Dakota Thunder 2009

Ellsworth Air Force Base

May 30-31, 2009

Report and photography by LtCol George A. Larson, USAF(Ret.)

   Four years ago, the Pentagon, using the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission or BRAC on August 23, 2005, recommended Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) be closed and its B-1B Lancer bombers transferred and operated from a single bomber base at Dyess AFB, Texas.  In a reversal, on August 27th BRAC reconsidered and decided to retain Ellsworth as an active, operational Air Combat Command installation.  On May 30 through 31, 2009, the base celebrated Dakota Thunder with the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds headlining the two day air show.

   On both days the base opened its main gate at 8 a.m., with long lines of traffic entering the base one way off Interstate 90, averaging 90 minutes to reach designated parking areas along side and east of the main flight line hangars and support buildings.  The flight line was full of military and civilian aircraft, vendors and souvenir booths.  For the thousands of children alongside the base flight line a portable climbing wall and inflated alligator provided entertainment adding to the carnival atmosphere of the day.  The Thunderbirds’ souvenir tent was crowded throughout the day’s events as spectators sought out and purchased a take home reminder of that day’s aerial performance.

   The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III was at the head of the military aircraft static display.  It is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly into forward operating bases in the deployment area.  It can perform tactical airlift and air drop missions, along with life saving transport of wounded on litters as well as ambulatory patients during rapid aero medical evacuations to rear area advanced medical hospitals.  With the aft cargo ramp lowered it can load 170,900 pounds or cargo, including over-sized military equipment and armor.

   The base displayed its pride, the B-1B Lancer bomber, with three on static display and two others performing aerial fly-bys, including a low-level simulated conventional bombing of the runway, punctuated by five loud pyrotechnics set off by Ellsworth’s Explosive Ordnance and Disposal team.  This was a real crowd pleaser with shouts and applause to this demonstration of aerial power.  The B-1B is the current backbone of the USAF’s conventional bomber force in Southwest Asia.  The weapons which can be carried and delivered by the B-1B were displayed along both sides of one of the bombers.

   The most recent variant of the Lockheed Hercules transport, the C-130J, was on static display.  The Hercules has been in the USAF inventory for over forty years.  The C-130J incorporates state-of-the-art technology; advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated avionics, color multifunctional liquid crystal displays and heads-up displays; advanced navigation and global position system (GBS); fully integrated defensive systems; low-power, color radar; digital-moving map display; new turbo-prop engines with six-bladed, all-composite propellers; digital auto pilot; improved full, environmental and ice-protection systems; and enhanced cargo handling system.  Its crew assigned to the Rhode Island Air Guard answered questions and showed off the brand new aircraft to those walking inside the cargo compartment and into the flight deck.

   One of the military aircraft performing was the Air Combat Command’s West Coast A-10 Demonstration team’s A-10 Thunderbolt II, piloted by First Lieutenant David Dennis providing an awesome aerial display.  It performed simulated aerial attacks, demonstrating the aircraft’s superb low-level performance.  The A-10 is designed to fly low, operate in hostile environments, able to absorb multiple ground fire impacts and remain flying, firing its integral 30mm cannon, along with a complete arsenal of sophisticated weapons.

   World War II vintage aircraft periodically flew throughout the day.  Two at the same time were the North American B-25 Mitchell twin-engine medium bomber and Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, and the North American AT-6A Texan primary pilot trainer.  The Texan entered United States Army Air Forces inventory in 1936, with a total production run of 21,342, with many serving on in Air Forces around the world after the end of WWII.  Many remain flying today, as at the air show.  From vintage to the most modern military aircraft was displayed side-by-side.  The newest and most lethal USAF fighter the Lockheed-Martin, Boeing F-22A was constantly surrounded by large crowds.  The F-22A’s stealth, super cruise, maneuverability and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, vaults the USAF air dominance into the 21^st Century to oppose and defeat any foreseeable hostile enemy air threat.

   The 161^st Air Refueling Wing, Arizona Air National Guard flew in a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.  With its upgraded engines, navigation, auto-pilot, and other upgrades this improved tanker provides air continued aerial refueling support to U.S. and coalition air forces around the world.  The Boeing Stratotanker has been flying for over a half century, the backbone of the USAF’s aerial refueling aircraft during the Cold War.  Speaking of which, displayed next to the tanker is the timeless Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to Minot AFB, North Dakota.  Its nickname, Big Ugly Fellow or BUFF, was coined by those who flew the strategic bomber.  This is my most favorite bomber because of association with the former Strategic Air Command (SAC), working directly with the aircrews and especially mission planning for conventional through nuclear missions.  For over forty years the Stratofortress has been the mainstay of America’s nuclear deterrence, as well as massive conventional weapons delivery.  Interestingly, even though the last B-52H rolled out of Boeing’s production line in 1962, the bomber is to be retained in the active USAF inventory until 2040, what a remarkable career!

   Ellsworth was also alive with over one hundred civilian aircraft from the South Dakota Pilots Association flown in for Saturday’s air show.  The 28^th Bomb Wing set a B-1B Lancer to one side, between the maintenance hangars so the pilots could see the aircraft close up.  The light aircraft were parked at the south end of the flight line and also drew many spectators for inspection of the various aircraft flown in, talking to pilots and taking photographs.  Of course, everywhere on the flight line cameras were visible taking photographs and then aimed skyward when aircraft took to the sky to perform. 

   There was a great assortment of fighter aircraft on the flight line: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Strike Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-16 fighting Falcon, and McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter (which is flown by the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels).  Included were modern training aircraft: Raytheon Corporation twin turbojet T-1A Skyhawk to transition pilots into multi-engine transports or for navigator training; Raytheon Corporation single piston engine T-6A Texan II; Northrop Corporation turbojet T-38 Talon; McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace turbojet T-45 Goshawk (used by the U.S. Navy for aircraft carrier training).

   The spectators both days had come to view aerial demonstrations, concluding with the performance by the Thunderbirds.  Prior to the Thunderbird’s aerial demonstration the U.S. Army Black Daggers warmed up the crowd.  The four team members jumped out of a C-130 at 10,000 feet, free fell with red smoke pods attached to one of their jump boots marking their descent toward the ground, opening their airfoil chutes, executing a precision standing landing on a large X in front of the crowd.  The crowd was informed and entertained throughout the day by the announcer Rob Reiden, broadcasting over loud speakers spaced along the flight line in front of the huge crowd accompanied by theme music for each aerial event.  When the Thunderbirds took center stage their public affairs officer took over the announcing to describe each complicated aerobatic maneuver.

   The Thunderbird Squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (six who are the aerial demonstration flight team), four support officers, three civilians and 130 enlisted support personnel encompassing twenty-five USAF career fields.  Prior to the start of their aerial demonstration the Thunderbird commander Lieutenant Colonel Craig Thomas (Thunderbird 1) enlisted a group of young men and women into the USAF, in front of the assembled crowd and the Thunderbird aircraft to a cheering and appreciative crowd for future members of the military.  Then after the demonstration pilots entered the cockpit of their F-16s, with the distinctive white color scheme and thunderbird painted on the bottom, they taxied out to the north end of Ellsworth’s runway, preparing for their aerobatic performance. The first four took off, lifting off and immediately forming into their trade mark diamond formation, followed in quick succession by the two solo aircraft, which periodically joined up with the four to create a six aircraft formation.  For the next sixty minutes the Thunderbirds completed over thirty precise aerial maneuvers marked with white smoke to thunderous applause from the crowd below.  The aerial demonstrations ended with the individual landing of the Thunderbirds.

   As spectators departed they were directed by base security police out the commercial gate creating a one way traffic flow to Interstate 90, south of the base.  During the air show the South Dakota Air and Space Museum hosted large crowds as they walked among vintage and modern aircraft (including a B-1B, KC-135 and B-52D).  For two days Ellsworth and the surrounding Black Hills roared to Dakota Thunder 2009. 

Prior to the start of the Thunderbird aerial demonstration a 28^th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer landed.

Air Combat Command C-17 Globemaster II.

Ellsworth AFB 28^th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer on low-level pass over flight line.

Most modern USAF fighter on display the F-22A Raptor.

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, former Cold War warrior and now precision conventional bomber.

A U.S. Army Black Dagger parachute team member landing on the marked X on the flight line.

Part of the 20,000 spectators watching the Thunderbirds during Dakota Thunder 2009.                                    

Thunderbird 1, Lieutenant Colonel Greg Thomas prepares to enter his aircraft.

Thunderbirds on take-off move into their diamond formation.

Thunderbird diamond formation with smoke marking their vertical circle.

Logo photo sketch by Jon Houghtaling was not taken at the 2009 Dakota Thunder Airshow