Aerospace & Arizona Days

Here's a Lady to Make Women 

Everywhere Proud

Capt Nichole Malachowski

This is what I wanted to be when I was a girl - a pilot.  Dad was was an IP flying out of Luke AFB here in AZ. I'd sit up in my tree reading about Amelia Earhart and wishing they let women fly. By the time I was divorced they were letting women fly but I was too old.  

Thunderbirds 2007 team

By 8:15 this morning the radio was saying the shuttles to DM AFB for the air show were jammed and there were already long lines. The base opened two gates to the public at 8:00 am but no word yet what things are like there.  A bag with my non-perishable food donation is ready to go by the front door. 


As far as I know the air events will include the Thunderbirds, A-10's, F-18's, and another group plus all the other demonstrations.  Here are the aircraft we'll get to see: 

F-18

On Static Display...
The following aircraft will also be available for public viewing: A-10C, HH60G,HC-130P, EC-130H, F-16 Blk 42, F-15C, F-15E, F-35 (mock up only), F-22, F-18, B-52, B-1, Tornado, EF-18, EA-6B, AV-8, KC-135, E-3, RC-135, P-3C, C-5, KC-10, AC-130, C-21, C-130J, C-17, IL-76, AT-38, C-12, T-38, T-1, T-6, T-45, RC-12, MQ-1, Shadow UAS, Shadow Launcher, GCS, Gnd Data Terminal, Shadow Veh Transport, CH-46, HH-1, AH-64, OH-58, MH-65, MH-60R, CH-53E, UH-1, AH-1, CH-47, F-106, F-101, A-4, F-4, A-7, F-14, Starship, MiG-19, P-51, B-25, AT-6, C-45,  A-1, Mig-17, Nanchang Haiyan, CJ-6, C-182, L-29, L-9, T-28, T-33, T-34, AT-6


I doubt we'll be allowed to get into them but I'd sure love to have the chance to get into an A-10. I wonder if some of them are ferried over from the Pima Air and Space Museum, 'cause some of the aircraft up there are from foreign countries.  The only place I've seen Migs was at the Museum.  Dad's P-51 Mustang will be there - well, not "his" of course, this one will probably be bright and shiny.  Dad's looked dirty and beat up, like it had been to war and back.  He trained up a lot of fliers for the war in that aircraft.


Other attractions/demonstrations will include USAF's Combat Search & Rescue Capabilities, Pilot Greg Poe, US Customs & Border Protection, 390th Memorial Museum and the famous Liberty Belle flying fortress.

The Liberty Belle

This air show is a massive undertaking for the base. They're expecting 500,000 people to show up between today and tomorrow and if what we're already hearing is any measure that may be a pretty good estimate.
  
Can you imagine the security nightmares this must entail?!!   So, naturally, my mind goes to the number of illegals who come thru here and the attempt to crash the gate a few years ago and I wonder if they've been working the past three years to make the base more secure...... More secure, say, than the time Dad unwittingly walked into a U-2 or SR-71 hangar (can't remember which) and was thrown to the ground and held there at gunpoint by the AP's!  He said they weren't messing around - it was dead cert he was the enemy until he was identified.


Admission to the air show is free! Gates open at 8:00 AM.


Security alert: Due to the current security levels, the following items will NOT be allowed onto the base:

* Coolers, lawn chairs (we will have chairs available to rent for a nominal fee), weapons of any type, bags and backpacks - for our guests with infants, you will be permitted to bring a stroller and diaper bag (small bags and cameras are permitted, but expect them to be checked), water, liquid, or fluids - only permitted for our guests with infants (there will be free water stations located throughout the show area and food and drinks will be available for sale), balloons, military uniforms worn by non-military members, animals (except for service animals). SMOKING will only be allowed in designated areas.

We know it's going to be a little difficult for all three of us because the distance from parking to the flight line is apparently pretty lengthy. The temp is supposed to be 78 degrees, but we know it will be higher on the flight line, so, the plan is to have a good breakfast, leave early, go slow, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and hope a lot of the good stuff air-wise happens early.

I can hardly wait!!

OMG!
It's 11 am and there are 3,000 people waiting in line at two locations for a shuttle to the base (there are 20 of them at each location, each shuttle seating 40), apparently the wait to get on base is significant as well.

LOL!
The mess at the shuttle stops was all over the radio and so now the gates are slammed with POV's and there's no wait for a shuttle! Tomorrow's gonna be a crap shoot... (later) 1:00 pm DM called Sun Tran and told them to STOP taking people to the base. 
OK. Sounding slightly less fun knowing I have to leave here at 6;30 am to get there at 7:00 am. Dad thinks he can get us on base with his ID. I think we'll be pretty darn close to the front of the line - the gates don't open until 8:00 am. Camera, disks (ugh), donation, cash, ONE check and ID are at the door ... maybe I should make that two checks, just in case....