Wings Over Marietta soars at Dobbins Published Oct. 22, 2008 By Master Sgt. Stan Coleman 94th Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- From the retired Army OV-1 Mohawk surveillance aircraft to the Air Force's brand new F-22 Raptor, the Wings Over Marietta Air Show & Open House held here Oct. 18-19 had something for everyone. During the flying demonstrations eyes and cameras caught the aerial actions as civilian and military demonstration teams looped and dived over the airfield at Dobbins. More than 200,000 people were in attendance during the two-day event, which featured the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. "The Thunderbirds were my favorite," said Christopher Hammond, 18-year-old son of Maj. Gen. Scott Hammond, Georgia Air National Guard commander. "I was impressed by their precision." "I'd give my right arm to fly the F-22," said World War II veteran Vince W. Swiatowski of Alpharetta, Ga. "It was awesome! I was a B-24 pilot with the 307th Bomb Group." According to Maj. Terence Green, air show director, parking and transportation to the base were two of the challenges in coordinating the event. However, thousands flooded the airfield throughout the day and it was a packed house each day before the Thunderbirds performed. "I haven't been to an air show in a while. It was just as exciting as when I was a kid," said Chad Phillips of Suwanee, Ga. Lawn chairs, parents' shoulders, grass and concrete gave support to the spectators as they watched the aerial descent of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Wings of Blue Parachute Team and the aerial demonstrations of a Dobbins C-130 field assault. Other performances included the Red Eagles Aerobatic Team, a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet and a race between John Klatt's Air National Guard Staudacher aircraft and Bill Braack's U.S. Air Force Reserve Jet Car. There were also a Coast Guard HH-65 rescue demo, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle demo and the wild aerobatics of Sean Tucker in his bi-plane. When spectators weren't looking to the skies, they were visiting static displays of modern and vintage military and civilian aircraft accompanied by their crew members who talked about the capabilities of their aircraft. "The most challenging thing about being at an air show is not losing your voice," said Cindy Hayes, a retired Army aviator with the OV-1 aircraft static display. "I've been talking for 10 hours straight. I enjoy talking to the people who flew this aircraft when they were based here. I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard a young person say, 'way cool!'" As for the roar of the jets, nine-year-old Melodie Hayes of Marietta, Ga. said it best. "It was cool, but my ears hurt." "The success of the Wings over Marietta Air Show is the result of the team effort by the local community as well as the Dobbins family," said Col. Heath Nuckolls, 94th Airlift Wing commander. "The community is very appreciative of the Thunderbirds' visit to the local high schools and the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta."
