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JBSA News
NEWS | Oct. 18, 2017

JBSA Air Show and Open House offers ‘Five Things You Need to See’

By Robert Goetz 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Joint Base San Antonio 2017 Air Show and Open House promises to be a grand celebration of the Air Force’s 70th birthday and a fitting tribute to the officers, enlisted members and civilians who have dedicated their lives to the service’s mission throughout its storied history.

 

When the gates open at 9 a.m. Nov. 4-5 at the JBSA-Lackland Kelly Field Annex, visitors to the air show will have an opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of the Air Force’s past and present – from static displays showcasing World War II-era bombers and fighters to the breathtaking aerial performances of the Air Force’s latest generation of cutting-edge aircraft.

 

There’s much to see at the air show, but there are displays and performances that truly capture the attention of the event’s tens of thousands of visitors. Here are the “Five Things You Need to See at the JBSA Air Show and Open House”:

                                                                                                     

  1. Warbird static displays


    Lewis Air Legends of San Antonio honors the Air Force’s past, especially its crucial role as the Army Air Corps during World War II, with its private collection of vintage bombers, fighters and trainers.

     

    The Lewis warbirds on display at the air show will include the A-20 Havoc, a dependable attack aircraft that served the Army Air Corps as well as the French, United Kingdom and Soviet air forces; the F8F Bearcat, the last piston-engine aircraft used in World War II and a favorite of fighter pilots for its climb rate and high top speed; and the T-6G Texan, a forward air control aircraft that was also the most widely used trainer of all time.

     

    Many other aircraft in addition to the Lewis Air Legends collection will be on display at the air show, spanning the period from World War II to the present. They include the Army Air Corps’ B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress as well as today’s massive C-5 Galaxy, T-38C Talon used in the training mission at JBSA-Randolph and F-16D Fighting Falcon, the choice of the Air Force Thunderbirds.

     

  2. Tora! Tora! Tora!


    The Commemorative Air Force’s “Tora! Tora! Tora!” – with its motto “Lest We Forget” – recreates the “day that will live in infamy,” the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the early morning of Dec. 7, 1941, that thrust the United States into the Second World War.

     

    Described as a “living classroom,” the show features replica Japanese aircraft and more than 60 pyrotechnical effects and serves as a salute to service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice, not just in World War II, but in all the campaigns fought by the United States.

     

    “Tora! Tora! Tora!” begins with ukulele music and a historical introduction, followed by the dramatic recreation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor – aircraft filling the sky and explosions rocking the airfield.

     

  3. Wings of Blue


    The U.S. Air Force Parachute Team Wings of Blue brings more than 50 years of tradition to the JBSA Air Show and Open House.

     

    Seven U.S. Air Force Academy cadets laid the foundation for Wings of Blue when they took up parachute jumping in 1962 and performed in various demonstrations and competitions before forming their own club at the academy two years later.

     

    The Wings of Blue now includes more than 100 members from around the Air Force and performs their free-falling parachute demonstrations at a variety of events. They have performed at the national collegiate football championship game as well as Air Force Academy football games, Boy Scout functions and events in Colorado Springs, Colorado, home of the Air Force Academy.

     

    Members of Wings of Blue will be available for autographs and answer questions following their performance.

     

  4. F-35A Heritage Flight


    Air show spectators will witness how airpower has evolved when the F-35A Heritage Flight fills the sky above the JBSA-Lackland Kelly Field Annex airfield.

     

    The Air Force’s most recent step forward in aircraft design, the F-35A Lightning II, will fly alongside the Air Force Heritage Flight’s vintage aircraft from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War in an awesome display of airpower spanning eight decades.

     

    Hailing from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, the F-35A Heritage Flight team joined the Air Force Heritage Flight program last year.

     

    Heritage flights offer an aerial monument to the Air Force’s history, celebrate the sacrifices of America’s past war heroes and those who current serve our country, educate the public on the importance of airpower and enhance Air Force recruiting efforts.

     

  5. Air Force Thunderbirds


    Officially known as the United States Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds will headline the JBSA 2017 Air Show and Open House, displaying their prowess as pilots and the F-16A Fighting Falcon’s capabilities as a precision fighter aircraft.

     

    A demonstration of formation flying at its finest, the Thunderbirds’ performance will include a ground show by maintenance professionals and the main event, a variety of crowd-pleasing maneuvers between pilots, from loops to opposing passes.

     

    Founded in 1953, the Thunderbirds have performed for more than 300 million people in all 50 states and over 60 countries. This year, the Thunderbirds have a schedule of more than 70 demonstrations in nearly 40 locations.

    Like other aerial performers, the Thunderbirds enjoy talking about airplanes and the Air Force with air show spectators.

     

    “Sharing this experience with the awesome people we meet all over the country makes this mission a joy every day,” said a former Thunderbirds pilot.