Photo By Lauren Kelly | The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly over Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., May 18, 2017,...... read more read more
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TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 2017 Star Spangled Salute Air Show is scheduled for May 20-21 at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
The free event is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is co-hosted by Team Tinker, the Eastern Oklahoma Tourism Council and the city of Midwest City. Flying acts are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Headlining the air show this year will be the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.
This weekend’s air show is a celebration of the rich history of Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. This year marks many milestones for the base, to include the 75th anniversary of Tinker AFB, the 45th anniversary of the 507th Air Refueling Wing and the 40th anniversary of the E-3 Sentry at Tinker AFB.
“The event organizers this year have planned an exciting air show with the generous financial support of the private sector and community partners,” said air show director, Lt. Col. Scott Denny, 72nd Operations Support Squadron commander. “We simply couldn’t pull off an air show without the support of our community partners.”
The Thunderbirds are the premiere aerial demonstration squadron of the Air Force. Created in 1953, they are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world. Consequently, the Thunderbirds squadron is one of the oldest squadrons in the Air Force, with its origins dating back to the organization of the 30th Aero Squadron, formed at Kelly Field, Texas, on June 13, 1917.
Along with the Thunderbirds, this year’s air show is filled with military flybys, formations and demonstrations from current and historical military aircraft like the KC-135 Stratotanker, E-3 Sentry, E-6B Mercury, F-35A Lightning II, F-18 Hornet, and a heritage flight of the P-51 Mustang. Wings of Blue, the Air Force jump team, will kick off the show, and as an extra bonus there will be a B-2 fly over on Saturday, May 20.
Also featured is the Air Force Performance Lab, the newest asset in the mobile fleet, which includes a futuristic experience full of challenges and self-discovery wrapped in innovative technology. Some of the challenges include skills and activities that correlate to an Air Force career.
Additional air acts include: A Vietnam reenactment and pyro show featuring the largest collection of flying Vietnam era aircraft; Jelly Belly, the jelly bean-decorated plane that can execute three storied acts that leave spectators mesmerized; Adam Baker’s performance with extreme aerobatics in the Playful Extra 330; and performances by the DH-100 Vampire, the A-26 Lady Liberty. Matt Younkin’s Twin Beech 18 (C-45) will also be one of the most unusual acts in the air show, in which this large aircraft executes moves it was never designed to do.
This year's show will also feature a large collection of static displays to include: The B-1B Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress, KC-10 Extender, C-17 Globemaster, E-6B, KC-135 Stratotanker, H/MC-130J, T-6, T-38, GA-8, C-172, C-182, an F-4U Corsair and more.
For the young visitors, there will be a kid zone with several activities and attractions from bouncy rides to games and face painting. Parents will be able to purchase a wristband for a nominal fee that will be good all day. Organizers have worked to ensure the Star Spangled Salute is a wonderful event for the entire family.
Food and drink concessions will be available at various locations throughout the show area. Free water will be available to the public at clearly marked stations.
For more information such as maps, driving and parking, safety guidelines can be located at www.tinker.af.mil and the Tinker AFB Facebook page.
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2017 18:44 |
| Story ID: | 234558 |
| Location: | TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,064 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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