Kirtland hosts Thunderbirds, entertains thousands at Air and Space Fiesta

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, UNITED STATES

05.18.2019

Story by Airman 1st Class Austin J. Prisbrey 

377th Air Base Wing

The Kirtland Air and Space Fiesta took to the skies over Albuquerque May 18, 2019, exceeding expectations for attendance and capped off the day with a performance from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The crowd was measured at more than 45,000.
“This is our way of saying thank you to this community,” said Col. Richard Gibbs, 377th Air Base Wing commander. “Without the support of our neighbors in Albuquerque and across New Mexico, we couldn’t make our vital contributions to national defense.”
Gibbs expressed appreciation for the immense public response, and acknowledged that some visitors experienced significant waits to access the event.
“We have been awed by the magnitude of the attendance and interest from the community. We are very pleased with the public response,” Gibbs said. “We appreciate the patience and perseverance of our guests and we apologize for the long wait times.”
Gibbs explained that as tens of thousands of people were enjoying the show on the airfield, Kirtland officials had been working to make adjustments to access gates and procedures throughout the day.
In addition to the afternoon aerial demonstrations from the Thunderbirds, other top aeronautic performers thrilled spectators at the show. Demonstrations were also conducted by the U.S. Air Force Academy Wings of Blue Parachute Team, Greg Shelton’s solo aerobatic demonstration, the Smoke N Thunder Jet Show, Bob Carlton’s Vertigo Demonstration, Keith Davis Aerobatic Demonstration and Jacquie B Aerobatic Demonstration and Kirtland’s own 58th Special Operations Wing.
Not every attraction at the airshow was flying through the air. Static displays of a B-52 Stratofortress, C-17 Globemaster III, F-35 Lightning II, HH-60G Pave Hawk, HC-130J Combat King II and MC-130J Commando II, CV-22 Osprey, UH-1N Huey, T-38 Talon, TH-1 helicopter, KC-135 Stratotanker, Civil Air Patrol Glider, and Search and Rescue Aircraft were on display for the public.
This year’s airshow, the first since 2016 at the installation, featured a STEM and space pavilion, with displays and demonstrations by groups ranging from SpaceX and Virgin Galactic to the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Albuquerque resident Robert Berg hadn’t been to an air show at Kirtland in 15 years. He were impressed with the program and the size of the crowd.
“I think the aerobatics are pretty cool,” Berg said. “The planes flying out there and the displays were nice as well. It’s a pretty good crowd-- quite a bit more this time.”
Gibbs thanked the hundreds of Team Kirtland members that made it possible.
“This air show was made possible by the hard work, over a period of months, of a large group of dedicated professionals and volunteers from Team Kirtland,” Gibbs said. “I want to thank them and congratulate them on a job very well done, and also to thank our guests from across the Air Force who performed and put their aircraft and people on display here today.”

• Date Taken: 05.18.2019
• Date Posted: 05.18.2019 21:14
• Story ID: 322953
• Location: ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US