LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
"Thank you for being here," said Maj. Rich Goodman, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds opposing soloist, as he shook hands with Harris Fischer. Harris is a Special Olympics athlete, who had an opportunity April 24 to get up close and personal with his favorite aerobatic demonstration team, as well as other demonstration pilots before the show opened to the general public.
"This demonstration is great," said Felicia Johnson, mother of a special needs child. "It's difficult [for families with special needs children] to come and get to see the full show, because of the large crowds and noise of the planes. It's a lot for the children to take in."
The private showing was a perfect opportunity for Harris who has been fascinated by the Thunderbirds since; he found a book about them in elementary school.
Today, he and more than 100 other guests were not only able to watch the show stage-center but meet, interact, take pictures, and receive autographs from the Thunderbirds and other show performers..
"I'm so excited that this [pre-air show] is being done by the Air Force," said Sharon Wall, whose child has Aspergers' Syndrome, a form of autism. "It's an opportunity that most of these children wouldn't get if they came to a regular air show. I hope the Air Force does this again next year."