May 19th & May 20th, the skies over the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, Illinois will come to life with the roar of engines. This year's TBM Gathering will feature TBM Avengers plus a contingent of many more warbirds. Just check out the highlights below and note that many more will show up.
This year's TBM Reunion & Air Show will feature aerial activities on Friday & Saturday. Don't forget...ADMISSION IS FREE!
On Friday, the gates will open at 11 AM and we will roll all the way through 10 PM. We'll have our airshow from 1 PM to 4 PM featuring TBM Avengers, Rare Warbirds, simulated torpedo and bomb runs, and pyrotechnics including the WALL OF FIRE.
Friday Night, we'll get aerial action going again around 7:30 PM and roll through 9:30 PM. This Night Air Show will feature Matt Younkin's "Magic by Moonlight" Night routine , the TBM Night Engine Run-up and the WALL OF FIRE! We'll have stuff going on all evening though, including a concert by "She's a Maybe". Visit Friday Night Spectacular for more info
Everything on Saturday will begin at 9 AM (plus the flag being raised) with our Salute to Veterans Parade and Flag Salute occurring around Noon. Our feature acts show will begin at 1 PM and run until 4 PM featuring TBM Avengers, Rare Warbirds, Matt Younkin in the Twin Beech 18, simulated torpedo and bomb runs, and pyrotechnics including the WALL OF FIRE.
**Note: Aircraft appearing are subject to change due to many reasons beyond our control including, but not limited to, maintenance, weather (here or elsewhere) or other issues. We appreciate your understanding** Also note that all aircraft listed may not be flying but will be on display.
Leave plenty of time to arrive. We want to ensure you get to see everything you want to see. So please plan to arrive early.
The mainstay of the event. How many Avengers will we assemble this year? Scroll down to see a list of confirmed TBMs. Get ready to see this amazing sight and hear those engines sing!
Matt Younkin will return to Peru this May, performing aerobatics in an airplane that was never intended to be flown in such a manner. Listen to the roar as the Twin Beech 18 takes to the skies in an amazing routine, culminating in the Elephant Waltz! www.younkinair.com
Don't miss the RARE Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless joining us from the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia. The Dauntless was the dive bomber that sunk four Japanese Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific during WWII, halting their expansion. Photo by David F. Brown shared by CAF Airbase Georgia.
This BEAUTIFUL P-40 Kittyhawk Mk.IV is certainly going to be one of this year's highlights! This one is Tim Savage’s P-40N Kittyhawk Mk.IV. This particular Kittyhawk, a former Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, was pulled from the Papua New Guinean jungle near the town of Tadji on the northern coast and rebuilt in Ardmore, New Zealand by Pioneer Aviation.
Photo by James Church/Warbird Digest
The P-51D Mustang 'Ain't Misbehavin' will be making the trip up from Knoxville, Tennessee. The P-51 was an aircraft that helped turned the tide during World War II and proved to operate exceptionally in escort and air-to-air combat. This is a BEAUTIFUL P-51 Mustang that will lool (and sound) terrific in the skies over Peru!
Photo Credit: US Air Force
This BEAUTIFUL P-51 flown by Hannu Halminen is an award winner. 2021 Best Fighter at Oshkosh and 2021 Warbirds Grand Champion at Sun 'n Fun
Photo by Anthony Richards of AirshowStuff
We have a Canadair CT-133 Silver Star III is coming in HOT! This T-33 variant is owned by Whirlpool Services Inc's (Kathryn Tyler & Stephen Jones) and maintained by Bruce Hilyer.
Photo by Mike Fuller
Carl Schwerman/Code 1 Aviation will have the Czechoslovakian built Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros at this year's gathering. The L-39 served as part of the Czechoslovakian Air Force and even served as a trainer for Russia. Numerous Air Forces around the world still utilize the L-39. Here in the United States, however, they are popular in the warbird community and can be owned by civilians.
Photo from Code 1 Aviation and Tom Hedlund
Paul Keppeler will be bringing his CT-133 Silver Star to this year's TBM Reunion as well. This is the Canadian built version of the T-33 (which was derived from the Lockheed P-80, the first US Jet to enter service)
This beautiful bird will be joining us from the Commemorative Air Force Indiana Wing. This particular Beech 18 is the Naval/Marine Corps variant of the aircraft. This SNB was manufactured in 1943 and designated an SNB-2. In 1954, it was remanufactured by Beech and re-designated by the Navy as an SNB-5P (photo reconnaissance trainer). It was later re-designated as RC-45J. This bird has been stationed at bases such as NAS/MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and NAS Pensacola, Florida.
The Boeing PT-17 Kaydet (affectionally known as the Stearman) was the primary trainer of pilots during World War II. This particular aircraft is operated by Starved Rock Stearman LLC and is based at KVYS.
Photo by Mike Fuller
We'll have three T-6/SNJ Texans here during the event. It is possible that one of those T-6s becomes a PT-26 though (stay tuned). The one pictured here is Tim Gillian's. Laura Stants and Job Savage will also have T-6s present.
Photo by Mike Fuller
This North American TB-25N was built as a B-25 and has an interesting service history, hopping around from bases before sitting derelict. Thankfully, it was saved and is truly one of the best B-25s flying today! Check out the Tri-State Warbird Museum's TB-25N "Yankee Doodle" at this year's event!
STARSHIP L-29 LLC will have their Aero Vodochody L-29 at this year's event. This Czechoslovakian built trainer was the predecessor to the L-39.
We'll have more jets, trainers plus lots more! This list will continue to grow...and you'll never know who may show up! We hope to have 40+ aircraft present. The best way to know what will be here...is to attend.
We'll have aircraft from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam performing simulated bomb and torpedo runs complete with PYRO! This includes the WALL OF FIRE!
-TBM Avenger LLC's (Brad & Jane Deckert) TBM-3E Avenger "T83"
-Commemorative Air Force Capital Wing's TBM-3E Avenger "Doris Mae"
-Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing's TBM-3E Avenger
-Tom Buck's TBM-3E Avenger "Lt. J.G. George Bush"
-Lake Erie Warbird's TBM-3 Avenger
-CBS Aviation LLC's TBM-3E Avenger - 91726
-Tri-State Warbird Museum's TBM-3 Avenger
-TBM Avenger LLC's (Tim Savage) TBM-3E Avenger
-ELLENVILLE LLC's TBM-3U Avenger "She's the Boss"
-Steve Sorge's TBM-3 Avenger
Plus many more invited!
Photo by www.airshowstuff.com
Visit the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia Wing's Ride Purchasing and Scheduling page for information on how you can ride in the SBD Dauntless during this year's event! Photo by Kevin Hong
This BEAUTIFUL T-6 Texan (photo by Mike Fuller) will be selling rides during this year's event. Follow signs at airport
We may have more aircraft selling rides as well. Signs will be up at airport upon arrival.
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