The base is shooting to bring back the really, really big crowds to its biannual Air Expo by lining up two of the Defense Department’s premier demonstration groups for the July event.
The top of the bill goes to the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, a Nevada-based team that helped draw more than 375,000 people to the 2008 Air Expo. The elite team was not available in 2010.
The Thunderbirds will be joined by the Army’s Golden Knights, a parachute team that serves as the Army’s official aerial demonstration group.
Booking the two groups sends a signal that the Army and Air Force are integrated locally with last year’s merger of Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick-start our first official ‘joint’ Air Expo than with the premier Air Force and Army demonstration teams,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Jon Olekszyk, the expo director.
More than 250,000 people attended the 2010 McChord Air Expo, which was headlined by the civilian Patriot Jet precision flying team in lieu of the Thunderbirds.
About 20 other groups are expected to perform at next year’s expo in addition to the Thunderbirds and Golden Knights.
The event is scheduled for July 21-22. It’s free and open to the public.
It’s also one of the only opportunities for people to check out Lewis-McChord without showing Defense Department identification. The Army is planning to let people get a close look at its CH-47 Chinook helicopters, while the Air Force intends to open the doors to its fleet of C-17 cargo jets on the air field.
“We’re very excited to have the Thunderbirds and Golden Knights, but we’re also anxious for the public to see the capabilities of our airmen, soldiers and equipment right here at JBLM,” said Lewis-McChord garrison commander Col. Thomas Brittain.
Adam Ashton: 253-597-8646
adam.ashton@thenewstribune.com
