The Air National Guard's John Klatt performs in the Staudacher S-300D during the Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow on Sept. 19, 2009, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The 2009 Scott AFB airshow featured performances by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and the Army Golden Knights. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Teresa M. Hawkins)

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"Tora! Tora! Tora!" performs the re-creation of the Dec 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor during the Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow Sept. 19, 2009, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Tora involves Japanese fighters and bombers simulating the Pearl Harbor attack along with smoke, fire and explosions of the pyrotechnics team. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Teresa M. Hawkins)

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A P-51 Mustang partakes in a Heritage Flight during the Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow on Sept. 19, 2009, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The heritage flight consisted of the P-51 Mustang leading the formation flight, the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-4 Phantom II.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Teresa M. Hawkins)

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Staff Sgt. Russell Clevenger, 375th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, gives directions to parking at the Shiloh gate of Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to air show attendee's on Sept. 19, 2009. The yearly show brought in approximately 60,000 people on the first day of the two-day event. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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Members of Team Scott, along with people from surrounding communities, wait in line to participate in the U.S. Army virtual experience at the Air Power over the Midwest air show held at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. The virtual experience gives those who participate a glimpse at what it's like to be a Soldier in the U.S. Army. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights drops in with the U.S. flag, during the opening ceremonies of Air Power over the Midwest Air Show on Scott Air Force Base, Ill. on Sept. 19, 2009. The two-day event showcased what the U.S. Air Forces does as well as providing attendees a chance to see part of Scott AFB. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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Crowds of more than 60,000 people gather to watch air demonstrations at the Air Power over the Midwest Air Ahow at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. Air demonstrations included performances by the U.S. Army Golden Knights, and the Canadian Snowbirds. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights presents Col. Gary Goldstone, 375th Airlift Wing commander, with a baton after carrying it down with him during their parachute jump at the Air Power over the Midwest air show at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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Brig. Gen. A.J. Stewart, Air Force Recruiting Service commander, gives the oath of enlistment to 69 members of the delayed enlistment program at the Air Power over the Midwest Air Show at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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The Canadian Snowbirds aerial demonstration team perform one of many aerial stunts for crowds of more than 60,000 people at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009, during the Air Power over the Midwest Air Show. The Snowbirds were the main attraction at the 2009 show. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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The Canadian Snowbirds aerial demonstration team perform one of many aerial stunts for crowds of more than 60,000 people at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009, during the Air Power over the Midwest Air Show. The Snowbirds were the main attraction at the 2009 show. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Wesley P. Farnsworth)

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Staff Sgt. Bryan Magee captures video during the 2009 Airpower over the Midwest Airshow Sept. 19, 2009, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Sergeant Magee was documenting the event as a videographer for the 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs office. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Dave DeRemer)

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Master Sgt. Jeff Anderson, Viper West Team Chief for the Air Combat Command Demonstration Team, signs an autograph for a young spectator following a Heritage Flight during the 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow held at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., from Sept. 19-20, 2009. The U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight program was established in 1997 to commemorate the Air Force's 50th anniversary. It involves today's state-of-the-art fighters flying in close formation with World War II, Korean and Vietnam era fighters such as the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 Sabre. The flight's mission is to safely and proudly display the evolution of Air Force airpower and to support the Air Force's recruiting and retention efforts. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Dave DeRemer)

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Spectators watch as the Canadian Snowbirds perform an aerial demonstration during the 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow held at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., from Sept. 19-20, 2009. The airshow featured the Canadian Snowbirds, the Armys Golden Knights, TORA! TORA! TORA! and various other aerial demonstrations and static displays. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Dave DeRemer)

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Canadian Snowbirds pilots start their jet engines in preparation for their aerial demonstration during the 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show at Scott Air Force Base,Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. Their pilots and technicians work as a team to bring thrilling performances to the North American public. Serving as Canadian ambassadors, the Snowbirds demonstrate the high level of professionalism, teamwork, excellence, discipline and dedication inherent in the women and men of the Air Force and the Canadian forces. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Dave DeRemer)

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Brandon Bruck, whose father works for the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron, climbs the rock wall sponsored by the U.S Army during the 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. Representatives were present from Army Recruiting, Fairview Heights, Ill. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Michelle R. Larche)

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Mitchel Sanker from Boy Scout Troop 5 prepares lemonade during the 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. More than 60,000 people attended the show on its first day Sept. 19. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Michelle R. Larche)

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First Lt. Luis Garces, a C-21 pilot from the 458th Airlift Squadron, hands his autograph to David Jones during the 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2009. (U.S. Air Force Photo//Tech. Sgt. Michelle R. Larche)

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90,000 attend 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show

Published Sept. 24, 2009
By Steve Berry
375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 2009 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show wowed aircraft enthusiasts of all ages at Scott Sept. 19 and 20 with aerial demonstrations, static plane displays and a festive atmosphere.

Airshow director, Lt. Col. Michael Kayser, 375th Airlift Wing Operations Group, said a record number of people came to Scott Saturday to see the airshow.

"I know we sold more food than we ever have and we parked more cars than we ever have," Colonel Kayser said. "I'm confident that we had record attendance Saturday."

Visibility was too low Sunday for planes to fly, but the remainder of the event remained open to the public.

"Luckily we had a ramp full of really cool airplanes and lots of great exhibits," Colonel Kayser said.

The Garcia family, from Breese, Ill., came to the airshow Saturday.

Andrea Garcia, 11, said, "The jets are awesome," as an F-4 Phantom II tore across the sky overpowering her voice.

"And they are loud!" she said.

The headlining acts Saturday were the Army Golden Knights Parachute Team and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Plus, Tora! Tora! Tora! re-enacted the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor with pyrotechnic explosions.

Other veteran performers included Tim Weber flying his Extra 300S, Greg Poe performing in an ethanol-powered MX-2, John Klatt in the cockpit of a Straudacher S-300D and Randy Ball flying a vintage MiG-17F.

In addition, other powerhouse jets like the F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon twisted and flipped above the crowd Saturday.

The event featured planes in the sky and planes on the ground. People had the chance to tour cargo planes and get close enough to touch 45 aircraft on static display.

Cody Garcia, 12, said he liked getting up close to the giant Boeing Dreamlifter--a modified 747 that has one of the largest cargo lifting capabilities of all planes.

In addition to the aircraft, the airshow featured food, inflatable slides for kids, a car show, the Virtual Army Experience and other aircraft and military related displays in Hangar 1.

Attendees sat and watched the show from the shade of the hangar, up near the runway where the performing acts took off and landed from, and everywhere in between. Plus, aircraft enthusiasts took advantage of a new place to view the show from this year--The Scott Field Heritage Airpark, which opened to the public recently and is located directly outside of the Shiloh Gate.

Retired Air Force member Arturo Holmes and his wife Johanna watched the show from the official viewing area inside the base near the static aircraft displays.

"My opinion is that it (the airshow) is a good thing for the community and it is a good thing to promote the Air Force," Mrs. Holmes said. "I think it is a good well rounded event for the community."