Gallery Update: Wings & Horsepower 2017 Recap

This morning, I drove back up to Heber City, this time with a friend to attend the Commemorative Air Force Utah Wing's annual Wings & Horsepower Car Show to check out the various displays. The purpose of this event was for the Utah Wing to raise funds to help them restore a Stearman they have that's been down for a tear-down and inspection. The majority of the displays consisted of show cars (both modern and vintage); car owners participating paid to be part of a photo shoot with a visiting aircraft, a TBM-3E Avenger operated by the Commemorative Air Force Rocky Mountain Wing out of Grand Junction, Colorado. Along with the static displays/car show, there were a limited number of warbird movements as well as an opportunity for some plane-spotting at the Heber City Airport. Here are the links:

Wings & Horsepower 2017 - Static Display

Wings & Horsepower 2017 - Warbird Movements

Heber City (36U) 2

Photo Preview:

Warbirds
I will admit, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't much flying taking place at the event today; it would've been really cool to see the TBM Avenger fly. However, much of the activity was focused around people's vintage cars doing photo-shoots with the Avenger bomber, making opportunities for aircraft tours scarce. The Utah Wing acknowledged this problem and has promised to resolve the issue for next year. There was a little flying activity with some warbirds, primarily from a Stearman and a T-6 Texan, both from Utah Warbird Adventures also based in Heber City.

Commemorative Air Force Rocky Mountain Wing's Grumman (General Motors) TBM-3E Avenger (NL53503) on display as the main attraction of the event. I actually saw this exact warbird on static display at the Idaho Falls Air Show just two weeks ago. But back then, there was a lot of clutter and the crowd made it extremely difficult to get a decent shot, so I'm glad got another opportunity to see this beautiful warbird! I can't help but think about my grandfather every time I see an Avenger...

Boeing 75N1 Stearman (N7995) making a pass prior to entering the pattern.

North American T-6G Texan (N49388) from Worldwide Warbirds, Inc. (also based in Heber City) making a pass.

Plane-Spotting

At least one consolation from the lack of warbird flying activities was an opportunity to get some plane-spotting in with some unprecedented access to parts of the ramp and taxiways of the airport. There were some unique sightings on the general aviation side, which included some rather large business jets!

NetJets Cessna 680A Citation Latitude (N536QS) airborne after departing on 22 for Big Timber, Montana as EJA536.

Cessna 441 Conquest II (N108TJ) airborne after departing on 22.

Glasair Sportsman GS-2 (N146JC) doing pattern work. The Sportsman is a modified GlaStar capable of carrying up to four people.

Executive Jet Management Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV (N489VR) arriving on 22 as EJM489 from Eagle County Regional in Colorado.

Fairchild Model F-24R-46 (NC81285) working the pattern. Talk about vintage! Fairchild Model 24s were produced between 1932 and 1948, so that makes this aircraft a rather rare type to see. The F-24R-46 variant is powered by the Fairchild Ranger engine.

NetJets Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-X G450 (N415QS) arriving on 22 as EJA415 from Teterboro, New Jersey.

Beechcraft 58P Baron (N7204E) airborne after departing on 22.

Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee (N50TP) airborne after departing on 22, towing a sailplane!

Centrair C101 Pegase (N644CA) airborne undertow by the Piper after departing on 22.

This was my first time seeing a sailplane being towed aloft!

Cessna 172K Skyhawk II (N84717) doing a touch-and-go on 22.