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MacDill Air Force Base’s annual AirFest helps build civilian-armed forces relationships, inspire future generations of airmen, and shows the public exactly what their taxes are going towards; that’s exactly what it did on March 29 and 30.
Headlining the air show were the Thunderbirds, the Air Forces’ air demonstration team. Performing an awe-inspiring routine with a mixture of their iconic Diamond formation and solos, the Thunderbirds demonstrated the precision and teamwork required to be a fighter pilot and the power of the Air Forces’ signature aircraft, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. For me personally, the Thunderbirds were more than enough reason to attend.
Besides the Thunderbirds, a variety of different aircraft were flown throughout the show. From the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the F-18 Hornet, the KC-135 Stratotanker, to several other aerobatic aircraft, it was a treat to see the numerous aircraft fly and showcase their unique capabilities. A newer element to the show was the addition of pyrotechnics- not only did people get to see the aircraft’s airborne efficiency, but several recreations of attack patterns and bombing runs. One of the critiques of past AirFests was that they were too boring, but I feel that these new additions gave the performances more life by more accurately simulating how these aircraft are used in combat situations.
There was even more to do on the ground. People could go inside a C-130, one of our primary bomber and transport aircraft; get up close with A-10 “Warthogs”, one of the most successful ground-support and one of the longest servicing aircraft in the Air Force; see Blackhawk helicopters, the Air Force’s elite F-35s; and even vintage WW2 era fighters and bombers.
One of my favorite aspects of the ground displays was the opportunity to talk with the pilots of the aircraft themselves. Pilots and ground crew stick by their aircraft and are more than happy to tell you all about them, similar to how horse trainers speak about their horses. It’s neat to hear about their experiences and learn more about how these aircraft fly, even if you have no real interest in airplanes or being a pilot.
Besides the planes, people could check out the souvenirs and other stalls. Besides model aircraft, merch was available; civilians were able to try on special forces gear, and there was plenty to do between performances. Even if you aren’t a huge airplane nerd, there was enough action and activities to make it an enjoyable day trip.
