We’ve done this two times before here and here, but it’s worth discussing again.

It’s late August at Offutt AFB — time for an AIRSHOW!

This year’s airshow lucked out with a last-minute booking of the Thunderbirds after the Coney Island Airshow was cancelled. (Don’t know why, message boards have speculated it was financial). Unfortunate for an entire airshow to be cancelled, but yay for us, right? When the airshow was first announced in mid-July, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team was the headliner.

Like the past two years, the aircraft start to roll in around mid-week and we can see the air traffic from throughout my neighborhood as the aerial demo teams start to practice their shows. While the propeller planes and helicopters stay pretty close to the runway, the jets need more maneuvering space and often have to turn around over our neighborhood. Whoo hoo! So we were seeing the Thunderbirds, the F-22 and F-18 several times right from our yard! The kids at school had quite a treat during their recess on Thursday and Friday too 🙂

In 2008 we watched the Thunderbirds from the local bike trail. In 2009 we watched from a local neighborhood that offered a good view. This time, the boys and I watched right there in the middle of the action.

Enjoy some of our experiences from the airshow.

These KC-135s are Nebraska Air National Guard planes from Lincoln

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

I’d never seen a Global Hawk UAS up close before, after all the times I’d forecast for them….

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

In a T-1 Navigator Trainer jet.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

Timmy couldn’t quite reach the top of the game here…we won a Koozie, though….

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

A tricked-out Mustang.  Check out the seating and displays inside.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

My neighbor and recruiter, Dave, is in front of this formation wearing a ballcap.  He’s practicing the oath of office with these 64 new recruits.  They would receive the oath from the Thunderbirds pilots later that afternoon.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

B-2 Flyover!

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

The F-22 demonstration was so awesome!  At the end of the demo, the F-22 paired up with this P-38 for a Heritage Flight.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

The boys enjoyed their ice cream snacks from under an A-10 (still Jacob’s favorite USAF warplane).

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

Towards the end, the boys played in the bouncy castle area.  It’s a great place to watch the show…in case your kids get a bit bored.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

Some pictures from the Thunderbirds show.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

Every year I tell myself I don’t need any more pictures of the Thunderbirds, but then I can’t seem to help myself.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

You couldn’t ask for better weather for watching — a bit hot, but there was a good breeze.

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow

From 2010 08 28 Offutt AFB Airshow