The premier East Coast army air present close to Washington DC really stands out.
Officially known as the Air & Space Expo 2022, the present at Joint Base Andrews (previously often called Andrews Air Force Base) passed off on September 16-18, 2022. The air present was held simply outdoors of Washington DC and is most easily known as the Andrews air present. As the present takes place near the nation’s Capital, it tends to spotlight essentially the most trendy army plane, with just a few civilian acts and warbirds included.
This 12 months’s version was particular, because it marked the seventy fifth anniversary of the United States Air Force established as an impartial army department in 1947. There was a mixture of static and aerial shows by army and civilian plane, though, as in comparison with earlier years, one might discover the lowered variety of taking part plane, most likely attributable to price range cuts
The U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute workforce kicked off the present. Jumping each, from a C-17 Globemaster III in addition to the workforce’s C-147A, they carried out a mass exit bounce with eight parachutists plus particular person workforce member jumps.
The American strategic bomber pressure was represented with flyovers by the B-2 Spirit and B-1B Lancer. Also on static show have been the B-1B Lancer plus the B-52H Stratofortress, often known as the BUFF. All three varieties of bombers are exhibiting their age, despite the fact that, regardless of rolling off the manufacturing line 60 years in the past, the B-52H is about to obtain new engines which can be anticipated to stay on the strategic bomber by a minimum of 2050! The Northrup Grumman B-21 Raider is slated to interchange the B-1 and B-2 bombers, with entry into service in 2026.
The United States Air Force aerial demonstration workforce, the Thunderbirds, is all the time one of many highlights of the present and their show is the ultimate act of the flying section. The workforce operates with 138 personnel supporting eight F-16C Falcons, though the present is flown with six plane, with 4 planes primarily flying varied formations plus two solo plane.
While the air present itself takes place Friday by Sunday, the Thunderbirds arrived on the Monday earlier than the present. This permits for the workforce’s preparation for the present in addition to a number of private appearances in and across the Capital.
Warbirds are a significant a part of the present at Andrews. In 1997, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Air Force, the army teamed with civilian warbird operators to fly heritage flights throughout the air present season. The flights encompass a formation of two to 4 plane, with a mixture of warbirds and trendy Air Force plane.
In addition to the P-51D Mustang’s heritage flight with the F-35A Lighting II, there have been every day flights of the, B-17G “Yankee Lady” and B-25 Mitchell “Panchito”. The B-29 “Fifi” was additionally on the present. Unfortunately, “Fifi” didn’t take to flight because the aircraft was down for mechanical causes.
The present at Joint Base Andrews is all the time a powerful occasion. With three straight days of excellent climate, the circumstances for flying have been optimum. As one of many largest air exhibits on the East Coast, it gives a novel and spectacular alternative to see American army aviation in motion.
Randy Jennings is the proud son of fight WWII Mustang pilot, Warner Jennings. From beginning, he has been obsessed by all issues aviation; previous, current and future. As a photojournalist, he has coated aviation occasions within the United States and Europe. He lives within the Washington DC area together with his lovely spouse and rambunctious daughter.
