Military Air Show Takes to the Skies This Weekend

Editor's Note: The following are three news releases that were issued by the Office of Public Affairs, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is set to open its doors to the community for a very special open house and air show weekend May 12 and 13.

The event will be celebrating more than 95 years of defending our nation's air, land and sea.

Community members will have an opportunity to get a first-hand glimpse at the joint base's warfighting capabilities and total-force integration. Every branch of service on base will be present to engage with the community and explain the way they fit into the "joint base puzzle."

This year's line-up includes some high-flying spectacles sure to draw a crowd.

The world-renowned Air Force Thunderbirds flying team will rip through joint base airspace in their trademark F-16s, performing the most daring maneuvers known to man. The Golden Knights, the U.S. Army's premier parachute team, will awe the audience with death defying stunts and acrobatics. The Marine Air/Ground Task Force assault demonstration, which includes F-18s, CH-53, and Cobras with Pyro, will rock the flight line with large explosives as part of a simulated assault. The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City will also showcase their ability in a hoisting demonstration.

Many talented civilian pilots will make the voyage to the joint base also strut their stuff in both vintage and modern aircraft. Herb & Ditto will perform the world's only smoke ring acrobatics.

More than 25 historic and current static aircraft will be displayed during this year's event - Bell UH-1 Iroquois, C-5 Galaxy, FedEx Airbus A300 and T-1A Jayhawk. Many of history's most storied aircraft as well as today's cutting-edge platforms will be on display for visitor's viewing pleasure. 

"The joint base has a long history of engaging the community with open houses," said Heidi Stark, 87th Air Base Wing historian.

The Department of Defense hosts open houses to enhance public awareness of the military's mission, equipment, facilities and personnel and to promote positive community relations.

The first air show on JB MDL was held in December of 1945. The most advanced aircraft of that age such as the P-38 Lightning, the P-51 Mustang and the P-59 Air Comet, the U.S's first jet fighter, were put on display for the general populace to admire.

The last open house to be held at the installation was in 2008. This year's event is JB MDL's first open house and air show since it became a joint base in 2009.

Contact the Joint Base Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-2104 visit www.jbmdlopenhouse.com for more information.

Attendees of the 2012 Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Open House and Air Show will witness aerial performances demonstrating our military’s joint warfighting capabilities.

The open house – which is free and open to the public – is scheduled for May 12 and 13.

Headlining the event is the world-renowned Air Force Thunderbirds, who will rip through joint base airspace in their trademark F-16s, performing the most daring maneuvers known to man.

The U.S. Army's premier parachute team, the Golden Knights, will also be on hand to awe the audience with death-defying stunts and acrobatics.

The joint base’s own air assets will also be on display during the show. Members of Marine Aircraft Group 49 will perform a task force demonstration that includes F-18 Hornets, CH-47 Chinooks and CH-53 Sea Stallions.

“This is a demonstration of the combined arms techniques that our Marines use every single day in combat,” said Capt. Andrew Sandoe, MAG 49 assistant operations officer.

The demonstration will combine the use of the Marine’s aircraft while coordinating with a ground assault team in a simulated combat assault with pyrotechnics display.

“We’re talking multiple fighter jets, helicopter gunships and special operations all working together. Bringing all of that power planning to bear on one landing zone in a half-hour block makes for some very elegant violence,” said Sandoe.

 The 305th Air Mobility Wing and the 108th Wing will showcase their aerial capabilities with a dissimilar formation with a C-17 Globemaster III, KC-10 Extender and a KC-135 Stratotanker.

The U.S. Coast Guard will demonstrate their air rescue capabilities with a medical-evacuation hoist demonstration. Members of USCG Air Station, Atlantic City, N.J. will showcase their search and rescue capabilities by deploying rescue swimmers from a MH-65D Dolphin helicopters, to simulate rescuing a downed pilot.

“We want people to see us as that fifth branch of the military helping out our sister services,” said Lt. Jay Kircher of the USCG team.

The coast guard team will also be on hand to provide attendees information about boat safety.

A total of 13 aerial performers will entertain the crowd during the two-day event. Forty historic and current static aircraft will be displayed on the base’s flightline - Bell UH-1 Iroquois, C-5 Galaxy, FedEx Airbus A300 and T-1A Jayhawk. Many of history’s most-storied aircraft, as well as, today’s cutting-edge platforms will be on display for visitors’ viewing pleasure.

Visit www.jbmdlopenhouse.com or contact the Joint Base Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-2104 for more information.

More than 300,000 people are expected to celebrate with the joint base as it commemorates 95 years of defending our nation's air, land and sea during the 2012 Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Open House & Air Show [to be held May 12-13].

To accommodate those attendees, members of the base's 87th Logistics Readiness and Force Support Squadrons have come together to ensure a successful event.

"One of our biggest challenges with an event of this magnitude is transportation," said Capt. Heather Boos, 87th LRS deployment and distribution flight commander. "We're preparing to help people get onto base, to their parking spots and onto the airfield to enjoy the show."

Hundreds of joint base service members stand ready to help usher attendees to the flightline.

Upon arriving to Joint Base MDL, drivers will be directed to one of the seven designated parking areas in various locations throughout the base.  From there, they will be driven by one of 30 available shuttle buses to the airfield.

LRS has also devised a plan to help stranded motorists should the need arise.

"We'll have some of our vehicle maintainers standing by to assist disabled vehicles if they are causing added congestion," said Boos.

Once patrons get to the airfield, members of the 87th FSS have coordinated more than 40 concession stands and food vendors to help enhance the attendees' experience.

"Booths will be selling a variety of foods and beverages," said Monty Dunn, 2012 JB MDL Open House and Air Show services director. "Food vendors will sell everything from hamburgers and hot dogs to exotic foods from Europe and Thailand."

Some vendors will be selling more memorable items for the event.

"We will be selling official open house merchandise and memorabilia as well," said Dunn. "T-shirts, open house programs and other keepsakes will be available for purchase at the Joint Base Open House and Air Show."

Thirteen aerial performers to include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Army Golden Knights and the Marine Air-Ground Task Force will entertain the crowd during the two-day event.

Forty historic and current static aircraft will be displayed during this year's even - Bell UH-1 Iroquois, C-e Galaxy, FedEx Airbus A300 and T-1A Jayhawk. Many of history's most storied aircraft as well as today's cutting-edge platforms will be on display for visitor's viewing pleasure.

This year's open house and air show is the installation's first since becoming a joint base in 2009.

"We know guests visiting the Open House and Air Show are going to be wowed by the displays and aerial acts," said Dunn. "Our goal in the 87th FSS is to make the experience even more memorable with some great food, beverages, and maybe even a souvenir or two to remind them of that experience."

Visit www.jbmdlopenhouse.com or contact the Joint Base Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-2104 for more information.  For a quick video of the Open House, visit http://youtu.be/YcuqagMCgOo .

Note: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is America's Premier Joint Warfighting Base. It borders two of the largest counties in New Jersey, Ocean and Burlington. The base is the second largest employer in the State of New Jersey and contributes more than $3 billion in payroll to the economy. Active-duty, reserve and guard service members from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard ensure total force integration by training, supporting and sustaining installation and global contingency operations. Together, we are uniquely capable of projecting air, land and sea power in support of our nation's defense.