2012 air show set to take off in August

  • Published
  • By MSgt. Andrew Biscoe
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  The 2012 Great New England Air Show will feature an armada of modern and vintage military aircraft.
The air show's theme is "A Salute to the Greatest Generation." It will be held Aug. 4-5 across the entire flight line.

Vintage aircraft scheduled to be on display and in the air include:

B-17 Flying Fortress (one of only 13 flying; World War II bomber was assigned to Westover in the 1940s)
C-47 Skytrain (one of the longest-serving military aircraft in the world, it was the workhorse of the D-Day invasion)
P-47 Thunderbolt (this renowned fighter was also assigned to Westover in the 1940s)
B-25 Mitchell (signature aircraft of the Doolittle Raid in 1942)
AC-47 Gunship (used during Vietnam War, it attacked enemy positions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail)

Modern military aircraft scheduled (these are subject to operational commitments at any time):

B-1 Lancer (Air Combat Command heavy bomber)
B-52 Stratofortress (assigned to Westover from 1956 to 1972)
KC-135 Stratotanker (also based here from 1957 to 1975)
F-15 Eagle (flown by the Massachusetts Air National Guard in Westfield)
F-16 Fighting Falcon
KC-10 Extender refueling tanker
C-17 Globemaster III
UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter

In addition, aircraft scheduled to perform fly-bys include:

B-2 Spirit (stealth bomber)
F-15 Eagle (fighter)
US Navy F/A-18 fighter-bomber
US Marines MV-22 Osprey (vertical takeoff and landing troop transport)
Navy Legacy Flight (old and new aircraft flying in formation)
C-5B Galaxy (heavy airlift)

And various small civilian acrobatic aircraft:
Geico Skytypers (six-ship formation of WW II-era aircraft)
Iron Eagles (two biplanes)
Red Steel (MiG-23 fighter and three L-39 jet trainers)
Mike Goulian
Third Strike (wing walker)

For more information on the air show, call 413-557-2020,or visit www.greatnewenglandairshow.com