Barnes' 2010 Air Show augments Westover

  • Published
  • By Andre Bowser
  • 439 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  With a history of cooperation between the Patriot Wing and Barnes Air National Guard Base, that tradition continues this year with Barnes providing an air show in lieu of Westover.

The last air show at Westover was in 2008, and the trend is that an air show happens every two years. However, the 2010 Westfield International Air Show will be held August 21 and 22 at Barnes, according to the event's official Web site www.westfieldairshow.net.

The late-summer air show will feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Parachute Team the "Golden Knights," among a myriad of other high-flying attractions.

Maj. Matthew Mutti, the executive officer of the 104th Fighter Wing, wrote on his base's Web site that the other attractions would include Geico Skytypers, Greg Poe, John Klatt, a jet-powered school bus, Dan Buchanan, the Red Eagles, Rob Holland, pyrotechnical displays, and many historic and military aircraft like the P-51, F-4U, H-34, P-47, B-25, T-6, F-16, F-18, A-10s, just to name a few.

"Although the show is more than 6 months away, much of the planning is already underway, and the show is shaping to be one of the largest hosted at Barnes," Major Mutti wrote on the 104th Fighter Wing's Web site.

Major Mutti said the base was coordinating sponsorship and setting up marketing campaigns, in preparation for the large-scale event. "Planning to accommodate a few hundred thousand people is a daunting task," he said.

Westover's last air show in 2008 and saw roughly 300,000 visitors during the two-day event. Look for the next air show at Westover to be held in 2012.

For more information about the 2010 Westfield International Air Show visit the event's official Web site at www.westfieldairshow.net.