BUFFALO & BATAVIA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Did you see the messages in the sky across Western New York Thursday afternoon?
One viewer sent us a picture of a smiley face and we also saw some text across the sky that said "WOB airshow."
If you saw a smiley face in the sky and it made you wonder why, it means pilot Nathan Hammond's plan worked.
"Who doesn't like a smiley face. It's the best thing to skywrite. It's nothing but just good, positive vibes," Ghostwriter Air Shows pilot, Nathan Hammond said.
This weekend, the Wings Over Batavia Air Show gets underway for Labor Day Weekend.
It is the first time since its 25-year hiatus.
Hammond made the trek from Kentucky to take part in it.
"Everything from low-level, high-performance aerobatics, all the way up to vintage World War II Mustangs that will loop, roll, dazzle, and top it off at the end of the evening with fireworks," Nathan Hammond said.
His ghostwriter airplane is one of about a dozen planes that will take flight this weekend at the Genesee County Airport, in Batavia.
"The headliners here, are second only to one other air show. That happens to be Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which is the second-largest air show in the world. So, you have got the best, of the best, of the best here in Batavia this weekend, flying some of the most remarkable airplanes that you will ever see," Hammond said.
Skywriting developed in the 1920s, so if you are into throwbacks, this is your weekend!
"We keep that alive. There's probably 5 or 6 of us that still skywrite professionally, in North America. In the world, there's probably 12 of us now that do skywriting. It's a magic trick that was passed down from one pilot to the next. So, we're the keeper of the flame right now. We're able to bring it over top of Western New York," Hammond said.
Western New York native and pilot, Louis Horschel, said he is been flying all his life.
"We'll be doing loops, holes, all types of different maneuvers. The speed approach is 400 mph, 6 feet from each other as my wingman just stays on everything that I am doing. It's just an amazing demonstration. On top of that, we have Lee Lauderback flying the other Mustang. Lee is the highest-time Mustang pilot in history. He has 11,000 on a Mustang. He puts on an amazing demonstration," Louis Horschel said.
He will be putting this P-51 Mustang, a piece of history, which was a World War II fighter plane.
"There was a turning point in World War II when they started flying these airplanes. They're iconic. It's like the Washington Monument. We're caretakers. We have to preserve that history, honor the guys that did it for real, inspire youth, and show people a good time," Horschel said.
All the way from Arizona, the U.S. Air Force A-10 Demonstration Team, led by Captain Lindsay Johnson will take flight, doing a "Heritage Flight".
Captain Linsday Johnson said, "I'll do an aerobatic demonstration, so you'll get to see how fast the A-10 goes, a gear down pass for me, as well as some aerobatics simulated gun and bomb runs."
The air show will feature the following:
- USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II Demo Team
- USAF F-22 Raptor (Fly-bys & Heritage Flight)
- U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight
- P-51 Demo Team “Mad Max & Little Witch”
- Ghostwriter Airshows
- Matt Younkin Beech 18
- Ken Rieder in an RV-8
- Michael Goulian Aerosports
- Rob Holland Aerosports
- Bill Stein Edge 540
- Kevin Coleman Extra 300 SHP
- Jim Peitz One-Of-A-Kind Bonanza
- Lee Lauderback P-51 Mustang ‘Crazy Horse 2’
- David Martin Beechcraft Baron
- Luke Aikins Red Bull Air Force
- Airythmia
- Choreographed Pyromusical Fireworks Show
You can find more information on the show, tickets and parking on the show's website here.
