Preparations underway for 2012 air show

  • Published
  • By Ryan Hansen
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show isn't until Aug. 25 - 26, but that doesn't mean preparations for the best air show in the Midwest aren't already underway.

Highlighting this year's two-day event will be the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet demonstration team, U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier demonstration team, U.S. Air Force A-10 heritage flight and the U.S Army Golden Knights parachute team.

"We are really stoked for this year's event and believe we have something for everyone," said Maj. Lance Hofer, air show director. "The Super Hornet is an amazing aircraft and if you haven't seen the Harrier in person, you should make plans to be here. It's quite a spectacle."

Also scheduled to appear this year will be Kevin Coleman, who at 21 years of age is one of the up and coming stars of the air show world, The Horsemen, which will be flying three F-86 Sabres, as well as the Flash Fire Jet Truck, which will be flying down the flightline at more than 300 miles an hour.

Even with the Air Force and Department of Defense under some fiscal restraints, Team Offutt's leadership said the Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show must go on.

"We are certainly good stewards of the tax payers money," said Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th Wing commander. "But in all honesty we couldn't put this event on without the support of the Wings Over the Heartland, Offutt Advisory Council and the many other military and veterans support groups that help with manning and funding."

Earlier this year Air Combat Command reduced the number of single-ship demonstration teams, so the fact that Offutt will have the A-10 in attendance is a real coup.

"The A-10 will be here to support the Heritage flight and will do three passes prior to forming up with the Heritage flight," Hofer said.

In addition to those already confirmed attractions, there will also be a plethora of other military aircraft from across the country providing flybys as well as a whole flightline filled with static displays.

"Due to all the large and heavy aircraft we had on the ramp last year, we couldn't have put one more out there if we wanted to," Hofer said. "I expect our ramp to be filled once again this year."

Also returning this year will be the kid's zone, where children can participate in various activities throughout the event.

"We'll have bounce houses, face painting and rides among other things," Hofer said. "That is one of our most popular attractions and we're really ramping it up this year with even more."

The event is once again free to the public and there will be shuttles available at several locations throughout Bellevue.

"We simply couldn't accomplish our mission without the tremendous community support we have here," said Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th Wing commander, "and this is our one chance a year to give back to them for all they do for us."

For more information on the air show, please visit their website at: http://www.offuttairshow.com.