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Team Dover flies to one of the nation's biggest air shows

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
OSHKOSH, Wisc. --  Every year Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc., hosts one of the nation's largest Air Shows, the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture, bragging an attendance of more than 500,000 during the week.

This year, 20 Team Dover members from both the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings flew a C-5M Super Galaxy, The Spirit of Normandy, to represent Dover Air Force Base and Air Mobility Command. Nearly 10,000 spectators of all ages who toured the aircraft and asked the Dover crew a myriad of questions -- how much does it weigh? What can it carry? Where do you fly?

"It is a great feeling to be able to support these kinds of events," said Col. Dave Horton, 436th Operations Group commander. "We come out here and enjoy the throng of people who come through to see this airplane and hear about what we do, it's just amazing."

Even while waiting for their morning breakfast at the hotel, interested Air Show attendees would ask Airmen questions regarding the C-5M.

"I was an Airman 1st Class back in the '50s, and we didn't have anything like [the C 5M] back then," said Mel Cook. "It really is an amazing aircraft. It's so big, it's hard to believe."

The trip also allowed the crew to interact with the next generation of Airmen.

"The aircraft is so huge, I walked through and got to ask questions," said four-year-old Rory Broderick, who then proceeded to ask more questions about the massive plane.

The crew also played host to Senator James Inhofe from Oklahoma who was attending his 31st EAA Airshow. As a pilot, he was keenly interested in the airplane's enhanced reliability and capability as well as how it factored into the overall modernization plans for Air Mobility Command.

After two days the crew of The Spirit of Normandy packed up their equipment, and as thousands lined up to watch, performed a maximum effort take off to return home to Dover.

"In two days we were able to pass more than 10,000 visitors through our plane and probably answer as many questions," said Colonel Horton. "These events are not only good training for the crew, but it's great to be able to interact with the public, many of whom don't get to see these aircraft on a daily basis."