Photo By Tech. Sgt. Aaron Jenne | Guests of Team Dover interact with explosive ordnance disposal technicians from the...... read more read more
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More than 50,000 people visited Dover AFB for the 2017 Thunder Over Dover Open House and Airshow August 26–27.
The event featured more than 20 aerial and ground performances from multiple military and civilian performers, as well as static displays of dozens of the Air Force’s most iconic aircraft for spectators to view up-close.
“It was an absolutely flawless event,” said Lt. Col. Todd Walker, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 2017 Thunder Over Dover Open House director. “We were able to host 50,000 people and show them the history of Air Power. We got great farmers’ tans too.”
The show was highlighted by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. The group performed multiple aerobatic maneuvers and precise formations to demonstrate the many capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the precision of Air Force pilots.
A C-5M Super Galaxy and a C-17 Globemaster III also stole the limelight, demonstrating their ability to move massive amounts of cargo to rapidly execute global mobility.
Jive Kirby of Wild Blue RV-8 Aerobatics and Jerry Conley of Vampire Aerobatics provided a different style of entertainment; looping, spiraling and tearing through the air in gravity defying feats.
The day ended with the Thunderbirds Recognition Ceremony, where they recognized Team Dover’s top performers.
There was something for everybody, military members and civilians alike, said Staff Sgt. Sergio Forsythe, Air Force Legal Operations Agency victims’ paralegal.
“I was stationed at Barksdale [Air Force Base, Louisiana] for my first four years. I’m from Arlington, Virginia, so I was away from my family,” Forsythe said. “Today, I was able to have my family come over and show them the plans and teach them a little more about the Air Force, our history and what we’re capable of. They totally enjoyed it. We had a blast, and we’re looking forward to attending another Dover airshow.”
Overall, the entire event was a huge success, Walker said.
“There’s no way the event would have gotten done without the City of Dover, Del DOT, the community and even the entire state of Delaware coming together to make it happen,” Walker said. “Everyone really came together to make sure we had an awesome and safe show. We had such incredible buy-in from the performers to the vendors and spectators. I’m hoping we get to do this again … a lot sooner than nine years.”
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2017 20:01 |
| Story ID: | 246211 |
| Location: | DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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