HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE, N.M. -- Holloman hosted the Air and Space Expo ‘Legacy of Liberty,’ May 5, 2018.
This open event to the public was an opportunity to invite our local community members and guests, and to showcase the mission of the U.S. Air Force and the 49th Wing.
“This is our first Air and Space Expo in four years,” said Col. Houston Cantwell, 49th Wing commander.
Holloman has had years of support across southern New Mexico, and those supporters are key to our success.
“The Expo gives the community a chance to interact with the military on the installation itself, so they can find out what we do on base, this mission,” said Maj. Aaron Calhoon, air show director. “We do not get to do this very often, so we are excited to bring this type of event to the area,”
Community and military members alike got to spend the day celebrating the evolution of airpower through aerial performers, warbirds and static displays, while visiting tents, booths, vendors and more. There was no shortage of things to do.
First were the aerial performances, which included the Air Force Academy Wings of Blue and Performance Team, T-33 Acemaker, CAF High Sky Wing, Cavanaugh Flight Museum Flight, Trojan Phylers, Air Education and Training demonstration, Air Combat Command’s F-16 single ship demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper demonstration, the U.S. Air Force demonstration and the Airpower demonstration.
“I am most looking forward to the Heritage Flight, seeing the P-51 with the Viper next to each other, I have never seen that before,” said 1st Lt. Brian Davis, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team safety officer.
In between the performances, people had the opportunity to walk around the Expo to see other military aircraft accompanied by personnel.
“The community can see what we do, see the airplanes and talk to the crew members,” said Master Sgt. Joey Meyers, 6th Air Refueling Squadron operator.
The static displays were the Coast Guard C-144, German Tornado, MQ-9 Reaper, F-16 Fighting Falcon, T-6 Texan II, PC-12, F-14 Phantom, T-38 Talon, F-35 Lightning II, UH-1N Huey and more.
The warbirds consisted of the P-40 Warhawk, B-2, C-45, Russian Yak, Grumman TBM Avenger, Vought F4U Corsair, B-17, SNJ-5 and the P-51 Mustang.
“The best part of the day was getting to look at all the planes and sit in the cockpits,” said Bryce Lynch, Otero County local teen.
From current military members to veterans, casual attendees to air show fanatics, young and old, the Air and Space Expo was a success!
“Our Air and Space Expo is just one way we can say ‘thank you,’ to our neighbors,” Cantwell said.
To check out more coverage of the event please go to our Holloman AFB- 49th Wing Facebook page, or go to holloman.af.mil.