When considering the size of the ramp at Barnes ANGB, the static display is quite good and many of the large aircraft are parked on the taxiways. Contrary to most airshows in Europe where airplanes are fenced off, the public can get a free and close look at what they often only see on TV. If you have the patience to wait in line long enough, you can take a look inside most of the large aircraft on static display like the C-5, KC-10, C-141 and C-130s. Present in the static display are aircraft from every branch of the US Armed Forces and to ad an international flavor to the show, foreign Air Forces such as the Royal Air Force and German Air Force are invited to participate in the display. The Canadian Armed Forces is always well represented with many types in the static display. No less than six aircraft from the CAF were attending the 2001 edition. The Westfield International Airshow is always a great place to see aircraft flown by neighboring units and talk to their crews. The 439th AW from Westover ARB, located ten miles east of Westfield, always has a C-5B in the static and another one doing flybys during the show. In 2001, the 143rd AW from the Rhode Island ANG had one C-130E in a Medevac configuration on static display and another one carrying a parachute demo team from the MA ARNG during the flying display. The 158th FW from the Vermont ANG was well represented with a pair of F-16C. One LC-130H from the109th AW of the New York ANG located at Schenectady CAP was also present. The 1159th Medical Company from the NH ARNG at Concord, NH sent two UH-60A to the airshow. One of them was kept on standby for Crash Rescue during the weekend. The 102nd FW at Otis ANGB was in the static display and three wing's F-15s performed flybys during the weekend. The 157th ARW from Pease ANGB is usually present with one of their KC-135R in the static display.. The 104th FW has some of its A-10s on static display and as many as six of them took part in a flying demo during the airshow on both days.

Certainly the big attraction during the 2001's edition were the Snowbirds from the Canadian Armed Forces. Officially known as the 431 (Air Demonstration) Squadron, the team flies the Canadair CT-114 'Tutor' , a Canadian built jet trainer used by the Canadian Armed Forces as its basic pilot training aircraft. The aircraft is powered by a J-85 engine producing approximately 2,700 lbs of thrust. Top speed of the aircraft, with smoke tanks attached, is 412 knots (470 mph). Due to its high maneuverability and relatively slow speed, the Tutor is ideally suited to the formation and aerobatoc roles of the Snowbirds. Led by Major Bob Pinchaud, a veteran fighter pilot on the CF-18 and CF-5, the team performed twice during the weekend and the crowd was quite pleased by the Snowbirds's performance. Flying as No.3 in the formation was the first female Snowbird, Captain Maryse Carmichael. The Captain was in her first year with the team and had more than 2400 hours of jet flying experience.
Other participants in the flying display during the 2001's edition included the Canadian Armed Forces CF-18 demo from 3rd Wing / CFB Bagotville. Representing the US Navy were the "Rampagers" from VFA-83 flying the F-18C out of NAS Oceana, VA. Air Combat Command was represented by the USAF East Coast F-15 demo from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, VA. Also performing during that weekend was the USAF Heritage Flight comprising a F-86 "Sabre" and a P-51D "Mustang" flying in formation with the ACC F-15C. As usual, some warbirds like T-6s and T-28s flew during the airshow and civilian performers like Michael Mancuso with his Extra 300L and Michael Goulian with his CAP 232 gave a dazzling aerobatics performance. In the 1999's edition of the Westfield International Airshow, the USAF Demonstration Squadron's "Thunderbirds" were the main attraction accompanied by the US Army parachute team, "The Golden Knights".
For the serious photographers and other amateurs, taking photos of the flying display is not easy until mid-afternoon when the sun gets behind you. Photographying one aircraft flying in front of you with the sun in your face will not make for a shot to keep! And you definitely need at least a 300mm lens to get some decent shots of flying aircraft now. If you stay until the end of the show and wait until the crowd leaves, you can take some interesting shots in the static display. ANG bases are always an interesting place to visit and Barnes ANGB is no exception. The Westfield International Airshow is definitely a must for every aviation enthusiast and individuals interested to learn more about the 104th Fighter Wing and the Air National Guard. For some, it's a job and for others, it's a passion! Take the time to stop and talk with members of the host unit and others participating at the airshow, you'll be surprised to discover so many great individuals and learn more about them and their work.

Thanks to many members of the 104th, my visit to Barnes ANGB to attend the Westfield International Airshow in 2001 was quite interesting and productive. To all of them, a special Thank You!

Photos from the 2001 Airshow Photos from the 2003 Airshow The 2005 Westfield Intl Airshow report and photos.