New to the Geneseo Airshow for 2014 was Lee Barker's lovely example of the Antinov An-2. This Russian workhorse aircraft was mass produced as an agriculture & utility aircraft. The An-2 was used in many roles including but not limited to a light utility transport, agriculture workhorse (including agri-spray) and a parachute drop aircraft. It was well suited for operating from unimproved, short airstrips and in extreme environments such as cold weather. Barker flew his An-2 in from Oshawa, Ontario.

Three examples of the Boeing Stearman biplane flew in the show with their pilots showing off some of the capabilities of their lovely aircraft. The Stearman was the workhorse, primary trainer of both the USAAF and the USN and flew with the RCAF as the Kaydet. Postwar, they were often used by flying schools, flown as crop dusters and used for aerobatics and wing walking in airshows throughout North America. There were well over 10,000 of these aircraft built with several variants using a number of different power plants. Depending on the engine and variant, the Stearman has a cruise speed of roughly 96mph and a top speed of 135mph.

Flying with the Stearmans were two examples of the Fairchild PT-19, a sort of monoplane version of the Kaydet, that was used as a primary training aircraft. During World War II, the PT-19 served with several air forces including the USAAF, RCAF and RAF. It had a range of almost 350 miles with a top speed of about 132mph and a service ceiling of roughly 15,000'. Student pilots of the USAAF flew the PT-19 as their pre-solo introductory training aircraft before moving up to the more responsive Kaydet.

There were also a number of North American T-6 Texans, SNJ's and Harvard aircraft which flew in the show. These aircraft were excellent advanced trainers utilized by the USAAF and RCAF, among other air forces, with many examples still flying today. Pilots completed training on the T-6 before advancing to the higher performance fighters of the day including Mustangs, P-40s, Spitfires and other single pilot aircraft. The Harvard Mk 4 was built by Canadian Car & Foundry and was considered the best example of the aircraft. Over 15,000 T-6 and variants were built.

The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor was a military trainer that was derived from the civilian Beech Bonanza. The Mentor was used by the USAF, US Navy, US Army, US Marine Corps and by the US Civil Air Patrol as well as NASA and are still utilised by some air forces and navies today. In the US, and Canada, several civilian versions of the T-34 Mentor also still fly, though the RCAF never used the aircraft, the Mentor flown at Geneseo was painted to represent a Canadian livery. However, apart from being built in the USA by Beech, versions of the T-34 were also built in Canada by Canadian Car & Foundry as well as in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries and in Argentina by FMA.

A mix of single engine civilian and military type aircraft also flew in the show including the Globe Swift, two North American Navion and a gorgeous Stinson Reliant. These privately owned aircraft were flown and shown off by their pilots, performing a number of 'circuits' for the crowd. Some of these types of aircraft also flew in a military capacity such as the Reliant which operated as a utility aircraft with the US Army and with the RAF as a light transport during World War II.

Also flying in the show was Tom Duffy's B-25J Mitchell "Take off Time" which performed several 'bombing runs' over the runway. This wonderful example of the B-25 has flown at Geneseo a number of times and is always enjoyable to watch. The B-25 is a twin engine medium bomber that flew with several Allied air forces during, and after, World War II. More than 10,000 were built in a number of variants and is a popular aircraft at airshows today.

Joining the B-25 in the air was Ken Laird's replica Japanese Aichi D3A "Val." The Val was the primary World War II Japanese carrier borne dive bomber operating with the Imperial Japanese Navy and was one of the aircraft types that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Though it was considered to be somewhat obsolete when World War II began, the Aichi D3A sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft of the war.

Some other aircraft that flew during the weekend were a de Havilland Canada Tiger Moth, de Havilland Canada Chipmunk, de Havilland (UK) Chipmunk, Beech C-45, a pair of Canadian Pitts Specials, P-51D Mustang "Never Miss," an L-39 Albatross, an assortment of light aircraft including the Piper L-4, Aeronca L-3, Piper Pacer, Aeronca L-16 and an ultralight aircraft from SAM Aircraft called the SAM LS. Always a good mix of aircraft to keep the airshow spectator interested!

Military Aviation Museum: militaryaviationmuseum.org

Fagen Fighters WWII Museum: fagenfighterswwiimuseum.org

American Air Power Museum: americanairpowermuseum.com

Rob Holland: ultimateairshows.com

Quick Silver Mustang: quicksilvermustang.com

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum: warplane.com

Liberty Jump Team: libertyjumpteam.org

National Warplane Museum: 1941hag.org

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