Air Amistad Features the USAF Thunderbirds at Laughlin AFB on Saturday, May 10
By Bill Sontag
Feature Writer
The demonstrations themselves are unimaginable before you see them and unforgettable afterwards. -- USAF Thunderbirds
It’s one of the best shows ever to come to Del Rio, excepting, of course, the last time Air Amistad was staged at Laughlin Air Force Base. And it doesn’t cost you a dime to get in.
And lest you think that you only get what you pay for, the jaw-dropping spectacle of Air Amistad 2008’s only price tags are your investment in snacks and beverages on the Laughlin flightline. Any aggravation about lines and crowds are self-imposed, and only if you arrive late to the party, Saturday, May 10. The Main Gate, from U.S.Highway 90 East, opens at 9:00 a.m., and it’s all over by 4 p.m.
In between those hours the flightline is front, center for an amazing variety of aircraft on display, and a schedule of aerobatics to rivet attention on the skies above the infield. Only Air Force career employees are ever likely to see—up-close and personal—the range of machines that gives America undisputed air superiority in any combat theater.
Maj. Johnathan Fontenot, chief of standards and evaluation for the T-38 “Talon” students at Laughlin Air Force Base, heads up the planning committee for Air Amistad 2008, and what a show the group has on tap. The headliner, of course, is the team of U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, eight pilots who excel in both skills and nerve as well as administrative officers and ground crews to produce a great show.
This year’s team of officers includes Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, Maj. Chris Austin, Maj. Kirby Ensser, Maj. Scott Poteet, Maj. Samantha Weeks, Maj. T. Dyon Douglas, Lt. Col. Rob Skelton, Maj. Anthony Mulhare, Maj. (Dr.) Charla Quayle, Capt. Amy Glisson, Capt. Charles Ploetz, and Capt. Elizabeth Kreft. The team is based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and has flown more than 4,000 shows in its history. At least 25 of those shows have been here, at Laughlin Air Force Base, according to James Long, chairman of the Laughlin Heritage Foundation.
The Air Amistad 2008 tentative schedule (always subject to last-minute changes due to weather or mission requirements) is:
9:30 a.m. – Remote controlled model Airplane Demonstration
10:20 a.m. – Laughlin A/C (T-1 “Jayhawk,” T-6 “Texan,” T-38 “Talon” Fly-by)
10:30 a.m. – Commemorative Air Force warbird (historic) trainers (T-18 “Tiger,” PT-13 Stearman Bi-plane, PT-19 Fairchild “Cornell,” PT-22 Ryan “Recruit,” PT-26 Fairchild “Cornell”, and the BT-13 Vultee “Valiant.”)
10:45 a.m. – T-33 “Shooting Star” jet trainer, flown by Fowler Cary
11:25 a.m. – Twin Beechcraft, Sons of Legends
11:45 a.m. – Two-ship formation of T-28 “Trojan”, flown by the Trojan Phlyers
12:05 p.m. – Pitts S2B biplane aerobatics, Jill “Raggz” Long
12:25 p.m. – Franklin Air Show, Sons of Legends
12:45 p.m. – AT-6 “Texan” Demonstration Team
1 p.m. – Air Combat Command demonstration (A-10 West)
1:15 p.m. – Heritage fly-by
1:30 p.m. – Warbird review, AC-47 “Spooky,” P-51 “Mustang,” A1D “Skyraider,” B-25 “Mitchell,” MiG-17 “Fresco”
1:45 p.m. – B-2 “Spirit” bomber fly-by
2:15 p.m. – Special Operations Command Parachute Team, jump from C-47 “Skytrain”
2:30 p.m. – Thunderbird ceremonial walk-around with ground crew
3 p.m. – Thunderbirds performance and demonstration
| |
The noontime star performer is Jill “Raggz” Long, from Wichita Falls, Texas, and she promises to launch an inspiring exhibition of remarkable aerobatic flying skills. Long and her husband, Col. Chuck Long (USAF, Ret.), her “ultimate crew chief,” will both be on hand to wow the crowd in “Raggz’s” Pitts S2B biplane. Lt. Col. Long got her nickname during combat missions in Afghanistan, from “friends” who said her hair resembles Raggedy Ann’s.
Long is also an instructor pilot in the 80th Flying Wing, Shepard Air Force Base, as well as the wing’s director of staff. Flying since age 16, she has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying time in both military and civilian aircraft. Those hours included more than 50 combat missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. But Long’s overarching goal is to inspire youngsters. Recently she was honored with the Air Education Training Command 2008 “Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Role Model Award.”
Also on display at Air Amistad 2008 will be a packed inventory of aircraft on the flightline for families and guests to get close-up exposure. The so-called “static” displays are always crowd pleasers, particularly for children. On exhibition will be modern aircraft such as the huge C-17 “Globemaster,” another “heavy,” the C-130 “Hercules,” the A-10 “Thunderbolt,” and Laughlin trainers including the T-1 “Jayhawk,” T-6 “Texan II,” and T-38 “Talon.”
In addition, the show will include colorful historic aircraft including the German “Tornado,” a T-28 “Trojan,” the AT-6 “Texan” (namesake for today’s T-6 “Texan”), a B-25 “Mitchell bomber,” an AC-47 “Spooky” gunship, a Russian MiG-17 fighter, and more. Fontenot said visitors and guests will have no difficulty finding food and beverages, important because backpacks and ice chests will not be allowed to enter. “Here is the menu for the Air show,” Fontenot said.
- Hamburgers
- Hot Dogs
- Smoked Sausages
- Fajitas
- Candy/Chips
- Shaved Ice
- Funnel Cakes
- Ice Cream
- Cotton Candy
- Grilled Chicken Burgers
- Pizza Slices
- BBQ Sandwiches
- Coffee/Expresso
- Soft drinks/Water
- Popcorn
- Corn Dogs
- Churros
Fontenot encourages Air Amistad 2008 attendees to bring lawn chairs, hats or caps and sunscreen for sun protection, and earplugs. “It will get plenty noisy out there,” Fontenot said. The Del Rio Branch of the American Red Cross will be on-site, as well as a first-aid medical staff.
“The main gate will open at 9:00 a.m. for the public to enter, and remain open for inbound traffic until 3:00 p.m. Although the show extends past 3:00 p.m., visitors will need to make sure they are on base prior to the inbound gate’s closure at 3:00 p.m.,” said Fontenot. The 3 p.m. closure is a safeguard for the duration of the Thunderbirds performance.
Folks interested in a glimpse of historic Thunderbirds performances here can get a pleasant perspective at the Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum. Foundation Chairman Jim Long has organized an exhibition of 14 Laughlin air show posters from the 25 events that he can document. “The Thunderbirds at Laughlin” exhibit is up now for visitors to see, and also includes autographed photos of pilots, brochures, and Long’s personal autographed Thunderbird cap, signed by an entire Thunderbird team.
Hours of the Laughlin Heritage Museum at 309 S. Main Street in downtown Del Rio are Mon., Wed., Fri., and Sat., 10 a.m. - noon, and 1-4 p.m.
You must be registered and logged in to post comments
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
Do you like or dislike this story? Please take a quick survey to help us improve. Click here.
I hate to be the one who
I hate to be the one who complains about the Air Show but I have one really huge complaint. First let me start by saying that I am prior Air Force. I served from 1996-2000 and I was honorably discharged. I have one brother enlisted right now and have two other brothers that also served. I support the military 100% and I always will.
Now....for my complaint. In case no one noticed it was 105 degrees+ outside today. The flight line felt that hot or hotter. I am not a cheap person but my complaint is with the cost of a bottle of water at the air show. On a day like today water is not a choice it is a necessity. When you go through inspection before being allowed onto the flight line the first thing that was posted is "no backpack, no cooler" sign. Basically you are being forced to buy 3 dollar water. I don't care at all what is charged for a lemonade, a hot dog, or a burger but a water should be less expensive. A 24 pack of Ozarka would only cost around 4-5 dollars, so a huge profit can be made without charging 3 dollars for a bottle. They advertise "Free Air show" but it is not free. Unless a person wants to dehydrate and pass out then they are going to need to drink at least a couple of 3 dollar waters. I left early because the more I sat out in the sun the more I got aggravated. If anyone reads this that can do anything about it in the future please do so. Thanks.
Derrick Rut.
You are no longer the only
You are no longer the only "one who complains," Derrick. Debbie and I spent the entire afternoon there, and for two hotdogs, a small bag of chips, a pretzel and two bottles of water? Twenty-two bucks. Sorta like being at the movies, except at the cinema, popcorn and a beverage are optional. On the flightline, food and drink are requirements, and damned expensive ones at that. Call it anyway you want, it was gouging, and under conditions that make nourishment and hydration a necessity.
And a prominent hangar that was open, housing informative exhibits at the last air show, was closed, the shut doors faced with portable toilets. At the last such effort, that hangar provided shade and an opportunity for people to actually stand and learn something from the exhibitors. Yesterday, no one stood out in the sun any more than was absolutlely necessary, and the only "shade structures" were the wings of two C-130s, the KC-135, and the C-17.
More's the pity, it was a good show, and didn't get reported. If it sounds like sour grapes,so be it, but a puff piece about some wannabe cowboy singer that apparently wasn't even yodling and screaming here, instead of a solid piece on this air show that drew thousands out in 107-degree (official reading) heat is a travesty. The Thunderbirds, as always, were terrific, and so were solo performers like Lt. Col. Jill "Raggz" Long in her tiny Pitts Bi-plane. A Russian MiG, an A-10 "Thunderbolt," and many others provided inspiring, graceful performances.
I absolutely agree that 3
I absolutely agree that 3 bucks for a bottle of water and 4 bucks for a cheeseburger is a tad expensive. I was glad I stopped at the ATM on the way to the base.
That being said, I have to play Devil's Advocate here.
When the Thunderbirds were here last time, we were just visiting Del Rio. After watching them practice, and spending time with some of the crew members, (they were staying at the Ramada while we were there) I looked into the possibility of having them perform at the air show they hold at the local airport back in my old home town.
All the requirements and logistics for their appearances are available on their website, so I looked them over. It costs a staggering amount of money to have them in town for an appearance. Some of it, off the top of my head: 100 smoke free hotel rooms (some are specified to be suites), thousands of gallons of specially filtered JP-4 jet fuel, specially prepared and filtered paraffin for their smoke injectors, a fleet of vehicles for transportation to and from the venue, secure hanger space with 24 hour armed security, and much more. In short, I come up with something in the neighborhood of $50K just to have them show up. That was just an estimate, I'm sure it isn't accurate as I don't know exact costs for a 55 gallon drum of paraffin or a gallon of JP-4. This is to be supplied free of cost to the team.
Then there were the costs for the other acts that appeared. They certainly don't come to the venue out of the goodness of their hearts. Those old warbirds cost a ton of money to fly and maintain. In 2004, my wife and stepmom bought me a flight in a T-6 Texan. Back then the 90 minute flight cost almost $400, and I had to drive 300 miles to do it (it was worth it, though, and I would do it again in a heartbeat).
So, knowing this, I still grumbled at the $3.00 bottle of water, but I understood why. If it were me running the show, I would have charged a small admission fee, and charged $2.00 for the water. I might have still had to make the announcement to the crowd telling them NOT to fill up their water containers at the hand washing stations, but there would have been fewer of them doing it.
Veni, Vidi, Velcro ---- I came, I saw, I stuck around......
I agree that there are costs
I agree that there are costs required to be able to put on a air show, but I honestly think that if the cost of a bottle of water was lower, profit could have still been made. If water was $1.50 a bottle people would have probably bought twice as much water and been plenty hydrated, instead of avoiding buying it because of the price. I also agree that a small entrance fee and a less expensive water price would have worked out better. I would not have complained about paying to see the show. I would be worth a few dollars for sure. Derrick Rut.
Sontag's grapes aren’t
Sontag's grapes aren’t sour. They are fermenting into a very cheap wine. Whining gets you no where and in the end, tastes a lot worse than a $22 hotdog.
You're not kidding with the
You're not kidding with the 105+ thing. Both a family member and I had 110 temps at our respective houses today. In fact about 6pm we were all sitting around the pool at my house commenting on how much it had cooled off so we looked at the gage that was in the shade and it was still showing 105.
This reminds me of something that happened when I flew to Korea for the first time. I was on a MAC flight and we "for some reason" had a stopover in Japan on a U.S. Air Base. [the name escapes me] Anyway they didn't take on fuel or anything that I saw, but we were all offloaded and put into a welcome center. Where by chance there were a bunch of airmen with hot dogs, chips and sodas for sale. At airport prices. Once we all ate we were herded back aboard the plane and left. Full bellies but certainly lighter in the ole pocket book. On Osan AFB in Korea there was a concession booth that was booked by and manned by different units on base. That booth just happened to be right at the walk through gate and it was only opened after like 9pm to take advantage of the drunks coming in late at night. I understand that they made a killing on Friday and Sat nights and all for the morale and welfare funds for the troops :)
Let's go Flyin'
Let's go Flyin' Boys!
Looking forward to doing this today. Can't wait for the P-51 Mustangs to grace us with their flight. Hot dog and a coke will top it off.
im glad to have this air
im glad to have this air show come to Del Rio, kids will learn so much and maybe get inspired to serve our country.
Laughlin is such a great
Laughlin is such a great addition to this community, I cannot begin to imagine what a ____ hole Del Rio would be if not for Laughlin. Proud to be an American!
For those of us who have
For those of us who have chosen to live here, Del Rio is a fantastic place to live, with OR WITHOUT LAFB.
I sincerely hope this is a
I sincerely hope this is a welcome back.
Amor patriae, Do you really
Amor patriae, Do you really think hyde will eat more crow and allot Mr Bill Sontag back? I don't think so. Mr Sontag should freelance. And better things are due to come...
I SECOND THAT!
I SECOND THAT!