2009 Articles

Rhode Island National Guard (RING) Open House and Air Show 2009 Known throughout the USA as ‘Little Rhody’, Rhode Island is the smallest US State by area, with a population of just over one million people. However, there is nothing small about the annual two-day Rhode Island National Guard (RING) Open House and Air Show held at Quonset Point, North Kingstown Airport, and this event must rate as one of the biggest and best in North America. Kevin Jackson was there to report for GAR.

Established in 1991, June 27th & 28th 2009 marked the 19th consecutive year the Open House has taken place. The airshow is the largest annual public event in R.I. with an estimated weekend crowd in excess of 100,000, or 1/10th of the State's population! This is no surprise when you consider the team behind the event always gather the finest crop of airshow performers, marked this year by two of North America's top military demonstration teams, the Canadian Snowbirds and the US Navy’s Blue Angels. Also headlining was the debut of the full demonstration by the F-22A by Maj. David ‘Zeke’ Skalicky. Add to this the fact that entrance is free and you have a recipe for success.

From its inception, according to the show's website, the airshow has operated with a simple creed; to put on a world class show featuring only the best aircraft and pilots and operate the show totally for the benefit of the community. There is a voluntary donation of $10 upon entering the airfield and to date the event has raised over $1,200,000 for the local Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

The RING Open House and Air Show's success is due to a fully integrated, Air and Army National Guard team effort, which now has 19 years of history. Countless soldiers and airmen contribute to what is truly the ultimate team effort.

Aerial performers for 2009 included the ‘Horsemen’ duo of Ed Shipley and Jim Beasley flying a pair of Mustangs in close formation. Jim also joined up with The F-22A and the Viper East F-16 flown by Maj. George ‘Dog’ Clifford for the Heritage flypasts following Dog’s high energy F-16 demonstration.

Wild aerobatics were provided by the likes of Michael Goulian, Sean D Tucker, Ed Hamill and John Klatt.

Making his airshow display debut as a civilian, having tasted life on the display circuit in 2004-2005 as the ‘Viper East’ F-16 demonstration pilot, Geoff ‘Hak’ Hickman flew a spirited solo routine in the L-39C ‘Red 77’ (N995X) under the title of Czech Six - The team hope to return to Quonset in 2010 with the full duo display.

The US Army ‘Black Daggers’ parachute team opened the show with a flag carrying jump to accompany the national anthem, jumping from R.I. National Guard C-23B Sherpa 94-0308.

A highlight of the flying display was the Combined Arms Demonstration comprising all of North Kingstown’s Army and Air National Guard air assets along with an invited A-10C of the Pennsylvania ANG. Two of the based 143 Airlift Wing C-130Js demonstrated the aircraft's short field and airdrop capabilities whilst the A-10 kept watch overhead. There then followed a tactical approach and landing by UH-60A Blackhawks of the based 1-126th Aviation Regiment and a casualty extraction by the venerable UH-1V Iroquois of Det. 1 – 249th Medical Company, again based at Quonset Armory.

For the ‘Huey’ this was the last public display by the R.I. NG before retirement, as the unit is slated to receive Blackhawks later this year. This was also the final airshow for one of the unit’s pilots, at 60 years old CW4 Frank Puleo started his career as a medic in Vietnam in 1969. He has over 4000 flight hours in Hueys, Cobras, and Blackhawks.

Static displays were impressive for a North American show but maybe not surprising given the reputation the event has for being very accommodating along with the great location.

Heavies visiting included a 439th AW C-5A from the nearby Westover Air Reserve Base, MA, a KC-10A and a C-17A from McGuire AFB, NJ and a B-1B from the 28th BW, Ellsworth AFB, SD. Others included a pair of F-15s from the 71st FS, Langley AFB, VA and a South Dakota ANG F-16C. The pair of MV-22 Ospreys from the USMC’s VMM-266 attracted a great deal of attention and the RING’s 1-126th Aviation Regiment had a selection of helicopters on display.

The co-located Quonset Air Museum towed a number of its exhibits onto the static display ramp, including an immaculate F-14 and the Canadian’s provided a pair of CF-18s from 409 Sqn. all the way from Cold Lake, Alberta.

Making his final appearance at the R.I. Open House was ‘the voice of the airshow’ Larry Rutt. The professional airshow announcer is going into semi-retirement after announcing at every R.I. airshow since its inception in 1991. His knowledge and love of the R.I. show will be missed but happily Larry has passed the flame to the equally experienced and entertaining Rob Reider.

For those aviation enthusiasts in Europe and worldwide considering which North American airshows to attend I would highly recommend Quonset Point. At only 90 minutes drive south from Boston’s Logan Airport it makes for an ideal long weekend and the photographic opportunities, with the relatively close runway and taxiway and great afternoon light make it one of the best locations in that respect. Airshows on the other side of the Atlantic have a fantastic and uniquely American atmosphere, so if you’ve never experienced one then you could do a lot worse than Quonset Point’s 20th Open House and Airshow in June 2010. The local Jumbo Lobster is good too!

The author would like to thank LTC Denis Riel, SGT Megan Burmeister and everyone with the R.I. Army Guard 110th Public Affairs Detachment, recently returned from Iraq, for their outstanding media support. Also 143rd Airlift Wing CC LTC Larry Gallogly and the personnel of the 1-126th AV Regiment for the flight in the UH-60A during the Combined Arms Demo. Finally a big thank you to Hak for all his help and friendship, not to mention the L-39 ride into Quonset! GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR.