The 22nd Annual Salute to Veterans Air Show was held at Columbia, MO Regional Airport May 29-30, 2010.  I was pleased to be included in the Media Day and public activities.  The Memorial Day Salute to Veterans Corporation should itself be saluted for continuing these traditional festivities for over two decades.  This event is successful in large part due to individual and corporate sponsorship of the performers and display aircraft and the continuous support of the local community.  The production of this medium-sized air show event could be used as a model for other organizations who struggle to continue to offer annual world class air shows.     

  This event consistently offers top-flight performers.  The 2010 headliner was the USMC Harrier demo team from VMA-513 from MCAS Yuma, AZ.  Other military demo teams included the Super Hornet East Demo Team from VFA-106 at NAS Oceana and A-10 West Demo Team from Davis Monthan AFB, AZ.  U.S. Army Screaming Eagles and Canadian Forces Skyhawks parachute teams “dropped in” on time and on target.  The Heritage Flight consisted of the A-10 piloted by Captain Joe "Rifle" Shetterly and the P-38 “Ruff Stuff” piloted by Kevin Eldridge.  Crowd favorite Aeroshell Team provided graceful aerobatics, and newly-rebuilt, legendary P-51C “Tuskegee Airmen” flew numerous passes.  World War I scale replicas from the Kansas City Dawn Patrol opened the show with their morning flights. 

  An eclectic array of static aircraft displays were on hand.  From the giant Boeing E-6B Mercury and P-3C Orion to Rod Hightower’s A75L3 Boeing (Stearman) biplane, there was something for everyone.  Other aircraft on display included an MH-53 Sea Dragon, A-10s from Whiteman AFB, MO, AV-8B Harrier II, B-25J “Show Me”, P-51D “Archie”, an AD-5 Skyraider, an Ercoup, the Dawn Patrol and other civil aircraft. 

  Most importantly, a grateful audience gathered to witness the tribute to the area’s fallen veterans and the recognition of honored guests, including Tuskegee Airmen USAF Colonel (Ret) Charles McGee, USAF Colonel (Ret) Charles DeBellevue, Ace of Aces in Vietnam and former astronaut USN Capt. (Ret) Robert “Hoot” Gibson.  All of the honored guests stayed to sign autographs and talk to those who gathered to express their gratitude. 

 As in past years, planning for the next air show will already be in progress at the conclusion of the 2010 edition.  Mark your calendar for next Memorial Day weekend!