2010 Denton Air Fair

The air show in Denton, Texas on Saturday, June 19, 2010 was a great show. The history you get to see is just amazing! One excellent piece of history was on static display, the DC-3, known as the Flagship Detroit. The DC-3 planes are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. Wow! That means I actually stepped foot on a 75 year old piece of technology. American Airlines took delivery of the “Detroit” on March 2, 1937. The pilot who flew the Flagship Detroit to Denton Municipal Airport said that his favorite part of flying the DC-3 was the nostalgia and history that comes with the then top of the line plane. During World War 2 the several civilian Dc-3s, such as the Detroit, were enlisted to help with the war effort. The DC-3 and it’s military cousins were used to transport troops, cargo, and wounded soldiers around the world.
Another part of the Denton air show that I thoroughly enjoyed was provided by Long Horn Helicopters.  For about $35 I got to go on a ride over Denton. The flight was amazing! The pilot pointed out to me that from the air over Denton Municipal Airport you can see Alliance Airport, the Dallas skyline, and you can even see the new Cowboys football stadium. I didn’t talk much during the flight, I was too busy looking down and looking at the skyline.
One the best parts of going to an air show is getting to see the planes in action. The pilots perform amazing acrobatic shows that demonstrate the maneuverability of their aircraft. The high flying-death defying flights always draw oohs and aahs from the audiences. Hammer heads, Shark Tooths, Loops, 4 and 8 point rolls, and half cubans are just a few of the maneuvers used to showcase the abilities of the the planes.

The A-10 Thunderbolt, flown by the United States Air Force, was the headlining act at this years Denton Air Fair . A-10 or the Warhog is extremely quiet to be a jet fighter. It’s color schemes are chosen to minimize visibility either from above or below depending on the situation. The gray scheme used on the one flown at the air show was designed to minimize visibility from below. The A-10 has seen combat in the Gulf War (1991), Bosnia (1994), Kosovo (1999), Afghanistan (2001), and Iraq (2003). Flight International has said the Air Force may extend it’s use of the A-10 past 2028.
Despite the heat, the 2010 Denton Air Fair had plenty of entertainment. I managed to not get sunburnt and I had plenty of water and lemonade to stay hydrated. The temps got above 100, though I really enjoyed the weather and entertainment. There is nothing better to do on a beautiful warm sunny day than to enjoy being outside. The Denton Air Fair gets bigger every year, and is not showing signs of stopping anytime soon. The air show is normally held the Saturday before Father’s Day. I hope to see you there next year.