Scott Air Force Base, Illinois held their annual air show on July 7^th and 8^th. Located only a half hour east of St. Louis, Missouri, Scott is the headquarters of the US Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command. Needless to say, heavy metal meaning large transports were well represented including three C-17 Globemaster III’s. The C-17 performed a tactical demo that showed the amazing maneuverability and precision drop capability of the massive airlifter. The 126^th Air Refueling Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard located at Scott also performed flybys. A C-130 flew each day to serve as a drop platform for a tactical static line drop of paratroops and to serve as the jump platform for the US Army Special Operations Command Black Daggers. The Black Daggers showed how maneuverable and precise a jumper can maneuver a parachute whether for sport or a jump behind enemy lines.

  Military jet teams that performed demos included Viper West and F-15 West. Together, they flew a Heritage Flight with Reg Urschler in the P-51D Gunfighter. Randy Ball once again flew his Mig-17F at Scott showing the incredible maneuverability of this tiny jet interceptor. The Geico Skytypers flew formation aerobatics in their T-6’s and SNJ’s. The roar of the radial engines in a mass formation certainly gets the crowds attention. Angel 7 flew with the beautifully painted jet for the crowd to see just what an L-39 is capable of. 

  At one point during the performances, Larry Strain the airshow announcer received notice that Ralph Royce the airboss needed to suspend the arrival of a performer’s aircraft due to a security breach on the base. Soon the Security Forces were giving chase to a carload of thugs who eventually stopped at show center and began exchanging gunshots with the Security Police. Unfortunately for the thugs, the police had military working dogs and set them loose to apprehend the fleeing thugs. This of course was a demonstration for the benefit of the show spectators, but apparently too real for some who took off running at the first gunshot and did not return. 

  For those that want to see hard-core aerobatics, Scott had some of the best in the business. Scott presented John Klatt in the Staudacher S-300D and Ed Hammil in his Pitts. John is sponsored by the Air National Guard, and Ed by the Air Force Reserve. Ed has changed his narration for 2007 and is using the golden tones of Larry Strain. Listen for him at Ed’s next airshow. One of the most unique acts on the airshow circuit is the Red Bull aerobatic helicopter. The BO-105 is a stock Eurocopter/Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm (MBB) that is powered by twin turbines. Chuck Aaron is the worlds first licensed aerobatic helicopter pilot taking this stock ship through all the basic aerobatics reserved for fixed wing aircraft. The Red Bull helicopter was also the jump platform for the Red Bull Swoops Jump Team.