Tri-State Warbird Showcase - 2025
Photos from the Tri-State Warbird Museum’s Showcase flying event. This is not your typical airshow. There were no aerobatic performances. What there was were numerous low, fast, and close, flat pass flybys down the runway. The Showcase took place in the late afternoon with perfect flying weather and great sunlight to shoot in.
Flying aircraft participating included the following:
Ryan PT-22 Recruit - Boeing- Stearman PT-17 Kaydet - Piper L-4H Grasshopper - North American AT-6D Texan "Tweety" (Painted as a Marines SNJ-5)
Beech TC-45H Expeditor (Painted as a Navy SNB) - Beech C-45H Expeditor - Grumman HU-16C Albatross - Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" - North American TB-25N Mitchell "Yankee Doodle"
The Tri-State Warbird Museum also has a Flug Werk GmbH reproduction Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger. Unfortunately they did not have a pilot available to fly it in the Showcase. I also discovered they have a Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration. It appears to be coming along nicely. But still a long way from completion.
27Sep25
Showcase Flying Aircraft
Lineup of aircraft on the taxiway before the start of the Tri-State Warbird Showcase. From front to back: Ryan PT-22 Recruit - Boeing- Stearman PT-17 Kaydet - Piper L-4H Grasshopper - Piper J3C Flitfire - North American AT-6D Texan "Tweety" (Painted as a Marines SNJ-5)
The heavier iron was parked on a ramp further down the runway. This is the cockpit and nose of the North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati MIss".
C-45H Expeditor, P-40M Kittyhawk III, and Grumman HU-16C Albatross sitting in the sunshine.
TC-45H Expeditor (Painted as a Navy SNB).
Ryan PT-22 Recruit and Boeing-Stearman PT-17 warming up on the taxiway.
Ryan PT-22 Recruit circling around behind the crowd show line.
Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet circling around behind the crowd show line.
PT-22 (Left) and PT-17 (Right) coming in hot for a formation pass.
A good look at two of the basic trainers (PT-22 and PT-17) that trained thousands of pilots for the U.S. military in World War II.
Biplane (Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet) and monoplane (Ryan PT-22 Recruit) making a formation flyby.
The Showcase was held at the Clermont County Airport (I69) and it remained open during the flying displays. During a break in the flying action, this Piper PA-23-250 Aztec came in to land.
Piper L-4H Grasshopper making a flyby.
Piper L-4H Grasshopper was used as a artillery spotting, battlefield observation, and liaison aircraft in World War II.
Colorful North American AT-6D Texan "Tweety" (Painted as a Marines SNJ-5) making a flyby when a cloud has obscured the sunlight.
The North American AT-6D Texan "Tweety" (Painted as a Marines SNJ-5) passing in front of the crowds at the Tri-State Warbird Showcase.
North American AT-6D Texan "Tweety" (Painted as a Marines SNJ-5) making a flyby.
North American AT-6D Texan "Tweety" (Painted as a Marines SNJ-5) coming back around for another low, fast flyby.
North American AT-6D Texan "Tweety" (Painted as a Marines SNJ-5) making a flyby.
A pair of Expeditors in formation coming in for a flyby.
Beech TC-45H Expeditor (Painted as a Navy SNB) on top and the Beech C-45H Expeditor below.
Beech TC-45H Expeditor (Painted as a Navy SNB) flyby.
Beech C-45H Expeditor flyby.
Grumman HU-16C Albatross coming in for a flyby.
Grumman HU-16C Albatross showing the long shadows from the late afternoon sunlight.
Coming in from the left this time is the Grumman HU-16C Albatross.
Grumman HU-16C Albatross pilot putting the Albatross through its paces.
Grumman HU-16C Albatross showing off the topside of the aircraft.
Last flyby for this Grumman HU-16C Albatross.
Here comes a Kittyhawk!
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III flyby.
This Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III is different from most P-40s. I does not sport the typical shark's mouth motif.
This Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III carries the markings from its time with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during World War II.
Pilot of the Kittyhawk concentrating as he makes a low flyby.
Nice view of the topside markings on the Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III in RNZAF markings.
"Cadillac of the Skies" making an appearance at the Showcase.
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" making a flyby.
A nice low and fast flyby from the North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
The North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" back for a couple more flybys.
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" banking left after making another flyby.
A trio of Warbirds in a formation flyby - North American TB-25N Mitchell "Yankee Doodle" - North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" - Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
A trio of Warbirds in a formation flyby - North American TB-25N Mitchell "Yankee Doodle" - North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" - Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
The pursuit aircraft in a formation flyby - North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" - Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" and Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III flyby.
The Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III making the breakout to land. The North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" would also make the break shortly after this shot.
The North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" making a last pass down the runway.
A lovely day of flying with the Tri-State Warbird aircraft comes to a close with this last pass by the North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss" and Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III.
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III and North American P-51D Mustang "Cincinnati Miss".
The trainers all parked in the grass at the end of the event. Ryan PT-22 Recruit - Boeing- Stearman PT-17 Kaydet - Piper L-4H Grasshopper - Piper J3C Flitfire
Ryan PT-22 Recruit and Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet
Ryan PT-22 Recruit
Ryan PT-22 Recruit
Boeing- Stearman PT-17 Kaydet
Boeing- Stearman PT-17 Kaydet
Boeing- Stearman PT-17 Kaydet
Piper L-4H Grasshopper and Piper J3C Flitfire
Piper L-4H Grasshopper and Piper J3C Flitfire
A final shot of all the trainers.
Inside The Tri-State Warbird Museum Hanger
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair Under Restoration
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
Propeller, engine mount, rockets and outboard wings for the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair restoration.
Tail section of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
Drop tank for the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair that will need some TLC.
Center wing section of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
Tail of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair looks to be close to completion.
Cockpit interior of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
Close up of the bottom of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair cockpit area.
Close up of the upper section of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
Center wing section of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
The Goodyear FG-1D Corsair restoration occupies the back wall of the hanger.
Center wing section of the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair under restoration.
This rather dirty looking Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine will provide the power to the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair.
Inside The Tri-State Warbird Museum Hanger
Flug Werk GmbH Reproduction - Focke Wulf - Fw 190 F-8/R1
Tri-State Warbird Museum's Fiug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 "Butcher Bird" sitting in the back of the hanger surrounded by the aviation fans filing in.
This reproduction Fw 190 F-8/R1 is one of 21 produced by the German company Flug Werk GmbH from 1997 to 2012.
There are very few flying examples of the Fw-190 in the world. So this one naturally drew lots of onlookers. Including myself!
The Flug Werk 190's were originally fitted with Chinese-manufactured Shvetsov ASh-82 twin-row, 14-cylinder radial powerplants. This Fw-190 has been retrofitted with a P&W R-2800 engine.
The switch to the easier to maintain P&W R-2800 engine necessitated some changes to the cowling in order to make it fit properly.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Extra fuel tank for the Fw-190 on display.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
You can see some of the cowling changes in this photo. Note the box shape on top of the cowling. This was not present on the original Focke-Wulf built aircraft.
Landing gear of the Fw-190. It has its wheel chocks labeled just for it.
The wide landing gear of the Fw-190 was a welcome change for the Luftwaffe pilots who were used to dealing with the narrow landing gear of the Bf-109.
Front end of the "Butcher Bird". Note the barrels of the 20mm cannons mounted in the wing roots.
Another interesting change required due to the installation of the P&W R-2800 is that the fins normally installed behind the propeller hub and in front of the engine had to be removed. Cooling the bit ole R-2800 necessitated them being removed to improve airflow over the engine cylinders.
After the flying had ended for the Showcase, I ventured back into the hanger to get some unobstructed photos of the Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger. The kids were having a good time pretending with the machine gun.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Cockpit view of the Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Flug Werk Fw 190 F-8/R1 in the hanger.
Extra fuel tank sitting in the hanger.
Display board showing highlights from the restoration of the museum's P-40.
Tri-State Warbird Museum
Tri-State Warbird Museum in Batavia, Ohio.
Corner display honoring KMAG (Korean Military Advisory Group) and the aircraft that were used during the Korean War.
Lobby that leads to the restrooms is colorfully decorated with some fantastic aviation art.
The aviation art extends even into the bathroom stalls.
More aviation art in the restroom lobby.
A Focke Wulf wheel hub on display.
Also on display is this original piston from a BMW 801 engine that was used to power the Fw-190 during WWII.