Selfridge/ Willow Run airshows 2017

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Xray

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Couple good ones coming up here in MI.

Selfridge is AUG 19/20 and features the Thunderbirds, also F-18 demo team and Phantom !
F-35 is also slated to be there but static only, so if you want to see it in the air you'll have to catch it landing [most likely on THUR] or taking off [Sunday after the show].

Ypsi thunder show [Labor Day weekend] also good, featuring the Blue Angels, sadly that is about it for performing jets, more of a prop based show.
Slated to have a bunch of F-5's but static, a C-17 [performing] and an unusual bird in the USA, Airbus A400M. Also an E2C Hawkeye.

I usually go both show days [3 at Ypsi this year] and at least 1 practice/arrivals day, sometimes 2.

Feel free to share/ask about any location info or frequencies for these shows here. I got some hot spots for both locations, that is if you don't plan on going in [which I rarely ever do anymore, shows are far more enjoyable to me and with a better view outside the base].

Selfridge is a free show [with optional paid "premium" seats] ,,, Ypsi I usually buy at least 1 ticket just to support the show even though I don't go in.

I'll post my freqs in the coming days, many stay the same some do not, and new ones are usually added every year.
 

drdispatch

What's the frequency, Kenneth?
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I'm planning on going to the Selfridge show. It's their 100th birthday after all, and any excuse to get back onto an air base.
 

Xray

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Here is a start on the freqs I have.
Most I have been using for years, some active and no doubt some dormant or inactive.

Feel free to post any recent corrections/additions.

Thunderbirds

139.8
140.7
141.825
143.7
140
141.075
141.85
142.175
142.575
143.85
143.9
148.85
140.7
216.725
216.975
235.25
236.55
236.6
239
241.4
250.85
273.5
283.5
322.3
322.6
322.95
382.9
394.6
413.025
413.1
413.15
413.275
413.325
413.35
413.4


Angels

237.8
265
284.25
290.25
305.5
346.5
275.35
255.2
250.975
236.15
263.35
264.35
264.55
299.65
307.7
251.5
249.625
251.6
345.9
236.45
263.5
273.3
305.9
139.8125
126.825
 

Xray

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Ypsi

123.05
120
121.75
121.9
125.275
132.35
256.9
123.5
118.175 [Airboss]

Selfridge

318.2
228.7
372.2
225.4
287.5
290.8
307.8
308.7
363.8
391.9
 

Xray

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Nice, maybe take some noise blocking headphones along, most kids don't enjoy the roar of the jets very much.
 

Xray

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Next weekend, if anyone needs info on viewing spots off base let me know
 

Xray

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I would guess Tbirds would be practicing THUR along with a few flyins [weather permitting, forecast looks dicey on THUR].

Majority likely arriving FRI, as usual - Am hoping to see the F35, Phantom and F-100 arriving.
F35 is static so only chance to see it in the air is arrival and departure, am guessing it will do a few flybys before landing, most do.
Will be at my spot at the end of Sugarbush Rd all 4 days.
 

Piston52Heavy

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Macomb, MI.
I would guess Tbirds would be practicing THUR along with a few flyins [weather permitting, forecast looks dicey on THUR].

Majority likely arriving FRI, as usual - Am hoping to see the F35, Phantom and F-100 arriving.
F35 is static so only chance to see it in the air is arrival and departure, am guessing it will do a few flybys before landing, most do.
Will be at my spot at the end of Sugarbush Rd all 4 days.

I'm looking forward to seeing the F-35 as well. Hopefully it will fly the pattern once or twice before it lands. I'll probably be out by Menards.
 

Xray

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No doubt the 35 will do flybys unless weather is a factor.
I would bet on a FRI arrival, Tbirds have to get there early for practice but most others are in no rush and don't want to stay an extra day if they can avoid it.

Haven't been out there since the last show 3 years ago, hope the lay of the land is the same.
I have found that Sugarbush is by far the best viewing area, right on the approach and you can get right under them if you like [I prefer off to the side]
Can be a challenge to get back there on show days if you have never been there before, practice you can go direct down Sugarbush, show days they have it blocked off and have to go roundabout through an industrial park before it, or residential street after it and work your way towards the base.

Still looking for freqs, net seems devoid of recent activity. Guess I'll just go with the ones I used last time.
 

Piston52Heavy

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Macomb, MI.
According to NOAA, Friday is suppose to be partly sunny with a high of 78. Hopefully, this forecast doesn't change. Thursday isn't looking too great - thunderstorms likely with a high of 82.
As far as frequencies, are you talking about frequencies that the Thunderbirds use or frequencies for Selfridge?
 

Xray

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I'm going no matter what they say, half the time they are dead wrong .
Show days look nice anyhow.

I am talking about both, if you have anything not listed here in post #3/4 post away.
 

Piston52Heavy

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Macomb, MI.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I wanna say that the Air Boss freq is/was 128.7 - which was the freq Selfridge used back in the day for ASR approaches.
 

Xray

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Digging around my scanners memory, I have 132.325 as Selfridge air boss - 128.7 definitely rings a bell from back in the day.

Thank for the input folks, will report back with usage when able.
 

Xray

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Here is my spot BTW if anyone is interested.

94 to 21 mile, I take a right, you'd go left if heading west.
On practice days you can usually go right down Sugarbush [tavern right on the corner] and head down until it dead ends, perfect spot.
You can see the runway in the lower part of the pic, almost right in line. Nice grassy hill there to watch the aircraft, trees around for shade. If you like getting right under the aircraft you can easily do so, I like to be off to the side a bit.
Trees do block view of the runway, but where Sugarbush deadends it continues as a trail, you can walk up to a fence in a minute and get a view of the base with binocs, something I do often. On show days this little grassy square often fills with people. Offers a great view both ways but there is the fence to contend with, plus last time I was there some kind of little bugs were chewing my legs to shreds, so aside from occasional glimpses of the base, I spend most of my time on the other side of the trees.

On show days, Sugarbush is usually blocked, so you take the street before it [Continental I think] which takes you through the industrial park in a roundabout way to the same spot.
Plan B if that is blocked, past Sugarbush is a road I think called Anchor something, maybe just Anchor.
Turn right on that, go up a couple streets then another right which leads right back to Sugarbush, I have never seen them block this street as it leads to a large subdivision.

I actually do have a plan C which I have done before. They block Sugarbush but you can turn into the tavern parking lot. In order to make it look like you are not just bypassing the roadblock, go in the tavern maybe have a drink and take a leak.
When you come out, simply exit to the rear of the parking lot and head down Sugarbush to the viewing spot.

Hopefully B and C will not be necessary, 1st one has worked for me the last few shows, once you get back there you are home free at one of the best spots I have seen for any show.
Tbirds and all the others fly their whole show off the runway so you are guaranteed about the best seat in the house.

[I know the image is kinda dinky, use google maps to get the same view with the runway just on the bottom, and zoom in as necessary.
The white square building where the yellow route lines converge has a red X next to it, that is the spot.
 

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Xray

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Don't know where any of that is as relates to the approach, I do know that sitting in a parking lot for hours on end for days in a row doesn't sound very enjoyable to me.
 

Xray

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Just in, F-22 Raptor also going to be there, unfortunately static like the F-35.

Also a couple of Hornets one from Canada, and the F-18 demo team.

Wish they could arrange a heavy bomber flyby.
 
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