Preparations are complete for air show in Vienna

By Sean Barron

A Missouri pilot said he takes part in an average of 60 to 75 air shows annually.

VIENNA—Tech. Sgt. Adam Light of Warren is looking forward to keeping a small fleet of planes primed during the Youngstown Air Reserve Station’s Air Show and Open House this weekend.

The two-day event, however, will mean more to him than making sure the seven F-16 Fighting Falcon combat jets run smoothly: It also will be a family reunion of sorts.

“It feels great to be back home. I [last] saw my parents about a year ago,” said Light, a member of the Air Force Thunderbirds maintenance crew, which will be one of the main headliners of the event, set to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday here.

He’s stationed at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, the site of the Thunderbirds’ main headquarters.

Light has been in the Air Force 11 years and with the Thunderbirds for more than two. Among those expected to see him at the show are several friends, his kindergarten teacher and his parents, Light said, adding that his father used to take him to the Cleveland Air Show, which sparked his interest in joining the Air Force.

Light was at the reserve station Thursday as part of an F-16 demonstration and press conference.

One person who’s going to be a little less down to earth than Light this weekend is Maj. Tyrone D. Douglas, a solo pilot who will be flying one of the F-16s.

Douglas, of Kansas City, Mo., noted the similarities between the required training for all Air Force fighter pilots and members of the Thunderbirds, thought by many to be one of the world‘s premier aerial demonstration teams.

A pilot with at least 1,000 hours of flying time can apply to become a Thunderbird by sending an application and performance reports to the proper military personnel. Afterward, a series of “tough” interviews follows, consisting of questions from several generals, including one with the Air Force’s Warfare Center at Nellis, he explained.

The process is more difficult because 40 to 50 applications are handled each year for which there are usually three openings, Douglas continued.

Douglas, who’s been with the Air Force 12 years, said he’s participated in about 120 air shows and takes part in 60 to 75 each season, which runs from March to November. This year, Douglas expects to be in 73 events, he said.

The Thunderbirds include between 120 and 130 Air Force personnel, about eight of whom are pilots, said Douglas, who added that he’s wanted to fly since his youth. Others perform duties such as maintaining the planes, computer-related work, acting as recruiters and handling public affairs, he noted.

Thursday’s event kicked off with the six F-16s flying over the base several times as part of survey work before landing one at a time and making a formation. The aerial surveys were necessary so pilots could identify points of reference in a five-mile radius around the station in advance of the maneuvers and turns they are to perform at the air show, noted Jason L. McCree, the Thunderbirds’ public-affairs officer.

F-16 fighter jets can travel up to twice the speed of sound and reach altitudes up to 50,000 feet, McCree said, adding that 15,000 feet should be their maximum height during the show.

The two-hour event concluded with a media flight in an F-16. The idea was to showcase the jets, as well as some duties of those serving in the Air Force, McCree noted.

“We fly people in a position of awareness about the United States Air Force and the 700,000 airmen who defend America each and every day,” he added.

Selected to get his feet off the ground was Ryan Allison, sports director for Channels 27 and 33.

How did Allison feel getting ready to board such a jet?

“I’m nervous as hell,” he said. “But I’m ready to go.”