'Soaring into Solstice' flies high at Eielson Air Force Base
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — Gray skies and sporadic rain did little to dissuade people from enjoying Tuesday’s air show and open house at Eielson Air Force Base.
The day began with a brief flyover from Eielson’s F-16 Agressor aircraft, the “enemies” in military exercises held at the base several times a year.
“Only the truly brave came out in the rain,” said Brigadier Gen. Mark Graper, commander of Eielson’s 354th Fighter Wing. “But the U.S. military is an all-weather military, and we proudly put on this presentation for you today.”
Standing in line check to out the interior of a KC-135 refueling tanker, Larry Terch said there was no way a little bit of rain was going to keep him and his family away from Eielson.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “You get so close to planes you only get to see hundreds of feet away normally.”
Standing beside Terch, Alex Holmes agreed.
“The insides are pretty cool,” he said.
But while aircraft tours and the afternoon show performed by the Air Force Thunderbirds were the big draw, there were plenty of other military demonstrations to check out as well, including a Security Forces K-9 demonstration. The K-9 wasn’t the only animal at the open house, however.
Cadets from the Air Force Academy in Colorado were on hand to give visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with Oblio, one of the academy’s falcon mascots.
“His eyesight is eight times better than ours,” said 2nd Class Cadet Ryan Kerns. “He’s able to read the print on a newspaper from the length of a football field away.”
Griselda and Pat Buongiorne didn’t have to travel quite as far to get to Eielson, but they still had a lengthy 150 mile drive from Dry Creek in a van filled with their eight children.
“We try to come almost every year,” Griselda Buongiorne said. “We really appreciate what the military does here.”
Community Discussion
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I'm glad the military does what it does, but this year's air show was a lot more drawn out than it needed to be. I got there at 11 a.m., and stayed to see the Thunderbirds. Until 2, when the Thunderbirds took off, I saw a grand total of four helicopters take off and land. The Thunderbirds did an awesome show as always, but next time, could you please compress the show a bit? There's no need to have an eight-hour air show. An eight-hour open house is fine, but make the air show three hours and have one flight right after the other so folks who can't stay for the whole time can enjoy it. I'd have loved to see the F-22 take off, but there was no way on God's green Earth that I was going to sit in the rain for another three hours, umbrella or not.
The standing exhibits were nice, and the food was okay, but please, next time have the flight demonstrations closer together. Thanks!
Can we instead donate all the fuel that was burned that day for the winter or for our street lights?
Next time have it on a Saturday, so more can come out and see. As far as the comment only the brave came out..lol. Mostly an private Air Show for Eielson. Since rest of the community had to work.
Thanks to the men and the women of the USAF for being there for us, great job, God bless each of you...
Anchorage has it booked for Saturday and Sunday. I guess Fairbanks was the practice session before it hit the big town. No matter what, thanks for a good show and reminder of our USAF.
It was a wonderful air show.. tons of ppl from the community came. AND it was open air show to everyone that could come... The air show was a demo for the thunderbirds... but way to go Eielson!!
My kids and myself all enjoyed the airshow, and there seemed to be a large number of people there that were not from the base, even with it being a weekday. The Thunderbirds put on a nice show!
Did anyone else sit in their car for two hours trying to get out of the parking lot? It was unfortunate to me what the USAF could put on this amazing thunderbird show, but then not execute the project of directing cars out of the lot so that people didn't have to sit for hours. I walked to my car at 3pm and literally wasn't able to drive off of Eilson until 5pm. That was a little rediculous. The air show was great, and I proudly support our men and women in the service, but next time...let's figure out something different with the parking/traffic. :]
It's amazing to me all the belly aching that goes on on the comments section,
Knowing what I know, allow me to dispel some of the misconceptions that are going on.
-Why do the Thunderbirds have shut down the Rich for practice? Why can't they do it some where else?
Answer: When you are performing intricate aerobatic movements, you HAVE TO practice it where you will ACTUALLY be performing the act. Anything less is useless.....it would be like taking a French class at UAF and study all semester only to have the final exam in Arabic.
-Why are those Air Force idiots having it on a Tuesday?
Answer: When you request a headlining act like the Thunderbirds, you adjust your schedule to meet with them.....it doesn't work the other way around..........as for some of the inferiority complexes about the Fairbanks area...I will let you sourdoughs figure that one out......but I have to say you are adding to the definition of a SOURdough
-Why can't they use the fuel they burn for heating oil
Answer: You got me on that one, I know life is tough here...perhaps you should write your elected officials on this one, since they are agents of change versus bitching on an internet comment section where you don't have to stand by your statements.
-Well only the base can make it to the show since the rest of use have to work
Answer: The Air Force advertised the hell out of this show, kudos to the locals that showed up. If you are bitching about this fact, chances are you didn't plan correctly or just didnt ask for the time off.....for those of you that neither applies, I apologize but I am willing to bet, you are a small minority
-It was a hassle to get on and off base for the show
Answer: We are a small base, with a small force to defend said base....We only have 1 entry/exit point for vehicle traffic......get over it already!
- The Sound of Freedom is a cliche piece of rhetoric that only questions the patriotism of those who complain about jet noise
-Answer: Agreed, "Sound of Freedom" is bit of a cop-out. However, since I have many friends that are Aircrew, I will tell you this....the price of sub-standard combat training is paid in blood....if this means you hear sonic booms and your "house bounces up and down, and your pets are scared" well then I am truly sorry......but if the inconvience you put up with means that my friends will survive a full-out airwar...well then, I am sorry but I will defend to the end my friend's right to make sonic booms..........it's easy to put a yellow ribbon decal on your car, but to those Alaskans who deal with our noise and allow us to do it....THANK YOU......because the alternative is unacceptable, substandard training will only get our Airmen killed, take pride in the fact that Alaska is one of the few states that "supports the troops" more than in name only........by allowing us to train full-bore we will be ready for the next challenge.................and again for letting us do that.......Thank you Alaska
While I agree with you for the most part, sickofitall, in all fairness I didn't see anyone complaining of the "booms" or the "Sound of Freedom" (on THIS thread, anyway).
I didn't make it to the show, but I'm sure it was AWESOME! I appreciate the military presence here and elsewhere - thanks.
i saw the Blue Angels in San Diego once a few years back and it was really a spectacle. sorry i missed this group as i was working, maybe they will come back again.
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