The 2005 Dayton Air Show did not live up to the hype - mostly due to the poor weather on Saturday (rain and low cloud cover). The variety of aircraft in attendance was down somewhat from previous years, but there were still a few planes worth seeing - notably the P-38 Glacier Girl, and a rare British Lancaster bomber.
The air boss and announcers did a good job considering what they had to work with - everyone was trying their hardest to put on a good show - but Mother Nature was not cooperating and the concern for everyone's safety (performers and spectators) was appreciated. Speaking of safety - the previous week the aviation world suffered the loss of Bobby Younkin and Jimmy Franklin during a mid-air collision while performing their Masters of Disaster act at air show in Canada.
The F-18 Super Hornet demo was a crowd pleaser due to the high water vapor in the air. The Hornet's high speed passes created the cloud cone around the plane and was exciting to watch.
My biggest disappointment was not being able to see the new F-22 Raptor flyover. Supposedly there are three other shows this year where its scheduled to make an appearance - perhaps you can catch one at Nellis this fall. The USAF Thunderbirds wrapped up Saturday's performance with their usual awe-inspiring precision. I always walk away wishing I knew how to fly.
Leaving the airshow is still a nightmare so expect long delays and plenty of road rage by the time you finally make it back to the highway.