Once every two years, Spokane hosts the biggest military airshow in the state of Washington. Fairchild AFB, home of a tanker wing and of a survival-training school that includes helicopter search-and-rescue operations, opens its gates to the public and brings in almost every jet in service with the US armed forces.

The static displays included everything from a B-1 and a B-52 to an F-15 and an EA-18G Growler - a Navy jet making one of its very first airshow appearances. In the air, demonstrations were flown in combat airplanes from throughout history, including several Stearmans, Bill Shepherd's Yak-11, John Session's B-25 and P-51B, the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum's A-26 and MiG-17, some "classic" aircraft still flown by the Air Force (KC-135, F-4, Huey, and C-130), the modern A-10 and C-17 and B-2, the Navy's Super Hornet, and of course the USAF Thunderbirds in their six F-16s. Civilian performers included Jacquie B Warda in her Pitts, and Tim Weber who as usual raced his Extra 300 against Bill Braack's jet-powered dragster.

The high temperatures, combined with the airfield's elevation, dropped the air density enough to affect some of the acts. The aerobats had to hold back on some of their most extreme manoeuvres, for example. Most noticeably, the Super Hornet was unable to do a dirty roll immediately on takeoff; The pilot brought it right around for a touch-and-go and then performed the roll once the jet left the ground for the second time, now with more speed and having taken up less runway. The crowd, however, seemed unfazed by the heat: For Spokane locals, it was just another summer day. The community was clearly enthusiastic about having the Air Force in their hometown; In response to the flying, they cheered with an energy not seen at many airshows.

It's a shame that Washington will have to wait another two years before Fairchild hosts another Skyfest. But if they hope to make their next airshow as diverse and exciting as this one, they better get started planning right away!