MacDill delivers 'amazing' AirFest 2016 experience

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ned T. Johnston
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The colors red, white, and blue flew a little higher, and a lot faster, this weekend at MacDill.

That's because America's Ambassadors in Blue, better known as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, flew their patriotically-colored F-16 Fighting Falcons over crowds of more than 120,000 people at Tampa Bay AirFest 2016.

The AirFest was open to the public Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, but for Service members at MacDill, AirFest planning and preparations started months before. The small team of individuals who had been planning the air show for months grew exponentially over the last few weeks as the execution process became a base-wide effort. The mission was to deliver the best Tampa Bay AirFest experience ever.

"Our goal has been the same since the beginning stages of planning this year's AirFest," said Lt. Col. John Schwartz, deputy director of Tampa Bay AirFest 2016. "We wanted to recognize the support from the Tampa Bay Community by providing them an amazing airshow experience."

That amazing experience started Friday morning when the Thunderbirds invited Robert Irvine, celebrity chef and host of Food Network's "Restaurant: Impossible," to climb into the cockpit of an F-16 and soar through the skies of Tampa. MacDill invited several civilian media reporters to the base to record, televise, and publish news stories about the chef's flight to generate buzz around the weekend's events.

Later that day, MacDill's community relations team escorted groups from around the area such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Wounded Warriors, so they could watch the air show a day early without the crowds. Service members who were required to work during the AirFest weekend used Friday as a day to bring their families and enjoy the sights and sounds of AirFest 2016.

With Friday's practice AirFest under MacDill's proverbial belt, gates opened Saturday morning to a flood of eager and excited spectators ready to see and walk through the displays of military and civilian aircraft and watch the thrilling aerial performances.

"This is my first air show ever," said Bill Collins, father of two. "We just moved to the area and heard that this was the place to be today.

"I've got to say, just walking through the gate and seeing everything has made me excited to be here, and my two little ones can't wait to run through some of the bigger jets."

Although Saturday started out strong, heavy thunderstorms swept through the area around 11 a.m.

The installation commander, Col. Daniel Tulley, took to social media to keep the public informed on the latest weather updates and the future of the day's events.

The thunderstorms passed, and the show started at 2 p.m. Some of the aerial acts were cut short and others were unable to perform all together. However, the Thunderbirds delayed their show by one hour to allow more performers to get air time before the Air Force flying team closed the show.

Sunday came with the promise of better weather, and it brought just that. The flight line filled quickly with patrons who were excited for a full day of AirFest, and the aerial acts took to the sky by 11:15 a.m.

With the weather holding up, the Thunderbirds took to show center at 3 p.m., but instead of starting their ground show, they were joined by the family of 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton.

Helton graduated the Air Force Academy in 2007 and was assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) at MacDill. A short time later, he deployed to the 732nd Expeditionary SFS Detachment 3 in Iraq where he served as the flight commander. Toward the end of his tour, he volunteered to stay when Detachment 2 needed a leader.

Lieutenant Helton was killed in Iraq on Sept. 8, 2009, serving in an essential leadership role.

"Not many people would volunteer to stay in Iraq for another six months when they know they are a plane ride away from being home," said Tech. Sgt. Jaime Perez, with the 6th SFS. "If it wasn't for Lieutenant Helton that day, three other people would have died."

The Thunderbirds performed their final show of the weekend and dedicated it to 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton.

The only thing higher than the Thunderbirds was the spirit of the crowd. With AirFest 2016 now receding into the past, Team MacDill savors the memories created and shared with the Tampa Bay community over the long weekend, and looks forward to 2018 and the potential for another AirFest.