U.S. opens Berlin Air Show with ‘Spirit’

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chuck Roberts
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
BERLIN (AFPN) --  A C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., named the “Spirit of Berlin” helped kick off the Berlin Air Show when it flew today before opening day spectators.

The C-17 crew, assigned to the 315th Airlift Wing, is part of a U.S. contingent joining more than 1,000 exhibitors from 42 countries here at the Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport.

Joining the Globemaster III are U.S. Army and Air Force aircraft stationed in the United States, England and Germany. Among the 10 U.S. aircraft is a C-130J Hercules from the 403rd Wing from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

Air Force Maj. Darryl Woods, a C-130J instructor pilot from the 403rd Wing's 53rd Reconnaissance Squadron -- also known as the Hurricane Hunters -- has performed military duty before in Germany, but this was his first time in Berlin. The reservist, a Nacogdoches, Miss., native, said he is glad he made the special effort to be a part of the show.

Among the visitors to his shiny new C-130J were William R. Timken Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Germany, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Bishop Jr., U.S. Air Forces in Europe vice commander.  Ambassador Timken stopped by the U.S. static display area soon after a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the U.S. pavilion where air industry booths are located.

Also among the more notable visitors dropping by static displays was a military contingent from China that featured Air Force Maj. Gen. Yue Xicui, the first female Chinese military pilot.  She has logged more than 6,000 hours in the cockpit.   She enjoyed the opportunity to check out the C-17, the C-130J and the B-1 Lancer.

But the majority of visitors who stopped to chat with aircrew members standing outside their aircraft were Germans, which made Air Force Lt. Col. Steve Neuser feel right at home. The F-15C Eagle pilot from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, said visitors were happy and surprised when he was able to converse with them in fluent German.

His parents emigrated from Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1958, and he grew up in a home speaking both German and English. If not your typical childhood, his military career hasn’t been typical either. The colonel began as an enlisted Army infantryman, received a commission and flew AH-1 Cobras, and then crossed into the blue to fly Air Force fighters.

Just a few aircraft away were Army aviators from Stuttgart, Germany, who fly the UH-60 Black Hawk, as well as Army aviators from Illesheim, Germany, who fly the AH-64 Apache Longbow.

Among them was Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Katharine O’Konski, a Black Hawk pilot from Stuttgart who said it was an incredible experience looking up to observe Russian fighter jets and German Army Tiger Helicopters performing barrel rolls.

The aerial stunts also piqued the curiosity of nearby air show visitors who asked her, “Hey, can you do a barrel roll?” Chief O’Konski said she enjoyed such exchanges with the spectators.

“Everyone’s been very friendly, welcoming and receptive,” she said. “It’s a great atmosphere. You only see smiling and happy faces.”

The Berlin Air Show is one of the premier events of its type in the world. U.S. military participation contributes to a number of U.S. security and foreign policy interests. Participation promotes standardization and interoperability of equipment with NATO allies and other potential coalition partners, highlights the strengths of the U.S. commitment to the security of Europe, and demonstrates that U.S. industry is producing equipment that will be critical to the success of current and future military operations.