JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The roar of the F-16’s engine hit the crowd just moments after the jet passed over their heads. The crackling thunder of the plane’s passing over the heads of thousands of spectators virtually silenced all other noise at the Joint Base Lewis McChord Air Expo 2012.
“I love that!” one man yelled to the crowd after the noise passed.
Reactions like that are the reason JBLM holds the expo every two years. Col. Wyn Elder, commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing, said they hold the event to show civilians just what the American aerial arsenal is capable of.
“We’re trying to show them all the different types of aircraft in the inventory so that the public can see all the different types of airpower there are,” said Elder.
The airpower on display at the expo included a performance by the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds; the Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights; and the civilian operated Patriots Jet Team.
“The American tax payers … they pay for the space they pay for all these aircraft, so air shows are a way of saying not only thank you to the public, but also we open up the base and let them see what we do for a living,” said Elder.
What they got to see was a show that included modern and historic military aircraft. Planes and helicopters engaged in a mock battle to show what combat in Vietnam was like, spectators were able to see fly-bys of a B-1 and B-2 bomber, and a C-17 demonstration team showed the capabilities of one of the most commonly used military planes.
The demonstration team from Hawaii showed and described many characteristics of the plane, including its quiet engine, its cargo capacity, and its ability to land within a small space.
“These demonstrations are important because it allows us to let the U.S. public to see the capabilities of the aircraft we use in the (Department of Defense) on a day-to-day basis and show off the abilities that the U.S. taxpayers basically provide for us to defend the nation as well as provide any kind of domestic support,” said Martin.
Planning and running the event also required Army and Air Force support. Col. Bruce Bowers Jr., commander of the 446th Airlift Wing, said this was the first show the Army had led here since the two bases had merged to become a joint base and the largest air show the Army ever sponsored.
The cooperation involved the Army providing security and infrastructure to run the show and the Air Force provided their expertise in running the show, said Elder.
The cooperation that resulted in a display of military strength is what made the show great for Tony Sales the executive director of the Lacey Chamber of Commerce.
“Whether they’re just in a slow fly-by like the D-52 or in actual demonstrations their skills and excellence makes me very proud to be an American,” said Sales.
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2012 12:50 |
| Story ID: | 92443 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Air Expo 2012, by SGT Adam L. Mathis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
