Lights, camera, Air Force Week

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Francisco G. Hamm
  • Air Force Entertainment Office
LOS ANGELES (AFNS) --  The Air Force got ready for its "Hollywood close up" at 25,000 feet in the clouds during a Nov. 12 air-refueling mission near the Grand Canyon as media and entertainment professionals got a rare, extreme close-up look at the airlift and tanker missions.

For most of the 25 entertainment professionals, there is a lot of time spent in a virtual, fictional world and the mission on board a KC-135 Stratotanker was an opportunity to see the real thing.

"The Air Force has a huge role in the joint fight through air, space and cyberspace," said Brig. Gen. James L. Melin, the 452 Air Mobility Wing commander from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., to the entertainment industry professionals. "This is an opportunity for us to showcase this role and give you a better appreciation of your Air Force."

"To have the opportunity to meet the people who have a profession that helps people and who dedicate their lives to their country is exciting," said Christine Cavalieri, a producer who works in television. "I've learned so much. You can't get this from the movies; this is the real thing."

From Nov. 14 through 21, Air Force Week in Los Angeles will provide Southern Californians a chance to meet Air Force members.

"The Air Force was something I just kind of thought about, but when I saw the planes, met some of the Air Force people and saw just a slice of what they do, I realized how amazing it is, said Tim Gibbons, an executive producer for the HBO show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

"It has changed my perspective," Mr. Gibbons said.

The day for the media and entertainment professionals included briefings, opportunities to talk to Airmen and a look inside the KC-135 and C-17 Globemaster III. They also saw an MQ-1 Predator up close. The Air Force Honor Guard performed a precision rifle drill for the guests with the C-17 as their backdrop.

"I thought they were amazing, very talented Airmen," said Rex Lee, an actor starring in the HBO hit "Entourage," who saw the Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team performance. 

Guests also got to speak with former Secretary of the Air Force Vern Orr, who was there to see the static displays on his 92nd birthday. Secretary Orr was responsible for the Air Force's acquisition of the B-1B Lancer.

The main event of the day was an actual air-refueling mission.

Members of the media and entertainment industry were split up into two groups as some boarded the KC-135 while the others boarded a C-17. Both were soon reunited at a high-altitude rendezvous.

"(This was a) once in a lifetime experience," said Craig Hayden Owens, a director of marketing with Electronic Arts gaming company. 

"It was cool to have the head sets on and be able to listen to all the communication," Mr. Owens, who sat in the cockpit for part of the flight. "It was something you expect to experience in a video game but this was so much more."

"Being in the cockpit with the aircrew ... it was amazing to see the confidence in the aircrew with the tanker aircraft so close to the plane taking fuel, and they still took the time to share with us what they were doing," said actor Jeff Pride. 

"I am all about authenticity, so seeing this firsthand is great," said Waylon Brinck, an Electronic Arts gaming artist. "Immersion is a big deal in gaming, so you want to give the players a feel for the real thing. It's great to experience this today firsthand."

For some, it was clear there was a lot to learn about the Air Force.

"When my publicist told me about the event, I thought I was going to fly in a small (fighter) jet," Mr. Lee said. He said he was pleasantly surprised though when he saw the C-17.

"The Air Force is amazingly organized and efficient, Mr. Gibbons said. "I had no idea of the scope of things that actually go on."

His biggest surprise of the day was the massive size of the C-17. 

"Getting us in a C-17 was great," he said. "It's bigger than my house!"

"Before coming to the event, I didn't know what to expect," Mr. Pride said. "I envisioned the military being hard on the battlefield and by the book, yet I felt in full comfort the whole time."

The Air Force Week program is a program helping communicate to America's communities nationwide the critical role the Air Force plays in global humanitarian missions, dominance of air, space and cyberspace, and defending America's future.

Although the media members said the flight was amazing, most guests walked away with a better understanding and appreciation of the Airmen carrying out the mission.

"I am very happy that these are the people in the Air Force who take care of us every day," Mr. Gibbons said. "I was amazed at how polite people were today. Normally you see the military in the movies as more buttoned-up or wild and crazy. But what I saw today were real people."

"I learned a lot about what the Air Force does," Mr. Lee said. "I never understood what it meant when members of the armed forces would say they are proud to serve until today."

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