Little Rock Air Force Base opened its doors to the public Saturday and Sunday for the 2010 air show and thunder echoed over The Rock as air show performers took to the skies to demonstrate civilian and military aircraft capabilities.
Beautiful weather and jaw-dropping performances by the world famous U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds attracted approximately 225,000 guests to Thunder Over the Rock.
“I have been coming to these air shows since I was a kid and now I like to bring my sons to see the show,” said Todd Buck from Conway.
“I like watching the jets the most,” said William Buck, one of Mr. Buck’s sons.
The Air Force’s premier aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, highlighted this year’s show. The flight demonstration exhibited choreographed maneuvers of skills possessed by all Air Force aviators. The performance included various formations, in concert with the fast-paced maneuvers of its two solo pilots. Finally, the team illustrated the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers locked in as a unit.
This year’s air show featured more than 5 hours of flying demonstrations, which also included world-class acts such as the U.S. Army Golden Knights and Canadian SkyHawks parachute teams; Tora, Tora, Tora World War II reenactment of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; Disabled American Veterans B-25 demonstration; Shockwave jet truck; Air Force A-10 Warthog, Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier and Navy FA-18 Super Hornet jet demonstrations; and a capabilities exercise of the base’s own C-130s from the 19th, 314th and 189th Airlift Wings. The 11 Little Rock C-130s airdropped equipment and nearly 400 Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Retired Lt. Col. Ed Petlak, a former pilot at the base, came to the air show to share his love of aircraft with his family and enjoyed seeing the C-130 demonstration.
“You don’t see many [capabilities exercises]. I used to fly them,” he said. “I was in many of these air shows. I flew a C-130 for 20 years.”
The air show also had more than 40 military and civilian aircraft static displays for attendees to explore.
“I really like all the helicopters, they’re really super cool,” said Dakota Neal, 5, son of Staff Sgt. Chris Cotnoir, 19th Operations Support Squadron air crew flight equipment trainer. “I like the most huge airplanes and the most little airplanes.”
(Courtesy of the 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs)
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