marine Air Group 31 supports the Marine Air Ground Task Force demonstration. The Fighting Bengals and Hawks from VMFA(AW) 224 and 533, respectively, bring the speed to their simulated attack runs.
Another member of the home team – VMFAT-501 Warlords from MCAS Beaufort fly the F-35B in support of the MAGTF demo, as well as a solo performance.
(Soon to be 76 year old) Gary Ward casually chucks his MX2 as violently as anyone else in the sky.
The GEICO Skytypers break formation in their SNJs.
An inverted formation pass from the RV-8s of Redline Airshows.
Rob Holland executes his Cobra maneuver: continuing straight and level flight while the nose pitched up beyond vertical, hanging on the prop, and coming to a complete stop.
The crew and their Dolphin out of USCG Air Station Savannah. This MH-65D sports the 100 years of Coast Guard aviation livery, and honors LTJG Francis J Charles. Charles lost his life on a SAR mission on the California coast when the HU-16E he was in crashed into a hillside as a result of thick fog.
The VMMT-204 Raptors arrive in style in their MV-22 from MCAS New River.
The Blue Angels. Stunning as ever, being a bit away from show-center offers a unique angle.
(All photos by David Lilienthal)
