EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE Alaska - Six Air Force Thunderbird F-16 performance aircraft fly together in formation in the skies behind the latest Air Force fighter aircraft the F-22A Raptor for more than 6,000 spectators during the Eielson Air Force Base Alaska, "Soaring into Soltice" Thunderbirds show on June 24. The "Soaring into Soltice" airshow provided an opportunity for the local community to visit and get an up close view and demostration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircraft. The F-22A Raptor is from the 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. (U.S Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Eric T. Sheler)
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team flies over the Red-Flag Alaska tower during the 2008 "Soaring into Solstice" Thunderbirds Show at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 24. The Thunderbirds are assigned to the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder)
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team taxi onto the flightline during the 2008 "Soaring into Solstice" Thunderbirds Show at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 24. The Thunderbirds are assigned to the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder)
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - Four of the six Air Force Thunderbird F-16 performance aircraft fly together in a tight formation for the 6,000 + spectators during the Eielson Air Force Base Alaska, "Soaring into Soltice" Thunderbirds show on June 24th. The "Soaring into Soltice" airshow provided an opportunity for the local community to visit and get an up close view and demostration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Eric T. Sheler)
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - A cloudy, damp, rainy day could not prevent residents of the local communities to stand in line to get an up close view of an U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter during the "Soaring into Solstice" Thunderbirds show on June 24. The Eielson Air Force Base Alaska airshow allowed the citizens of the surrounding towns to get an up close view and demonstration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircraft. The show hightlight was a performance by the USAF Thunderbirds. (U.S Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Eric T. Sheler)
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - "Come on lets go !" exclaimed seven-year-old North Pole resident Ian Roberts to his parents as they board a KC-135 Stratotanker for a tour of the aircraft's interior during the Eielson Air Force Base Alaska "Soaring into Soltice" Thunderbirds show on June 24. The Eielson AFB airshow allowed the citizens of the surrounding towns to get an up close view and demonstration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircraft. The show hightlight was a performance by the USAF Thunderbirds. (U.S Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Eric T. Sheler)
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - An estimated 6,000 people from the local and military community gather to enjoy the Eielson Air Force Base Alaska "Soaring into Soltice" Thunderbirds show on June 24. The "Soaring into Soltice" air show provided an opportunity for the local community to visit and get an up close view and demostration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircrafts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Eric T. Sheler)
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - Four U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 performance aircraft fly together in formation in the skies behind the latest Air Force fighter aircraft the F-22A Raptor for more than 6,000 spectators during the Eielson Air Force Base Alaska "Soaring into Soltice" Thunderbirds show on June 24. The "Soaring into Soltice" airshow provided an opportunity for the local community to visit and get an up close view and demostration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircraft. The F-22A Raptor is from the 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Eric T. Sheler)
by Airman 1st Class Nora Anton
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
6/25/2008 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- More than 6,000 people in the local area took the afternoon off to venture out to Eielson Air Force Base for the 2008 "Soaring into Solstice" Thunderbirds Show June 24.
Opening the event was a four-ship flyby of the 18th Aggressor Squadron's own F-16 Aggressor aircraft.
On display for visitors to tour and take pictures of were an F-16C Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, KC-135 Stratotanker and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Also on display was the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft -- the F-22 Raptor.
Local residents were treated to demonstrations from military working dog teams, an Air Force Reserve Command Jet Car, Fort Wainwright's own UH-60 Black Hawks and the U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds.
At 1:30 p.m. five Eielson Airmen were recognized alongside the USAF Thunderbirds in a ceremony before the aerobatics began.
Tech. Sgt. Duwain Aamodt, 353rd Combat Training Squadron; Staff Sgt. Adam Johnson, 354th Maintenance Group; Staff Sgt. Chad Linden, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron; Staff Sgt. Tehani Pardue, 354th Fighter Wing protocol office and Staff Sgt. Matthew Gough, 354th Medical Support Squadron were recognized for their hard work and dedication at either their deployed or home station.
"It was an honor to be recognized," said Sergeant Pardue, who was recognized for her work as a protocol specialist. "It's always a pleasure knowing that someone acknowledged all the hard work that goes into this position. What paid off the most was walking away knowing that someone cared enough to allow me this great opportunity."
At 2 p.m. the Thunderbirds wowed spectators with nearly an hour of aerobatic maneuvers, both in diamond formation and solo. Thunderbirds 1 through 4 took to the skies in diamond formation as Thunderbird 5 executed a "dirty roll" as Thunderbird 6 performs a "split-s."
A variety of maneuvers and stunts took place, such as the opposing pass, where two solo aircraft fly towards each other in what onlookers would guess will be a head-on collision, only to turn at the last second to scathe by untouched. Other maneuvers include the calypso pass, slow pass, fast roll, slow roll, bomb burst and tight turns, among others.
One spectator who brought her two sons to the event said, "We always come to the open base shows to see the flying. Even with the rain, today wasn't a disappointment."
