Air Fest 09 comes to a close

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stefanie Torres
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The gates were flooded with guests arriving for the Misawa Air Fest 2009, Oct. 18. 

The air show was reportedly the largest in base history with an estimated 250,000 people gathered on the flightline to watch the demonstrations and enjoy the American and Japanese food. Guests were given the opportunity to get an up close and personal view of air power at its finest. 

"I think air shows are good for the public," said Capt. Ben Couchman, C-flight commander and F-16 instructor pilot from Kunsan Air Base, Korea. "The guests were able to meet with the pilots and interact with military members. I think this will give them a more personal feeling toward Misawa and giving them a better understanding of who we are." 

The Air Force Thunderbirds and the Japanese Air-Self Defense Force Blue Impulse headlined the show. Demonstrations from a C-17 Globemaster III; CH-47 Chinook; Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape parachute teams, F-2; B-52 Stratofortress; and the Pacific Air Forces demonstration team's F-16 rounded out the list of entertainment in the skies above the base. 

Other forms of entertainment came from the JASDF band; the Air Force Band of the Pacific, the Greatlanders; and weapons load crew competitions. 

More than four times the amount showed up this year than last year making safety an important factor. 

"A lot more people are here this year, and I know I am going to be out here all day, and my feet are going to hurt," said Airman Anthony Plymale, 35th Security Forces Squadron entry controller. "But this is what I signed up for and I like it." 

Airmen were also asked to work outside of their career field for augmentee duty because of the exceptional amount of people. 

"My job was to maintain public control to make sure there was no disorderly conduct," said Airman 1st Class Maxwell Bowes, 35th Comptroller Squadron. "We have our Japanese Air Self-Defense folks directing traffic and making sure people are staying on the sidewalks. They were doing a great job making sure cars were going through and people were safe." 

With large crowds and what seemed like an endless amount of traffic, the Japanese and Americans worked together to make sure everyone stayed safe and enjoyed the show.
Even the smaller details of safety that may have been overlooked by visitors did not go unnoticed on base. Food, for instance, was constantly monitored to prevent any food-borne illness, explained Capt. Derrick Duran, officer in charge of the 35th Medical Group Public Health flight. 

"We had military and Misawa community food vendors all along the ramp," said the captain. "We were out here at 5 a.m. to make sure the food vendors were practicing safe standards by properly handling food and keeping the areas clean." 

After clear skies and warm weather all day, the show drew to a close. As visitors made their way off base, storm clouds moved in and rain poured down, quickly emptying the flightline until next year's event.