Laughlin AFB's Air Show Thundered Over Del Rio

May 11, 2008
By Stacy S. Jensen
Special to LIVE!

Jets roared across Laughlin Air Force Base and Del Rio on Saturday, May 10 at the "Thunder Over the Amistad" 2008 air show. People of all ages lined up against the railing to see the planes upclose while many avoided the sun by seeking shelter under the wings of planes on display.

Wing Commander Col. John Doucette welcomed the air show attendees to Laughlin. "It's a great honor to be able to open our gates," he said .

Maj. Johnathan "Flash" Fontenot, who headed up the air show planning committee was pleased with the turn out. "I think it's great," he said.

While thousands attended the show and open house, Fontenot said there were more than 50 staff members directly working on the show for about six months and on Saturday more than 1,000 volunteers worked to keep the parts in motion.

"There were so many parts," he said of the flying performances, displays and exhibits. Then there were all the contingencies to consider from weather, accidents and medical emergencies.

Kyle Gill, 5, of Del Rio checks out a U-H 60 Blackhawk at the air show at Laughlin Air Force Base on May 10. Gill attended the show in his own flight suit. The helicopter is part of the U.S. Army 36 CAB, Texas Army National Guard from Austin. CW2 Matthew Smith said they were at the show to let people explore the helicopters. "We let them climb all over it and do what they want," he said. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)	Special Operation Command members of Tampa, Fla. show Jesus Frausto, Mony Martinez and Renne Marquez of Eagle Pass how to pack a parachute. Maj. Garth Arevalo helped the trio put on the parachute. The unit demonstrated a free fall at Laughlin's air show on May 10. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)
Crystal Morales holds her nephew Devin Morales while getting a brochure about the Thunderbirds at the Laughlin air show on May 10. Staff Sgt. Jason Wildman, a team recruiter for the Thunderbirds, passed out the brochures that were used after the Thunderbirds performance to collect autographs from pilots and crewmembers. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)	Ryan Nowlin, 10, of Del Rio, checks out a Humvee from Laughlin Air Force Base at the May 10 air show. Jonathan Wallace, a pre-deployment coordinator and combat instructor for the 47th FTW, said the vehicles were available so people climb through them and feel the weight of the weapons. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)
Paola Tovar, 5, of Eagle Pass sits atop a wing of a C-21 with (from left) Capt. Jason Sanders and Capt. Gina Stramglio at Laughlin's air show on May 10. Children and adults alike checked out the plane. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)	Ian Bierley, 8, found a way to escape the heat at the air show at Laughlin Air Force Base on May 10. He soaked in some water to pass the time before the Thunderbirds performed at "Thunder Over the Amistad." (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)

 

Fontenot said Laughlin had help from other bases to provide support for aircraft not normally maintained on base. They also had support from Del Rio International Airport.

On the morning of the show, the cloudy skies created some changes because the Federal Aviation Administration regulates how high performers can go up. Laughlin also had to track thunderstorms and have a contingency plan on how to protect historic World War II airplanes, if the weather got bad.

"It's a thousand pieces," he said, but "it's running on rails." The show he said had a few minor administration glitches occur, but it ran smoothly "which is a testament to the team."

Fontenot said the air show not only provided entertainment, but it also showed the community what happens on base. "This is (the community's) chance to come onto the base" and see their taxpayer dollars at work, he said.

Displays Everywhere

Aircraft used throughout the Air Force – past and present – was on display at Laughlin. Capt. Gina Stramglio of Scott Air Force Base talked to air show attendees who had questions about the C-21, which carries commanders, military leadership and dignitaries.

Jill "Raggz" Long showed her flying skills in a biplane aerobatics performance at Laughlin Air Force Base on May 10. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)	Maj. Johnathan "Flash" Fontenot, who headed up the air show planning committee at Laughlin, takes a call during the show on May 10. He was pleased with the crowd and the operation of the show. He said the show provides the community with an opportunity to visit the base and see what happens here in Del Rio. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)
Major Kirby Ensser, flying No. 3 jet for the Thunderbirds, waves to the crowd at Laughlin Air Force Base on May 10 as the pilots ready to take to the skies over Del Rio. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)	The Thunderbirds flew during the "Thunder Over the Amistad" at the May 10 air show at Laughlin Air Force Base. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)

 

"We take them anywhere they need to be in the country," she said.

As a female pilot, Stramglio said she gets many questions about being a female pilot. "I've always wanted to fly," she said. "I said I wanted to be a pilot and would do whatever it takes." Now, with the 458th Airlift Squadron, Stramglio said she enjoys attending air shows. "I love being out here talking to people," she said.

She often is asked about how women are treated. She has been in the Air Force for seven years. "It's been wonderful. I've had nothing but a great experience," she said.

A U-H 60 Blackhawk was on display from the U.S. Army 36 CAB, Texas Army National Guard from Austin. CW2 Matthew Smith said they were at the show to let people explore the helicopters. "We let them climb all over it and do what they want."

The air assault aircraft inserts and extracts troops and re-supplies troops.

In addition to all the displays, the skies were busy with radio-controlled airplane demos, parachute jump teams and historic and present day aircraft.

The Thunderbirds ended the show with their precision team and solo performances.

A good time

Lt. Col. Jon "Jughead" Counsell, a T-38 instructor pilot and director of operations at the 47th OSS, was the announcer at the show.

He's been narrating air shows since 1995 and works between three to ten shows a year.

Being an air show narrator happened by chance when no announcer was available at a show at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, Wash. They asked Counsell, because of his background in public speaking and making presentations. He's been doing it ever since.

Lt. Col. Jon "Jughead" Counsell, a T-38 instructor pilot and director of operations at the 47th OSS, was the announcer at the air show May 10. He said he likes to take the crowd from the ground into the cockpit at a show. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)

Maj. T. Dyon Douglas, who flies opposing solo jet No. 6 for the Thunderbirds, signs autographs following the squadron's performance at Laughlin Air Force Base on May 10 at the "Thunder Over the Amistad" show. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)

 

Counsell signed up for the Laughlin show when he knew he was being stationed here after duty in Korea.

"They called last spring, because they knew I was coming here." He also narrated the 2002 air show at Laughlin.

Counsell said he wants bring an enthusiasm to the crowd and "entertain – not just talk."

"My goal is to take people on the ground and put them in the cockpit," he said. "I want to make you see and feel what the pilot does."

"Thunder Over the Amistad" got high marks from Counsell. "I thought it was a wonderful show. A nice balance of routines," he said.