Look for announcements on performers & more in the coming weeks.

See you this summer at Elmendorf!

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – Elmendorf Air Force Base’s air show and open house — Arctic Thunder — returns to the skies over Anchorage July 31-Aug. 1, 2010, featuring performances by the U.S. Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds Demonstration Team.

A Blue Angels flight demonstration exhibits choreographed refinements of skills possessed by all naval aviators. It includes the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane Diamond Formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two Solo Pilots. Finally, the team illustrates the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers locked as a unit in the renowned, six-jet Delta Formation.

The Snowbirds Demonstration Team (431 Squadron) is a Canadian icon comprised of serving members of the Canadian Forces. Their pilots and technicians work as a team to bring thrilling performances to the North American public. Serving as Canadian ambassadors, the Snowbirds demonstrate the high level of professionalism, teamwork, excellence, discipline and dedication inherent in the women and men of the Air Force and the Canadian Forces.

Other acts are still being confirmed for the show next summer, but people can expect to see demonstrations from aircraft based here such as a C-17 demonstration, an F-22 demonstration, and the hugely-popular Alaskan Joint Forces demonstration.

For more information, visit: http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/library/arcticthunder/index.asp

This is where the team develops the acts that you will see at Arctic Thunder 2010 this summer.

Look forward for more announcements on dates & performers in the coming weeks.

As many Alaskans know, we begin a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of statehood in June of 2008.  You will be pleased to learn that the 2008 Arctic Thunder air show is now recognized by the State of Alaska as the kick-off for this year long celebration.

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To be an Arctic Thunder 2008 Partner, or inquire about other partnership opportunities, please contact the AASA Partner Liaison via E-Mail or snail mail at:

Alaska Air Show Association
PO Box 6175
Elmendorf AFB Alaska 99506

Returning as the premier performer for the 2008 Air Show will be the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team!

Other headline performers include: Debbie Gary, Greg Poe, Jon Melby, Marcus Paine, F-15, F-22, C-17 Demos + Heritage Flight & More.

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Needless to say, we had a FANTASTIC time! It was what we would call a “dress up” ceremony (suit or sport coat and tie), but that didn’t make it a boring ceremony by any stretch.

The really neat part was that the F22s actually arrived for the ceremony….as in the ceremony was tied to their actual arrival to the state!

There are many reasons for the US Air Force’s deployment of the F22 Raptor – the aging of the F15 Eagle (over 36 years), the creation of China’s new Jian-10 Fighter, Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 as well as their sale to Syria of MiG31Es. With their Russian Vympel R-73 missiles they are deadly adversaries against our air dominance.

As Senator Ted Stevens said at the ceremony…”It’s not who the F22 will come up against, but who will be willing to go against the F22?”

It’s important to realize that as the fighting with our current enemy grabs all the headlines, the threat of conflict is constantly evolving on several fronts. We cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that we may engage an enemy whose technology and skills more closely mirror our own…and take on both types of conflicts simultaneously.

For the Association, it was our great pleasure to assist with the ceremony as well as participate.