Showcasing America's Airmen in New York City

  • Published
  • By Desiree Palacios
  • Air Force News Service
Air Force Week returns to New York City this Sunday, Aug. 19, providing flyovers, concerts and opportunities to meet Airmen serving in the U.S. Air Force.

The purpose of Air Force Week is to build relationships outside the local base community, reach out to those who are unfamiliar with the Air Force and to say thank you to those who lend their support.

The U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the "Thunderbirds," will fly over during the opening ceremony to be held at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Aug. 19, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Air Force Broadcasting Service will air the ceremony live, via the Pentagon Channel, and streamed live on Air Force Link.

Senior leaders, and about 50 Airmen, will tour the 9-11 memorial and Freedom Tower Monday, Aug. 20, and members of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and the Air Force Research Laboratory will visit the Boy and Girls Club of America.

At Pier 86, Air Force displays will highlight pilots and missileers from the Air Force Global Strike Command, along with Explosive Ordnance Disposal, military vehicles, and firefighting displays, and working dog demonstrations from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The Surgeon General's office will provide aeromedical evacuation and critical care displays, and the STEM organization will have six interactive displays focusing on science and technology. Air Force Recruiting Service will bring out one of its newest mobile marketing exhibits, "command center alpha," an interactive 3-D tour that includes computer graphics, videos, educational kiosks, digital downloads and a full-size F-16 Thunderbird display.

Sports will play an important part of Air Force Week activities, beginning a day before the opening ceremony with the Major League Baseball matchup between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. On opening day, the Air Force will be involved in activities with the area Major League Soccer team, the New York Red Bulls. The next day, sports interaction will involve the New York Mets and the final day will focus on the minor league baseball team, the Brooklyn Cyclones. Activities throughout Air Force Week will include flyovers, the honor guard, and elements of the U.S. Air Force Band.

The U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, will perform a coordinated formation pass in their F-16D "Falcon" aircraft over Yankee stadium during the Yankees versus Red Sox game on Saturday, Aug. 18, at approximately 4:05 p.m. The next day, the Thunderbirds will perform up the Hudson River near the U.S.S. Intrepid and Pier 86, from south to north at approximately 1 p.m. Shortly afterward, there will be an open water rescue demonstration in the Hudson River with an HH-60 helicopter and a pararescue team at 2:45 p.m. The Thunderbirds will fly over for the last time Monday, Aug. 20, during the Mets versus Colorado Rockies game at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field. On Tuesday, there will be an F-22 Raptor flyover during the Brooklyn Cyclones game on Coney Island at 7 p.m.