HAPO’s Over The River Airshow Is Even BIGGER Despite Sequester

The airshow for the Lamb-Weston Columbia Cup is going to have even more airplanes this year.

Like dozens of events around the country, the Tri-Cities Water Follies had to find a replacement for the F-22 Raptor Air Force Jet that was cancelled due to the federal sequester.

However, it's given the Water Follies a chance to bring in some VERY rare and special airplanes. Some of the new aircraft added include:

• A very rare WWII-Korean War-era Grumman F8F Bearcat fighter -- one of only eight still flying the world.
• A comparably rare F7F Tigercat fighter. These were used on combat missions in Korea and is one of only six left in existance!

The Airshow will also include a WWII-era British Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane. Unless you watch History Channel and have seen the shows about The Battle of Britain, you've probably never seen one. They are that rare. This was the mainstay of the British RAF during WWII, and helped them turn the tide against the Germans in 1940-41 when the British Isles were under constant aerial attack by the Nazis.

In fact, before the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines were used to power the old vintage hydros of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, they powered the Spitfire and other aircraft to victory in WWII.

The airshow will also include the USAF Historic Flight with two legendary P-51B Mustangs, also of WWII vintage. These aircraft soared over the skies of Europe and Germany from 1943 onward, and are credited with nullifying the German Air Force as an effective fighting tool during the war.

And there's more: the Will Allen Airshow, Red Eagle Airshow and the French Alpha Jet, used by European Aerobatic Teams that will dazzle you with their moves over the river.