Page 2 - Aerotech News and Review, July 9, 2021

Flight plan for 2021 LA Air Show at Fox Field takes shape

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Air Force photograph (661) 945-5634
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform at an air show as part of their 2021 season.
Story ideas, letters, editorials
by Larry Grooms and Stuart Ibberson Other confirmed aerial displays include the U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning Please send all letters and editorials to
Aerotech News II demonstration team, and the Air Force Heritage Flight. Stuart A. Ibberson, editor,
Tickets went on sale July 2 at www.laairshow.com. at editor@aerotechnews.com.
LANCASTER, Calif.—With just three and a half months left before take- Alongside the new website, there is also a new Facebook presence at
off, the Los Angeles County Air Show at Fox Field in Lancaster has a new https://www.facebook.com/laairshow/.
name and website, new faces in management, a new business partner and Philanthropic efforts will also continue as, according to Dunbar, the LA
plans still to be made public. Air Show will support a variety of local charities. One announced charity Web Site
The 2021 LA Air Show will be at Fox Field in Lancaster the weekend of is the Cajun Scholarship. Access the Aerotech News web
Oct. 23-24. The Cajun Scholarship honors fallen Thunderbird and Valencia, Calif., site at www.aerotechnews.com
Dennis Dunbar, a veteran of air shows around the country including here native Maj. Stephen “Cajun” Del Bagno by providing scholarships to avia-
in the Antelope Valley, is the air show director. Dunbar served as air show tion students. Del Bagno died in an aircraft crash April 4, 2018, while flying Submissions for upcoming events, air
shows and museums
director at Fox Field from 2014 to 2016. with the Thunderbirds. should be emailed to
The air show team has partnered with AirDotShow (air.show) to bring the Each year the Cajun Scholarship goes to a student who is in need, to help editor@aerotechnews.com.
LA Air Show to the people. them pursue a future in aviation. The recipients are selected by those who
“I’ve worked as a contractor with Bryan Lilley [air.show] and his team were closest to Cajun: his father, mother, two sisters and two closest friends. For questions concerning the web site,
several times over many years,” said Dunbar. “We met while working to- The new website also includes a section for volunteers to sign up. contact the webmaster at
gether on a show at the Kennedy Space Center back in 2007. Bryan has In a letter to former volunteers, Dunbar said, “Many of you have been webmaster@aerotechnews.com.
surrounded himself with a talented team of innovative professionals and involved in the air show since 2014, some of you have no clue who I am, but
puts on air shows in Cocoa Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Ocean City, all of you have put your heart and soul into making the previous air shows
New York and Orlando. at Fox Field a success. We want you to know that you will continue to have Where you can get
“Recently they have combined these events into a series called the Air- that opportunity.” Aerotech News and Review
DotShowLive tour, utilizing on demand content and livestreaming of these Dunbar went on to reassure volunteers that while “the entity may be com- For information on
events to appeal to a wider audience,” Dunbar added. pletely different, the roles you filled will be very similar and we are going Aerotech distribution, call
The LA Air Show is the first West Coast addition to the tour. People from to have a good time doing it, together.” (661) 945-5634 or visit
all over the world will have an opportunity to see the show. Volunteers can sign up at laairshow.com. www.aerotechnews.com/distribution.
Headlining the LA Air Show will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds “Things are definitely happening fast now, and we will be back in touch
showcasing their redesigned aerial demonstration, that also includes an up- with more information soon,” Dunbar said. “I am so excited to be back in
dated ground show performance. the Aerospace Valley.”
Aerotech News and Review is published
Thunderbirds to perform new aerial show aerospace and defense industry of
every other Friday, serving the
Southern California, Nevada and
Arizona. News and ad copy deadline
With the 2021 show season underway, the played a valuable role in meeting and achiev- off the demonstration and showcases the at-
is noon on the Tuesday prior to
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are showing off ing the goal of redesigning a presentation that tention to detail and esprit de corps that de- publication. The publisher assumes no
their newly redesigned aerial display and is compatible, safe, and engaging for air show fines the team’s enlisted members. responsibility for error in ads other
ground routine. attendees observing the new demonstration. “We looked at how to get the aircraft out, than space used. Your comments are
Last year, the Thunderbirds were able to The most noticeable changes to the per- taxied, and airborne in a more efficient man-
focus on and fully commit to enhancing their formance are the reordering and implemen- ner so the crowd can enjoy both the ground welcomed and encouraged. Write to
the address below.
aerial demonstration and ground show, after tation of new maneuvers during the aerial show performance and the aerial demonstra-
most of their 2020 show season air shows demonstration. The new show sequence now tion,” said Capt. Mike Bell, Thunderbirds
were canceled due to the spread of the coro- follows seven distinct themes that focus on Maintenance officer. “We shortened the num-
navirus. increasing crowd excitement, tapping into the ber of steps to launch the F-16s and replaced • Publisher ....................Paul Kinison
“We are very excited about the changes emotions of onlookers and showcasing the verbal communication with hand signals.” • Business Manager ....... Lisa Kinison
we have made to our show and ground per- complexities of the maneuvers in a gradual Bell also shared that the revised ground • Editor .................... Stuart Ibberson
• National Advertising
formance,” said Col. John Caldwell, Thun- manner. It also includes two new maneuvers: show serves as a salute to deployed members, Manager .....................Paul Kinison
derbirds commander and leader. “One of our the Low Bomb Burst with Hit, which will be as it mirrors and showcases the rapid gen-
main goals was to take a look at our show flown in every show; and the Stinger Cross eration capabilities of maintenance personnel
sequence and enhance the design with the Break, which will only be performed during supporting Air Force fighter aircraft during
crowd experience in mind.” the six-ship low and flat shows as well as alert situations and combat. Aerotech News and Review
The show revision required a lot of hard five-ship shows. Lastly, the team reduced the overall e-mail: editor@aerotechnews.com
work, historical research and coordination Furthermore, the Thunderbirds streamlined show from 90 to 50 minutes, added new Visit our web site at
with the air show industry, Thunderbird alum- their maintenance ground show, which is a music and revised the show’s narration to www.aerotechnews.com
ni, Air Combat Command, and Headquarters sharply choreographed, drill-style perfor- fit the new, high-energy performance of
Air Force. Every Thunderbirds team member mance by maintenance personnel that kicks the demonstration.

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