60,000-plus attend region's largest airshow

Crowds enjoyed getting a first-hand look a variety of aircraft, including this F-15, during Gunfighter Skies 2005 last weekend.

At least 45,000 people showed up Sunday to watch the Thunderbirds perform at the Gunfighter Skies 2005 airshow on base, which added to the more than 15,000 who showed up for Saturday's airshow activities, pushed the total attendance above 60,000 for the two days of events at Mountain Home AFB.

Crowd control was described as excellent throughout the two days of the show, and even with 45,000 people trying to leave the base after the Thunderbirds performance concluded the activities, the traffic control measures caused the vehicles leaving the base to be cleared in a little over an hour.

That didn't mean there weren't long lines trying to get onto the base Sunday, and in one case an impatient driver pulled out into traffic and caused a major accident about a mile from the gate that resulted in at least one of the occupants of the vehicles involved being Lifeflighted from the scene. Details were not immediately available by press time, but the LifeFlight helicopter that had been on static display on the runway at the base launched from there to respond to the accident, returning later in the day to continue its participation in the airshow.

Crowds at the airshow enjoyed scores of modern and vintage aircraft lined up on the flight line for them to view, and in some cases actually walk through. Pilots of the aircraft on display answered questions from the crowd and explained the performance characteristics of their planes. Everything from tiny planes barely ten feet long to the huge B-52 strategic bomber were on display.

Vendors sold food and souvenirs, the hangers were filled with activities for children and military displays, the Air Force recruiting office had a major presence, and many of the performers visited with the crowd, signing autographs.

In the skies above the runway, aerial acrobatic teams, skydivers, and vintage aircraft performed, many pushing the envelope of what aircraft are capable to doing.

Besides the Thunderbirds, which were the main draw of the airshow, the region's largest, the 366th Wing and the Idaho National Guard's air components (A-10s and the Blackhawk and Apache helicopters), put on a display of a combined strike, complete with a simulated runway attack including pyrotechnic explosions that simulated bombing runs, which wowed the crowd.

Literally thousands of airmen and women from the base, "almost everybody we had," said a base spokesperson, took part in helping direct crowds and traffic, run booths, and assist visitors to the airbase during the airshow.

The show was organized by the 366th Wing and the private non-profit Silver Wings of Idaho group, which helped raise funds to acquire the numerous performers for the show.