LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
More than 180,000 guests flooded through Langley's gates April 27through 29 for another year of aerial entertainment at Langley's annual air show, AirPower over Hampton Roads.
While Langley headlined many air show favorites, such as the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, Patty Wagstaff and the Air Combat Command Aerial Demonstration Teams, it also brought a few milestones as the F-22A Raptor took its place in the air show schedule, and the Air Force celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Maj. Paul "Max" Moga, F-22 demonstration team pilot, not only led the Thunderbird F-16Cs in formation during the Thunderbirds' practice show April 27 over Memorial Park, but also led the Air Force Heritage Flight, which was composed of an A-10 Thunderbolt, F-86 Sabre and a P-51 Mustang.
"I'm speechless after this weekend," said Major Moga. "Not only did we get to unveil the real Raptor demo to the public for the first time, but we got to put the Raptor in formation with the Thunderbirds, which is the first for any fighter aircraft. Then to fly five decades of Air Force airpower history together (in the Air Force Heritage Flight) ... it was just a once-in-a-lifetime weekend."
Major Moga took it a step further as he gave all air show attendees a 12-minute demonstration of the F-22's fifth-generation maneuvering capabilities. This was the Raptor's first official aerial demonstration, just three days after receiving approval from Gen. Ronald Keys, ACC commander.
"It was awesome!" said Navy Lt. j.g. Stephanie Bornholm, reactors laboratory division officer with the USS Carl Vincent after viewing the F-22 demonstration. "It was an incredible show of force and exhibited the skill of the pilot."
While aerial demonstrations dressed the sky throughout the weekend, other spectators were drawn to the large selection of military aircraft and activities draped over the flightline.
Guests were able to step inside a B-2 and C-17, look inside the cockpit of an F-15 and come aboard the Navy's Landing Craft Air Cushion, which is a high-speed, over-the-beach fully amphibious landing craft.
In addition, guests were invited to meet the Geico Gecko, taste a sample of Spam, meet the news anchors of WAVY 10, take part in a Virtual Army Experience and step inside NASA's exploration trailer.
"What a great show!" said Lt. Col. Rob DeStasio, Langley air show director. "We received nothing but compliments from children to four-star generals. It was made possible by the hard work of those who helped."