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Ricardo von Puttkammer
Warbirds Over Monroe delivered a stacked lineup this year, and it showed.
With performers like Thom Richard, Patrick McLee, Greg Koontz, Scott “Scooter” Yoak, Roger Milne, Mike Beckerman, Samantha Tryggvason, Mike Spaulding, Bill Braack, Doug Rozendaal, David Steele and Mike Hartman, the flying stayed dynamic and varied from start to finish. TORA Bomb Squadron also brought the heat, literally, adding incredible pyrotechnics that elevated the atmosphere and made the entire show feel larger than life.
This year also carried a poignant note with the absence of the late John “Pappi” Mazza, remembered with a missing man formation during the show that hit home for everyone watching.
Add in Airboss George Cline’s steady direction, the City of Monroe’s Pete Hovanec keeping the wheels turning, and Theresa Eaman’s airshow announcer debut, and you had a show that hit on every level. Most of all, it was a weekend that brought the crowds to their feet, celebrated Veterans Day, and captured that unmistakable sense of patriotism. Aviation history, living heritage, and pure skill in the sky, all in one place, making this one of the best airshows of the year.
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