PRETORIA, South Africa - Staff Sgt. Dustin Trimble, U.S. Air Forces Europe Band, Touch ‘n Go, lead guitarist performs while visiting South Africans look on and an aerial demonstration is shown in the distance during the 2011 Air Show & Lifestyle Expo at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Oct. 1. The band performed two one-hour sets, which drew crowds that danced, sang and enjoyed some good old rock and roll music. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell)
PRETORIA, South Africa - A young child takes a break while waiting to tour the KC-135 Stratotanker static display during the 2011 Air Show & Lifestyle Expo at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Oct. 1. From the moment the air show opened both the KC-135 and C-17 Globemaster III static displays had lines of visitors waiting more than 45 minutes to view the U.S. Air Force aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell)
PRETORIA, South Africa - A young South African child sits aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker during the 2011 Air Show and Lifestyle Expo at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Oct. 1. South Africans had an opportunity to climb aboard and sit in the cockpit of the KC-135 during their visit to this year's air show. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell)
PRETORIA, South Africa - Staff Sgt. Craig Bowman, U.S. Air Forces Europe Band, Touch ‘n Go lead singer, performs a song during the 2011 Air Show & Lifestyle Expo at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Oct. 1. The six-person band has been traveling and performing all over the Pretoria area since their arrival last week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell)
PRETORIA, South Africa - An U.S. Air Force HC-130 Hercules from the New York Air National Guard touches down during the 2011 Air Show & Lifestyle Expo at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Oct. 1. U.S. Air Force Reserve and National Guard units represented at the air show were from New York, Michigan and Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell)
PRETORIA, South Africa - Tech. Sgt. Amanda Hostetter, 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical technician from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, interacts with visitors aboard the C-17 Globemaster III during the 2011 Air Show & Lifestyle Expo at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Oct. 1. More than 50,000 South Africans visited the base for the air show. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell)
by Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney
U.S. Air Forces Africa Public Affairs
10/1/2011 - WATERKLOOF AIR FORCE BASE, South Africa -- Nearly 45,000 people came out to see aerial demonstrations and static aircraft displays at the 2011 Waterkloof Air Show Oct. 1.
One of the biggest draws, however, was a group of American Airmen and their aircraft invited by the South African Air Force.
The visiting aircraft included a KC-135 Stratotanker, HC-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III. Additionally, the USAFE band "Touch 'n Go" performed for the crowd.
"I was like 'whoa, what's going on?'" said Janine Frischmuth of Durban, South Africa, when she heard the band's music. As her hometown doesn't often host live musical acts, she considered "Touch 'N Go" as much of a draw as the aircraft.
The Stratotanker came from the 171st Air Refueling Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
Lt. Col. Paul Beck, 171st ARS chief pilot, said that events such as this help strengthen links between air services of different nations, such as interoperability during contingencies.
"You get to develop contacts that might be able to help facilitate any future activities," he said.
Capt. Todd Wasilewski, 171st ARS aircraft commander, mentioned another important aspect--building a positive relationship with the non-military population.
"A lot of these people, especially the civilians, have never had any interaction with Americans before, let alone American soldiers or [U.S.]Air Force members, so the only time they ever see these jets is on CNN or Fox News and they get a different perception of what we do and who we are," Wasilewski said.
The reaction from the air show attendees was very positive, with lines snaking across the flight line to view the aircraft and inquisitive air buffs asking all sorts of questions. For Airman 1st Class Callie Rank, the experience was a new and very positive one. The security forces Airman, assigned to the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing, was tasked to help provide security for the aircraft during the air show.
"Everyone here has been really nice," Rank said. "They've been asking about the aircraft, they've been asking me for pictures and even autographs."
To her colleagues back in New York, Rank said, "If they get a chance to come to this next year, jump on it."
Meanwhile, the Van Amerom family from the nearby town of Pretoria has attended the Waterkloof Air Show for five years, but this is the first time they've had the opportunity to see and tour a U.S. Air Force aircraft. Elmien Van Amerom found the Airmen very welcoming and eager to talk about their aircraft.
"Most of the time, pilots are very stiff," she said. "But [the American Airmen] don't mind answering questions."
Van Amerom's 9 year-old son Phillip also enjoyed the tour of the Stratotanker, even getting to sit in the cockpit. Phillip doesn't speak English as a first language, however as he exited the aircraft after his tour, he did say one English phrase he knew: "That was very cool!"
