Airsho takes off

Thousands of people showed up to the second day of the Commemorative Air Force Airsho and spectators were greeted with war battle reenactments and high-flying acrobatics.

Terri Brown, CAF director of development and sponsorship, said the front gate sold out of tickets. Brown said Sunday tickets would be available at the front gate today.

Juanita Billeiter, from Odessa, brought her family to the Airsho including her 4-year-old son Harley.

“We came for him. He likes airplanes,” Billeiter said.

A loud pyrotechnics explosion made the entire family jump and even though Harley loves airplanes, he quickly shook his head no when asked if he’d ever want to fly one.

The crowd made their way to various vendors and downed fried food, but this year’s Airsho included a living history demonstration. Groups from around Texas and even one from Arizona set up camp -literally- on the grounds of the CAF Airsho in the style of World War II military service men.

“We try to keep it as accurate as possible,” Scott Cooper said. Cooper is a living history participant from the 12th Armored Division Living History Group from Abilene and said his group actually spent Friday night camping in WWII-era tents on the grounds of the CAF.

However, what was a bit historically inaccurate at the living history reenactment was the presence of Russian, German and U.S. troops around the same campfire. The living history group had a laugh about it but said their goal is was to educate people on what it was like to camp out in the military during WWII and what the soldiers had to wear while they fought for their respective country.

Cooper said he had just returned from a three-year tour in Europe with the Air Force and was new to the reenactment side of the military but said he loved it.

“I love air shows, but hey, I’m in the air force,” Cooper laughed.

During the Airsho, there was the constant hum of airplane engines overhead. At the conclusion of the Saturday Airsho was a demonstration of an F-18. Its tremendously loud engine rattled the ears and muffled the conversation of attendees. There were collective crowd “oohs” and “aahs” as the plane performed mid-air rolls, dives and flips.

One of those pilots performing the stunts was Maj. David Graham. Graham is a demonstration pilot for the F-16 West Coast Demo team based out of Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah. Graham flew an F-16 over the crowds at the Airsho and demonstrated the combat capabilities of the F-16 jet.

“It’s the ultimate freedom,” Graham said about the feeling of performing acrobatic stunts thousands of feet in the air. “It’s physically demanding. I’m dealing with G-forces up there. I’m very tired when I’m done.

Today’s CAF Airsho Schedule

>> 7:30 a.m. Gates open.

>> 10:30 a.m. America Trains for War.

>> 11:55 a.m. Opening remarks.
>> 12:05 p.m. National Anthem with F-16 Fly-By.

>> 4:45 p.m. Missing Man Formation.