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Our 2010 Air Show – A Rich Tradition

  • Published
  • By Col. Michael Hornitschek
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Il. --  With the air show fast approaching, I know the hard work you all have been doing to prepare. We have plenty more to do as we shift our efforts from the planning to the execution phase.

Air shows have been part of our history since the beginning of aviation. These events showcase the flying skills of our aviators and the vast capabilities of our aircraft. The Wright brothers conducted their first flight in 1903, and the first air shows began in 1909 with the earliest demonstrations held in Germany and France. The first show in the United States followed soon after in 1910 in Los Angeles County, Calif. The event showcased the innovation of aviation and powered flight, and had 254,000 spectators during the course of 11 days, and was called "one of the greatest public events in the history of the West," by the "L.A. Times." It demonstrated to the world the amazing potential of aircraft, and it had many distinguished attendees including William Boeing. This air show also provided the opportunity for one of the first aerial bomb-dropping tests.

These early performances were vital in showing the potential of aviation to the public. Today they continue to be the best opportunity to highlight to American citizens what airpower, the U.S. Air Force, and our nation can bring to the fight. Air shows take what the public usually sees only in movies and puts it right in front of them. Many of us can remember as kids seeing jets screaming overhead, pulling up and soaring toward the sun at various air shows or events. We may have also experienced the heat of pyrotechnics as groups such as 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' re-enact the attack on Pearl Harbor.

All together, these demonstrations provide an experience for the audience that in turn forms an understanding of our military. For some, this understanding serves as an inspiration to join the military.

As Airmen we have come to think of the smell of JP-8 fuel and the sound of jet engines as ordinary or every day occurrences, but the American public typically does not get the same opportunity we do to see these incredible machines in action. Air shows are the greatest opportunity we can give our neighbors to experience first-hand the incredible nature of what exactly we do as Airmen. This is our chance to not only tell the community just how we do our jobs, but it's also our time to share stories with the members of our community.

We're now just two weeks out from our Sept. 11 and 12 air show. As we shift from the planning to execution stage, it's time to ramp it up! Soon the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels will fly in along with fighter aircraft from the P-51 Mustang to the F-16 and some of our heavy airlift workhorses such as the C-17. Our Army "Golden Knights" partners will make a grand entrance demonstrating their intricate parachuting skills. With all of the activity that will soon be here, it's imperative that we all devote the same focus to the execution of the air show as we have for the preparations. Let's keep up the great work as we show the local communities that Team Scott is all in, and why we are AMC's Showcase Wing!