News>Airmen, aircraft showcase wing capabilities during air show
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ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds world renown Delta Formation flies by the audience attending the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Airpower over the Marianas" here on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, were one of four aerial demonstration teams to perform for the audience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Bush)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Dedicated and assistant crew chiefs give a thumbs up to Maj. Sean Gustafson before his flight here during Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power Over the Marianas" Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. Andersen AFB rescheduled its air show for after cancelling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support to Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Local high school students from Guam wait patiently before the enlistment ceremony with the Thunderbirds here during Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power Over the Marianas" Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. Andersen AFB rescheduled its air show for after cancelling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support to Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Kim Brush, a Colorado native, pumps her fist when she finds the T-shirt that she wants from a vendor during Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power Over the Marianas" here Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. Andersen AFB rescheduled its air show for after cancelling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support to Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Margie Richards performs the Guam National hymn here to help kick off Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power Over the Marianas" Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. Andersen AFB rescheduled its air show for after cancelling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support to Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - A little girl receives an autograph from a Thunderbirds pilot after an aerial demonstration during Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power Over the Marianas" here Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. Andersen AFB rescheduled its air show for after cancelling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support to Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Fans cheer on the Thunderbirds as they perform aerial maneuvers over Andersen AFB Oct. 7 during Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power Over the Marianas". The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. Andersen AFB rescheduled its air show for after cancelling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support to Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Fans watch as Thunderbirds soar over the crowd here during Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power Over the Marianas" Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. Andersen AFB rescheduled its air show after cancelling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support to Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Thunderbird F-16's fly in formation over Andersen AFB, Guam, Oct. 7, 2009. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Julian North)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Thunderbird F-16's fly in Diamond Formation over Andersen AFB, Guam, Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is the premier aerial demonstration team representing Airmen worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Julian North)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - A C-17 Globemaster III from Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii, performs an aerial demonstration Oct. 7 during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas." The large Pacific Air Forces aircraft is knowing for its capability of taking off in short distances. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman1st Class Julian North)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - A Navy MH-60S Knighthawk from the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron-Two Five hovers over Andersen AFB's air field, Oct. 7. The Kighthawk was one of four aerial displays that participated in the Team Anderson Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas." The Knighthawk crew airlifted Airmen from the 554th RED HORSE Squadron to their insertion point allowing the Airmen to conduct a fast rope demonstration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Julian North/Released)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds commander, enlists 22 young men and women into the U.S Air Force here during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas". (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Anthony Pangelinan, United States Department of Agriculture training instructor, displays a brown tree snake during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas" Oct. 7, 2009. The last air show held at Andersen was in 2004. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Spectators surrounding an F-15 from Kadena Air Base, Japan, watch as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds maintenance team performs a ground ceremony during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas" Oct. 7, 2009. Andersen AFB held its air show to thank the Guam community for its continued support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds commander, enlists 22 young men and women into the U.S. Air Force here during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas." (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Airmen from the 554th RED HORSE Squadron fast rope out of a MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron-Two Five during the Team Andersen Air Show ‘09 "Air Power over the Marianas" Oct. 7, 2009. The technique is used to access areas where helicopters or other aircraft can’t land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - The community of Guam gets pumped up for the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Airpower over the Marianas" here on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, were one of four aerial demonstration teams to perform for the audience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Bush)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – Air Force Thunderbirds #5 and #6 perform the opposing knife edge pass during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas" here on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, were one of four aerial demonstration teams to perform for the audience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Bush)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam –Air Force Thunderbirds, in Diamond Formation, perform a pass in review during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas" here on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, were one of four aerial demonstration teams to perform for the audience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Bush)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - The Andersen community and Guam locals attend the Team Andersen Air Show 2009 "Air Power Over the Marianas", Oct. 7. Base leadership rescheduled the air show for Oct. 7 after canceling it due to Typhoon Melor. The air show was held primarily to thank the residents of Guam for their continued support for Andersen AFB and the rest of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Julian North)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – The Air Force Thunderbirds perform a maneuver for the audience attending the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Air Power over the Marianas" here on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 7. The U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, were one of four aerial demonstration teams to perform for the audience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Bush)
The Air Force Thunderbirds perform a stunt for the Team Andersen Air Show '09 "Airpower over the Marianas" here on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 07. The U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team, Air Force Thunderbirds, were one of four aerial demonstration teams to perform for the audience. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Bush/Released)
by Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
36th Wing Public Affairs
10/7/2009 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Airmen throughout the wing banded together during the Team Andersen Air Show '09 held Oct. 7 here held to showcase 36th Wing capabilities to more than 20,000 local community members.
The air show was originally cancelled due to tropical storm Melor, but wing leadership rescheduled the air show, giving Guam the gift of the U.S. Air Force's premier aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds.
"I wanted to let everyone know the Thunderbirds are back!" exclaimed Brig. Gen. Phil Ruhlman, 36th Wing commander, in his opening statement to local media members during a press conference Oct. 6 on the flightline.
The Thunderbirds arrived here Oct. 5 to headline the air show. The Thunderbirds were formed in 1953 and have been performing air shows worldwide for more than five decades.
"[Seeing the Thunderbirds] makes me want to be a pilot," said Cherish Cruz, a resident of Yigo, Guam, who attended the half-day festivities.
Though the Thunderbirds were the star attraction at the air show, they weren't the only aircraft to take to the skies. The air show featured a B-52 Stratofortress fly-by, a C-17 Globemaster III aerial demo and a joint demo featuring a Navy MH-60 Knighthawk and members of the 554th RED HORSE Squadron.
Andersen's flightline was also peppered with several aircraft static displays - a KC-135 Stratotanker, a C-17 Globemaster III and F-22 Raptors, the Air Force's benchmark for fighter aircraft.
Seeing the aircraft, especially the F-22 up close delighted Ray Santos, a local firefighter, and his eight-year-old son, R.J., who was attending his very first air show.
"We were very happy to be afforded the opportunity to come on base, [view] the aircraft and even get underneath it," Mr. Santos said. "It's not every day that you hide from the rain underneath the wing of a C-17. It was a big experience for the two of us. He saw [the F-22] in the movie Transformers. Now he gets to look at it from twenty feet away."
While the aircraft in the air and on the ground garnered the most attention, Airmen from other squadrons played visible roles. Some Airmen sold T-shirts or food in support of their squadron booster clubs while others showcased Andersen's non-aerial capabilities in demonstrations and displays, including the military working dog handlers and the 644th Combat Communications Squadron.
"The public generally thinks of the Air Force as a bunch of people who fly planes when in fact we do a lot more," said Senior Airman Seth Runyon, 644th CBCS network technician. "One of those aspects is being able to provide communications anywhere in the world. It's great to show the community the other things the Air Force can do, especially the people in Combat Comm."
