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Community attends 2011 Defenders of Liberty Air Show

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Tens of thousands of spectators had their eyes to the sky as Barksdale, home of Air Force Global Strike Command, hosted its 2011 Defenders of Liberty Air Show, which showcased America's Airmen, the Air Force's leading technology, vintage aircraft and extreme aerial demonstrations May 7-8.

"The air show was an opportunity for us to show our appreciation to the surrounding communities that support Barksdale's Airmen," said Col. Tim Fay, 2nd Bomb Wing commander.

There was plenty for the crowd to see from aerial demonstrations to many static displays.

The A-10 "Warthog" Thunderbolt Demonstration Team from Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., demonstrated the agility of the aircraft and how it performs in combat situations.

"The Warthog is my favorite aircraft," said 11-year-old Zackary Baldvin from Tyler, Texas. "I like how it looks and I like the big gun on the front. I even got to meet the pilot and see the gun outside of the aircraft on the ground...it's really cool."

More aerial demonstrations took to the sky, including Heavy Metal, Jacquie B, Greg Poe, Randy Ball, Matt Youkin, Dave Leedom, Ray Kenney, Kevin Coleman, Eric Downing and Gary Boucher. The Canadian Parachute Demo Team, the SkyHawks, made the long trip to thrill the audience with their daring parachuting techniques.

The aerial demonstration "Tora! Tora! Tora!" was a depiction of the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II with plane chases and pyrotechnic explosions and was the favorite for one spectator.

"I was very pleased with Tora! Tora! Tora!; it was spectacular," said spectator Julie Flintmeyer from Dallas, Texas. "The first explosion startled me and caught me off guard, but I was able to get some great (photos) of this realistic battle scenario."

There was just as much activity on the ground as in the sky.

More than 60 static aircraft displays were on the ramp, many of which were open for a walkthrough where spectators could see the aircraft up close and personal. The Shockwave Jet truck thrilled the crowd with flames and smoke and raced Randy Ball in his MIG-17. The semi-truck, which is equipped with three afterburners, went from 0 to 300 miles per hour within a few seconds. Shockwave won the race.

"This was my fifth air show, and I'd have to say this was one of the best ones," said Mark Flagge, who drove up from Mobile, Ala., to attend the show and visit with family stationed at Barksdale. "Usually, it is a hassle to gain entry and find parking for air shows, but it was relatively easy this time. The security forces and Barksdale Airmen greeting personnel were very friendly and polite. The weather was fantastic and it was a great show."