Wings Over Charleston Air Show.
With crowds anticipated at over 100,000 air show enthusiasts, the expo featured some of the best acts in military and civilian aviation. The US Air Force Thunderbirds with their F-16C models celebrated their 55th anniversary. Representing the US Army were the Golden Knights Army Parachute Team.
The new F-22 Raptor, the F-15E in combination with a P-51 Mustang put on the day’s USAF Heritage Flight was a crowd pleaser blending old with newer aerial resources. The Navy was not to be outdone brought their F-18C Hornets. Civilian acts were numerous and good, highlighted by the always impressive flying skills of Patty Wagstaff. The Red Bull BO-105 helicopter entertained the crowd with un-helicopter like stunt flying. Amazing to watch. Plenty of static aircraft were lined up inside the crowd lines for very up-close viewing; those included a FedEx 727, a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter, one of only 3 in existence. It’s a huge aircraft that has a cavernous interior and will haul the largest of cargoes. Makes even the C-17 look a tad small in comparison.
Others were a KC-135 “the Spirit of Goldsboro”, a KC-10, a WC-130J Hurricane Hunter several F-15Es, two F-15C, an F-16C, a C-130, and two A-10s. Flying and static acts were both numerous and enthusiastically received by a very patriotic crowd. Charleston AFB did a good job mixing the military and the civilian flying, and bringing together a nice heritage flight.
I am happy with the day’s aerial events. I spent approximately 10 hours in the car this day, crazy perhaps, but I am an air show junkie.
By Steve Finch