Berlin Air Show kicks-off on a 'high note'

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Corey Clements
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
BERLIN, Germany --  Aircraft soaring high over the crowd, music blaring at high levels, and numerous high-profile guests dropping in for a visit certainly helped kick the 2008 Berlin Air and Trade Show off on a high note here May 27.

More than 15 flight demonstrations wowed the crowd during the first day here including the C-17 Globemaster III named the "Spirit of Berlin" from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.

The C-17 crew assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing is part of a 90-person U.S. contingent joined with more than 1,000 exhibitors from 37 countries here at the Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport.

The C-17 was the center of much attention here today. The German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, the first female head of the German government and U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Mr. William R. Timken Jr. both took part in a commemoration ceremony of the Berlin Airlift's 60th anniversary staged in front of the C-17 display.

The ceremony highlighted the accomplishments of Col. Gail Halvorsen, The Berlin Candy Bomber, and several other veterans who took part in the Berlin Airlift to bring food and supplies to West-Berliners who were cut-off during a Soviet Union blockade of all surface transportation in 1948.

One of the other nine U.S. aircraft on display here is the C-130J Hercules from the 493rd Airlift Group at Little Rock AFB, Ark.

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. Duncan McNabb, stopped by to pay the crew of the C-130J a visit while touring the U.S. corral.

"It was cool to meet him, since he was the one who flew the first Air Mobility Command C-130J from the factory" said Staff Sgt. Steven Kenney, a C-130J maintenance crew chief.

Among other high profile visitors was Gen. Roger Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, who spent time with the F-15 units and KC-135R crews from the U.S. bases in the United Kingdom as well as others.

He thanked the Airmen for being at the air show and told them how important these events are to strengthen our relationships with our allies.

"It was great showcasing the KC- 135R aircraft to all the foreigners; some of them military," said Senior Airman Nelson from the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, U.K. They were impressed with the great condition our plane was in compared to the planes of some of theirs that were built in the same year, 1958.

Aside from the various Aircraft, other contributions to the Berlin Air Show include the U.S. Department of Defense technology exhibit showcasing prototypes of jets, helicopters, and engine models of the U.S. Air Force and Army.

Ambassador Timken, Gen. McNabb, and Gen. Brady were there earlier in the day for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the exhibit.

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 our NATO allies and other potential coalition partners, highlights the strength of the U.S. commitment to the security of Europe and the global war on terrorism, and demonstrates that U.S. industry is producing equipment that will be critical to the success of military operations in the future.