An F-86 Sabre touches down on the Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., flight line following a heritage flight during the practice air show held Aug. 24. Children with special needs, Make-A-Wish participants and Wounded Warriors get exclusive access to both the aircraft and pilots the day before the Defenders of Freedom Air Show begins. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
An F-86 Sabre flies by the control tower at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 24. The practice air show on Friday allows special needs, Make-A-Wish and Wounded Warrior attendees to get a front row seat and meet with pilots and commanders. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
A heritage flight that included two F-86 Sabres flanking an A-10 Thunderbolt II demonstrated the proud heritage of military aviation over the past 60 years at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 24. The 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show included this and many other aerial demonstrations as well as ground shows and static aircraft displays. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies past show center as part of the practice Air Show hosted by Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 24. The day before the scheduled air show gives children with special needs, Make-A-Wish participants and Wounded Warriors the VIP treatment with their own personal performance and meetings with pilots and commanders. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
An F-86 Sabre flies by the flight tower at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 24. Friday’s Air Show is designated as the Special Needs Air Show where kids with special needs get a front row show and meet with pilots and commanders. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
Maj. Jody Turk greets 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show guests as they tour the cavernous interior of a C-17 Globemaster from Altus Air Force Base, Okla., Aug. 26. People waited in line to sit in the C-17 cockpit that allowed for an elevated view of the ramp. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
Six-year-old Malcome Chrosniak sits in the cockpit of a C-17 Globemaster while attending the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show hosted annually by Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The C-17 is the largest of more than 60 static displays. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
Eight-year-old Davon Greer parks his peddle plane while participating in one of numerous children’s activities held at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show held at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The peddle planes are a popular attraction every year at the Air Show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
Four-year-old Roth Watts and his father Drew navigate a peddle plane at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show held at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The peddle planes are a very popular staple every year at the Air Show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
No Wear BMX cyclist Sam Bussell catches some air while performing at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show held at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. No Wear was one of the new vendors at the Air Show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
Three-year-old Dreyden Ristine with his father Ramey take a peek into the tail end of a B-25 Mitchell, one of the static displays at the Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show hosted by Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The Ristine family drove from Kearney, Neb., to attend the annual show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
Scouts with Troop 6 of Overland Park, Kan., talk with the pilot of the AV-8B Harrier while attending the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show held at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. Tens of thousands of people from all over the region gathered for the annual air show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
With his Air National Guard MXS all carbon-fiber aircraft, pilot John Klatt (Lt. Col. Retired) screams by show center while performing in the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show hosted annually by Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
Local area high school students going into all branches of the military get sworn in by an A-10 pilot in front of thousands of air show goers at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show held at Offutt Air Force Base., Neb., Aug. 26. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
New recruits stand at attention as they are honored with a fly-by at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show ont Offutt Air Force Base., Neb., Aug. 26. Local area high school students going into all branches of the military were sworn in by an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot in front of thousands of air show attendees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)
An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes flight at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The A-10 was a key part of the heritage flight for the air show. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)
The U.S. Army Golden Knights gracefully glide to the ground at during the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The Golden Knights are the U.S. Army’s premiere parachute team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)
The AV-8B Harrier hovers at center stage for the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. Tens of thousands of people from all over the region gathered for the annual air show. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)
The Lima-Lima flight team takes formation at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The flagship of the Lima-Lima flight team is the T-34. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)
The F-86 Sabre demo team flies by the flight tower during the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The F-86 Sabre’s were flown by The Horsemen Flight Team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)
Children take their first steps on an aircraft displayed at the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 26. The air show had more than 30 static displays including a B-1 Bomber and an AV-8B Harrier. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates/Released)
An F/A-18 Super Hornet flies behind Offutt's flight tower during the 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show Aug. 26. The Super Hornet was one of several aerial performers who took to the skies to entertain tens of thousands of local spectators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jeff Gates)
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