Osan holds annual Air Power Day air show

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brok McCarthy
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Osan welcomed more than 40,000 people to the 2006 Air Power Day air show themed "Preserving Tomorrow's Freedom Together." 

Everyone attending was treated to 30 static displays and several aerial demonstrations from the U.S. and Republic of Korea Air Forces, U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The main attraction at this year's Air Show was the ROKAF Black Eagles -- a demonstration team whose pilots are all ROKAF Academy graduates. 

"The Air Power Day was a great success," said Brig. Gen. Joe Reynes, 51st Fighter Wing commander. "We were able to show our Korean neighbors the assets we use to defend the Republic of Korea. Without the hard work of everyone on the Air Power Day committee and everyone who worked during the show, this wouldn't have been possible ... thanks to all of you." 

Live demonstrations at the show included aerobatics by a Marine Corps F/A-18 Super Hornet and Air Force F-16 and a combat search and rescue demonstration. 

During the combat search and rescue mission demonstration, a series of ground pyrotechnics were set off to simulate an air-to-ground attack by F-16s before an HH-60G Pave Hawk landed to "rescue" a downed pilot. 

Static displays included offensive planes like the Air Force A-10 and ROKAF F-4E Phantom II; cargo planes like the C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules; helicopters like the Army AH-64 Apache and ROKAF HH-32 Kamov; and several different ground-to-air missile systems. 

Saturday morning visitors were able to watch several traditional dances by local Koreans and then see several activities and games demonstrated in the afternoon. 

Although the Black Eagles were scheduled to perform both days, their performance Sunday was canceled shortly after it started because a heavy haze wasn't allowing their smoke trail to be clearly seen. 

The final event on Sunday was a demonstration by the 51st Security Forces Squadron military working dog section. 

The 2007 Air Power Day is scheduled for Oct. 6-7, 2007.