Airpower West

Welcome to the UNOFFICIAL Airpower West Homepage

2003 Air Shows

2002 Air Shows

US-aircraft.com is the unofficial home page of Airpower West. Why the unofficial page when so much of this site is dedicated to the time when the sound of radial engines (round engines as we are fond of saying) and flashing colors? Well a lot of the truth is in the fact of timing. The official page was completed first. The official page will give a lot of nice to know/cocktail information, but here you can see the photos of the countless airshows I have attended as a director of the warbird squadron. Click here for the official site.

First a few words about Air Power West and it's history. Air Power West (APW is a 501(c) 3 organization. For those of you outside the United States, that's Federal speak for a tax exempt organization. APW is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and flying demonstration of notable historic aircraft. The APW membership is concerned that the American public sees most of these rare aircraft in the silent and sterile environment of museums. Children and many adults can only stare, and wonder how they must have looked and sounded as they roared past the local airbase, or on their way to do battle with the enemies of their respective country.

APW believes that the full effect of these Aviation legends can only be fully appreciated when they are seen flying - - filling the senses with a cacophony of roaring engines, flashing colors, and the sweeping arc of flight in front of an excited crowd caught up in the miracles and wonderment of flight. Seeing such aircraft from our nation's history, hearing the roar of a Merlin as it winds up for a strafing pass, the unmistakable staccato of a Pratt and Whitney as it speeds down the airshow line, or the deep thunder of a early jet engine, and then being able to stand next to, touch and feel the heat of a thoroughbred as it lands, and speak with the pilots - - that is an excitement that can only be had through the APW experience, and has fired a thousand young imaginations into a life long love affair with aviation and history. APW also features its famous "Country Store" run by Fran and Joe Minnich. Here, Aviation enthusiasts of all ages can find something aviation related from T-shirts to toys that they just can't live without. All are reasonably priced, kid tested and approved. Your humble author's kids are two of the official testers.

APW owners/pilots do require airshow sponsors to pay for fuel, lodging, transportation and expense fees, but such necessary charges represent only a small fraction of what it actually costs to maintain these beautiful birds and "keep 'em flying", properly maintained, and hangared. Such expenses merely defray some of the costs of individual airshows.

APW serves as a nonprofit central booking source for its pilot/owner membership. All past airshow appearances have been safe, extremely well received, and of professional quality. (Legal jargon now: APW cannot make any representation of or assume the level of performance, currency, or proficiency of any of the individual pilots). Adherence to qualification requirements and all applicable federal and State regulations is the sole responsibility of the individual participating pilot. APW pilots have shown great professionalism in maintaining their aviation skills and qualifications.

Air Power West and its roster of exceptional aircraft and pilots welcomes inquiries about participating in your airshow. Our experience indicates that the success rating of your airshow will climb higher in direct proportion to the participation of the APW involvement.

The APW T-6 group performs a number of graceful formation takeoffs, flybys, fan breaks, and fighter daisy chains. Both the O-2, and the 69th Special Operations Group offer displays that are unrivaled. The 69^th Operations group has been featured on ABC News and the Discovery Channel. The powerfully moving 69^th salute to our Vietnam veterans is in the record books as the holder of the world's longest simulated napalm strike (3 miles long) recorded at Grand Junction, Colorado in September of 1997. All formations and intense demonstrations cover various formation positions taught by the military and remain close to the crowd.

All APW formation work is non-aerobatic in nature and requires no waivers. Formation flybys may be flown within or outside of the airshow waiver time. Choreographed displays require field closure for the length of the demonstration due to the nonconformity with established airport traffic patterns and the necessity for dedicated communication frequencies.

Air Power West Aircraft