Warbirds and Airshows- El Paso, Texas Amigo Air Show 2008

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El Paso, Texas Amigo Airsho 2008
October 4-5, 2008 (Photos taken Sunday October 5)
I was able to work this show in at the tail end of a a business trip that took me to El Paso and neighboring Juarez, Mexico, along with a visit to the Trinity Site at White Sands and Lincoln County, New Mexico on Saturday, October 4. This was the 27th annual Amigo Air Show which is held at Biggs Field, which is part of Ft. Bliss. Up until this year the show was held on the ramp area, but due to construction at the base which includes bringing in over 100 helicopters, the show was held at the north end of the main taxiway. Traditional warbirds were rare at the show with one T-6 and a Staggerwing doing fly-bys late in the show, even though the event advertised both a Navy Legacy Flight and an Air Force Heritage Flight. Neither of them happened on Sunday and I did not see any warbirds on the active ramp when I was bussed out (The parking lot was a half hour bus ride away.) that could have done either. However, I did find some Vietnam era US Army helicopters that are now in service with the US Customs and Border Patrol on display and flying in the show, along with some former Russian Helicopters that the US Army had on display.

This UH-1H, 68-15754 was purchased by the US Army in July of 1969 and then served in Vietnam until January of 1972. On March 16, 1970 it was involved in a crash landing due to engine failure that resulted in the skids being ripped off and the main rotor flexing down and severing the tail rotor drive shaft. After returning to the US, 68-15754 served in Alaska, and is now operated by the US Customs and Border Patrol at El Paso. This is one of three that the unit has.

OH-6 68-17348 is registered as on OH-6 but in 1982 was converted by Hughes Helicopter to the MH-6B configuration which was used
by Special Forces for surveillance activities, which would make it an excellent platform for use by the US Customs and Border Patrol in patrolling the the US-Mexican border. On one my trips back across the bridge into El Paso, TX from Juarez, Mexico 68-17348 flew over me patrolling along the Rio Grande River.

The lone T-6 Texan and traditional warbird at the show.

This Beech Staggerwing was built in 1943 so it should have some sort of military history.

The Staggerwing and T-6 flying formation.

This Russian Hip was displayed by the US Army from Fort Bliss.

Texan Fly-by.

T
Arranging the ladder at the Hind so the crowd can get in the cockpit.

White Sands Missile Range had one of its UH-1s on display.

The Hind was very popular aircraft to tour. The US Army had several others at Biggs Field.

There is some serious firepower here.

The US Air Force still uses the venerable Huey for stateside service due to cost.

The second of two Border Patrol UH-1s at the show. 69-15533 was involved in a suspicious vehicle scenario.