Every two years, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson, AZ, puts on an air show. I happen live down the street from the base (almost literally!) and I’ve been able to go to three of the shows, so far, and it’s always a blast.
Davis Monthan is home to a bunch of Warthogs, with at least three A-10C squadrons: the 354th Bulldogs, the 357th Dragons, and the 358th Lobos. A-10Cs are kind of a big deal here, you might say, so it’s no surprise that a Warthog is conveniently placed at the public entrance to the air show.
One of the great things about static displays is that you get to get up close and personal with the aircraft - see things you might not be able to observe when they’re flying overhead. Such as this LED landing light on this Hawg.
Airshows are great for kids, too. Here my son, in his newly purchased favorite shirt, is checking out the aft end of an TGM-65.
And here’s a close up of the targeting pod, which should look very familiar to DCS fliers out there.
The static displays this year consisted of a lot of units - too many to show photos of each.
This C-130 is heavily modified to support Blackhawks in the CSAR role.
Looks like this Predator has been … caught.
The technology inside this little ball is amazing. It even has TWO warning stickers on it! Serious stuff.
Not all the displays were strictly aviation related, either.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety – our equivalent of most states’ Highway Patrol – had an impressive display this year, including this line of souped up vehicles.
What display of aviation technology history, present, and future would be complete without a series of jumping castles?
