US Air Force,
SACRAMENTO, Calif.: Amid tumble dives and barrel rolls, vintage aircraft and modern fighters, the California Capital Air Show concluded Air Force Week here June 9 and 10.
The event, which took place at Mather Airport, the site of former Mather Air Force Base, drew more than 50,000 people and offered a variety of military and civilian aerial performances.
The most notable of these was the Air Force's official air demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, who dazzled the crowd of spectators with their precision maneuvers.
“It's just amazing what they can do up there,” said Genie Herndon, a Sacramento native who came to the air show to see the Thunderbirds. “I've always wanted to see them … it's just beautiful.”
The F-15 Strike Eagle and F-22 Raptor demonstration teams also performed, giving the audience a chance to see the present and future fighters of the Air Force.
Other air acts included a demonstration by Nikolay Timofeev, a three-time gold medal winner at the World Aerobatic Championships, and Julie Clark, a female pilot and inductee to the Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame.
As much as there was to see in the air, there was even more on the ground. Static displays were arrayed across the 40-acre tarmac and offered spectators the chance to get up close and personal with aircraft, vehicles and equipment used by military, civilian and law enforcement agencies.
Among these were a B-1B Lancer bomber, a UH-1 Huey helicopter, a Boeing 747 and an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet.
Located in the middle of the flightline were two of the Air Force's giant workhorses, the C-5 Galaxy and the C-17 Globemaster III, both from nearby Travis AFB. A steady stream of onlookers was drawn to these behemoths, as they not only were awed and amazed but were offered a place to rest and seek shade from the hot afternoon sun.
“It's giant,” said 7-year-old Colin Baumann, as he walked through the C-5's enormous interior. “It's like a big tunnel.”
Colin wasn't alone in his thinking. Virtually everyone who walked through the aircraft was amazed by their size.
“I had no idea they were so big,” said Mrs. Herndon.
It's these types of reactions that air show officials were looking for. One of the show's goals was to educate the public.
“Air Force Week and the California Capital Air Show present a unique opportunity for the community to see military aircraft and meet active duty Airmen who continue to endure hardships and risk their lives to protect our nation,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hopp, a member of the air show's board of directors.
Air show officials also were honored that the air show was the culminating event for Air Force Week.
“We were really glad to be able to hold this air show as part of Air Force Week,” said Cheryl Marcell, treasurer for the air show's board of directors. “But knowing that this event is actually the last one for Air Force Week really makes it even more special.”
Sixty years have passed since the Air Force was established, and its aircraft and personnel have been taking part in air shows across the globe throughout its history. At this air show, few people were aware of this fact.
What they did know was that the airplanes were cool, the performances were amazing and the Air Force was awesome. No matter how old it was.
And they went home with a little more knowledge about the Air Force, knowledge of large planes, stealthy fighters and dedicated men and women.
Even better, they left with knowledge that their Air Force was still the best in the world.
“That,” General Hopp said, “is what Air Force Week is all about.”
