"AIR POWER '56" 1956 BENDIX TROPHY RACE & NATIONAL AIRCRAFT SHOW F-100 SUPER SABRE 25894

This short film covering the 1956 Bendix Race and the National Aircraft Show in Philadelphia gives viewers a great look at the air power of the U.S. military. The film opens with pilots sitting next to a jet at George Air Force Base near Victorville, CA, studying a map. The men are preparing to fly their North American F-100 Super Sabres in the Bendix Trophy Event, the famed continental speed race. The pilots run through their safety checks (01:20), then put on their gear and climb into their jets. The first F-100 takes off from the base in California (02:38), and the other five soon follow. The National Aircraft Show at Philadelphia International Airport (03:08) features crowds walking around the grounds and looking at the following aircraft on display: a Piasecki HUP Retriever, a Grumman F9F Cougar, a North American FJ-4 Fury, a Bell VTOL prototype (04:27), a Grumman S2F-1 Tracker (sub killer), a Vought F7U Cutlass (04:55), an old WWI biplane sitting next to a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (05:23), a B-47 Stratojet, a C-17 Globemaster, and a Convair B-36 Peacemaker (06:31). Kids and people crowd around various planes, and in some cases pilots are on hand to talk to people. At the Army aviation area, a man gives a parachute packing demonstration (06:40). Viewers also see a Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw (07:11), a Cessna L-19, a Douglas Nike missile that the operator lowers for members of the crowd (07:26), a Beachcraft L-23 Seminole, a Piasecki H-25 Retriever/Army Mule, and a Bell H-13 Sioux helicopter. A young girl sits in the H-13 (08:38), looking unamused. People crowd in the stands to watch the Army’s H-13 helicopters “square dance” (08:44). The helicopters maneuver around in a square dance pattern. Next, the crowd is treated to the start of a simulated battle maneuver (10:39): an L-19 passes by; a transport helicopter drops off troops. An H-13 flies overhead; a H-19 carries a 75mm howitzer. An H-25 drops off cargo during the simulation (12:27), and an L-19 parachutes cargo (12:43). An atomic artillery shell is shown being detonated at 12:56.. Spectators watch the skies for one of the F-100s to arrive; the first F-100 flies overhead (13:57) and then lands; the pilot, Col. Carlos Talbott, sits in his cockpit and watches his fellow pilots as they arrive. Off in the distance is the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) carrier (15:36).
A Northrop F-17 takes off from the carrier, as does a and Grumman S2F-1. A Cutlass demonstrates a carrier landing on the airfield for spectators (16:42). Viewers then see various aircraft perform a flyby over the event: Martin P5M-2 Marlins fly overhead in formation; Lockeed P-2 Neptunes fly by; a Douglas A3D Skywarrior cruises past. Two helicopters lift a geo dome shelter and move it to demonstrate Marine mobility (17:29). The F-100 pilots gather for the Bendix trophy presentation (19:08), which is awarded to Col. Carlos Talbott. There is a good shot of the trophy, which was first won by James H. Doolittle in 1931. Two Lockheed F-104 Starfighters take off to demonstrate a mission. A Lockheed RC-121 flies overhead and is escorted by intercept fighters. 21:58 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars over the spectators (21:58). A B-47 Stratojet takes off with a jet-assist takeoff demonstration (22:35). The film concludes with more footage of aircraft flying overhead, including a KC-135 Stratotanker refilling a B-47, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a McDonnell F101 Voodoo, a trio of Convair XF-92 delta wing supersonic interceptors, a trio of B-36 Peacemakers, a B-47 squadron, and a squadron of B-52 Stratofortress.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@joevignolor4u949]

This event took place when I was two years old when the F-100 was a front line fighter aircraft. I can remember getting a plastic model of an F-100 for Christmas. About twenty years later I was in the Air National Guard and I was lucky enough to get two rides in the back seat of an F-100. When I was a kid building that model of the F-100 I would never have guessed that some day I'd get two rides in a real one.

[@rael5469]

I was born in '56 and I remember when they were making cross country speed runs at supersonic speeds during the early '60s. That map at 0:44 shows their path right over our house south of Chicago. They must have followed that same path years later in the early '60s when I remember hearing the sonic booms as a child.....before they outlawed sonic booms over the CONUS.

[@axeman3d]

Man, you have to love the 50's. Money no object, new technology changing everything and so many aircraft types you can't count them! You can see how much slower the early jets were in take off watching the sabre take off. They were pushing it using the Vought Gutlass in a static carrier take off as well. It looked like it was going down.

[@MrDastardly]

Great film. Beautiful aircraft…in colour. ❤❤

[@hadial-saadoon2114]

I was two years old that year. But I remember many of these aircraft being displayed at Hamilton AFB in the early 1960s.

[@BuyLuxuryFootRestsFromTh-bw8ub]

Good stuff. Love the old tech footage 👍

[@wayneandrews319]

Great review of the aircraft of 1956. Some had a long life in the service in that I was a J57 Jet engine mechanic on the F100 fighter in Vietnam 1968.

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

Were you guys based out of Thailand?

[@wayneandrews319]

@@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu I arrived Phu Cat in Nov 67 and I believed two AirForce squadrons were already on sight. When I left Nov 68 there two Air Guard units. One Souix City Iowa and one east coast Air Guard. We rebuilt many engines that year.

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

@@wayneandrews319 I think your old airbase is still around and in business to this day. Pretty cool.

[@desertratsss]

The best air show ever. Something for each service. Never will happen again.

[@brunoantony9257]

love everything about this--the planes, the people, the music, the narration. Everyone's dressed nicely. No tattoos. Truly a better age.

[@Truth_Hurts528]

But the lack of diversity, equality and inclusion!

[@nickz4993]

Sure, and you’d get jumped if your skin was colored or if you questioned the government.

[@martinusvanbrederode4080]

​@@Truth_Hurts528Yeah, it was great.

[@kevincook1618]

All of the above!

[@jacksons1010]

Ah, nothing like some casual racism to remind us we have a LONG way to go. 🇺🇸

[@johnwatson3948]

Wow back then they really pulled out all the stops for these shows. 1956 was the last year that B-36’s were still in almost full force - B-52s having started to replace them in 1955.

[@danpatterson8009]

I vaguely recall a similar helicopter routine at an airshow around 1970, except that it was OH-6s. They had one decked out with big ears and a hat and it made a point of disobeying the announcer's instructions. At the end of the routine the helicopters lifted banners that read GO ARMY.

[@richardcosse2493]

Had a big yo-yo too.

[@jethrox827]

Great clip 👍

[@SueBobChicVid]

Perspective: The Sopwith Camel was put in service in 1917. That's about 39 years before this aircraft show. The F100 Super Sabre entered service in 1954. That was 69 years ago!

[@SueBobChicVid]

Better yet: the B-52 entered service in 1955 (68 years ago) and versions are still in service today. Imagine if a version of the 39 year old Sopwith Camel was still in service at the time of this show!

[@user-el8zv9hx6r]

the advancements that are apparent since 1956 are not worth the budget spent plus the trillions of dollars that is not accounted for.

[@georgepetrillo7316]

The B-52's are staying in service till 2045. Almost 100 years of service.

[@kh40yr]

As I watch it from the seat of my 1956 Chevy 210 sedan, waiting on Pizza. The New Cougar F9F, that Neil Armstrong would fly in Korea.

[@TheReadBaron91]

Love the spear on the front of the aircraft for CQB

[@jamesrogers9185]

A time when this country had "balls and a backbone".

[@xKmotx]

My God, what an amazing airshow! Nothing like that anymore.

[@josemoreno3334]

Today, They have drag queen shows along with the air shows. FJB.

[@jacksons1010]

@@josemoreno3334 Why do y’all obsess about drag shows? Makes me wonder why you feel the need to post this on KZbin video about military aviation….and FDT. 😂

[@ILikeSynthMusicALot]

This is the most insane air show ever

[@braised44]

That's a lot of aircraft... a lot of JP4!!

[@rael5469]

And just think, back then JP-4 was 50% gasoline. Very volatile. I think now they use the same fuel as airliners. JP-8 I think. Much safer.

[@richintalent]

My father worked for Bendix, at the Sidney NY plant, for 44 years

[@frankcalifano7970]

Everyone is so slim!

[@andyharman3022]

Geez, I just eat all this stuff up with a spoon! I thought that the simulated battle scenarios acted out at airshows was a fairly new thing, but they were doing it back in 1956. The helicopter square dance was corny, brilliant, and daring all at the same time. I have never seen footage of planes being shot off an aircraft carrier while tied up at the dock, and I'd bet that it took a lot of thought before they actually tried it.

[@josemoreno3334]

Sadly, George AFB has been closed for many years now.

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

Bendix made here in my town .....

[@aj-2savage896]

Huns without tanks can zip across the continent with only one fuel stop? Wow. And Foster AFB. Had to look that one up.

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

As a matter of fact I think that the trophy is an our museum here at the history center

[@PeriscopeFilm]

But where is that -- Cleveland? Thanks for your comment and for being a sub.

[@jacksons1010]

The actual Bendix Trophy is at the National Air & Space Museum (Washington DC)…isn’t it?

[@buzz5969]

I can see the resemblance to F4

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

This was made back in Grandpa's war winning #1 USA days.

[@davidmicalizio824]

Cold War

[@buzz5969]

WWII was the coldest War.😊

[@jacksons1010]

@@buzz5969 Korea, Chosin Reservoir. Coldest part of the Cold War.

[@KirtFitzpatrick]

Atomic artillery shelling. 12:53 Air shows just aren't what they used to be.

[@TheReadBaron91]

What’s a little radiation with your show 😅

[@TunaDad]

Make America Great Again 🇺🇸

[@buzz5969]

We Making Accountability Great Again!🇺🇸🍻✌🏻

[@NarbonneGauchoBoingo]

Your in a cult. Snap out of it.

[@rael5469]

Trump's term "MAGA" happens to be the highest level in satanism. It's true, look it up. See for yourself.

[@alantoon5708]

Back when America was great...😢

[@jacksons1010]

Patriots believe America is great NOW, and we’re going to keep it so. 🇺🇸

[@rjhyden]

When pronouns were not the most important thing to our national security......

[@kevincook1618]

Copy that.

[@arobatto]

The B-52 was briefly grounded in 1956 due to a crash causing fatalities. Perhaps that’s why it wasn’t on display. Oddly enough, the B-36 was on display which was already obsolete by 1956, replaced with the B-52.

[@jacksons1010]

Yep - 1956 marked a rapid transition from the B-36 to the B-52, but the RB-36’s continued in service up to 1959 and made regular appearances at air shows such as this.