Courtesy Photo | Visitors to the New York Air National Guard Showcase 2025, held at the former Griffiss...... read more read more
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ROME, New York— About 2,000 people turned out for the New York Air National Guard’s Showcase 2025 held on Saturday, Sept. 13 at what was once Griffiss Air Force Base.
New York Air National Guard wings from Long Island to Syracuse deployed aircraft to the event hosted by the Griffiss Institute at what is now Griffiss International Airport.
Aircraft on display included an HC-130J Combat King search and rescue plane, and an HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter from the 106th Rescue Wing, an MQ-9 Reaper remotely operated aircraft flown by the 174th Attack Wing, and a CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopter operated by the New York Army National Guard.
There were also exhibits of equipment and high-tech gear like a robot dog now used to provide security around some air bases.
Tom Arcura, one of the visitors, said he, his wife Chelsie and his son Emerson, had a great time checking out the aircraft and the exhibits.
“Any chance to see aircraft up close is great,” Arcura said.
Arcura said he works for General Atomics, the firm which builds the MQ-9 but had never seen an actual aircraft.
“I was really interested to see that, since I have only seen models and videos,” Arcura explained.
Zack Zegarelli, another visitor, said he got a kick out of watching his son check out the aircraft.
“He would go from seat, to seat, to seat, just running around like it as a playground,” Zegarelli said.
Brig. Gen. Paul Bishop, the former commander of the Rome-based Eastern Air Defense Sector, who serves as Chief of Staff of the New York Air National Guard, was the driving force behind the event.
He got the idea during a change of command ceremony held at Stewart Air National Guard Base for the incoming commander of the 105th Airlift Wing, Bishop said. As part of the event, each of the New York Air National Guard’s four wings which own and operate aircraft had a plane on display, he recalled.
It was very impressive, and he wanted to do the same thing in Rome, Bishop said. When Griffiss Air Force Base was an active Air Force facility, the annual base open house was a big deal and he wanted to bring that energy back as a community outreach effort, he explained.
“It’s exciting to see a youngster light up when they have an opportunity to see up close, and touch, an airplane for maybe the first time,” Bishop said.
“But then, to build on that enthusiasm and generate some ideas to fly those, or maintain those, or do the services for those folks that do, is exciting.” Bishop added.
Capt. Peter Hiffa, a member of the Eastern Air Defense Sector, who served as the project officer for the showcase, said that the Air Guard also reached out to other technology companies in the area to be part of the event.
“Just because you don’t wear a uniform doesn’t mean you’re not important,” Hiffa said.
The goal, he said, is to make this an annual community outreach and recruiting event.
“We want to show what the New York Air National Guard does,” he said
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2025 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 548974 |
| Location: | ROME, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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