Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 171; Sioux City 185th Refueling Wing Air and Ag Expo.

This weekend at the Air National Guard 185th Air Refueling Wing located near the Sioux City Regional Airport there was a Air and Ag Expo. There were several modern and vintage aircraft. These included; F-4U "Corsair", P-51 "Mustang", B-25 "Mitchell", B-24A Liberator "Ol´ 927", B-52H "Strato-fortress", B-1B "Lancer", T-38 "Talon", F-16 "Viper" Demo team, KC-10 "Extender", C-130J "Hercules", E-3 AWACS "Sentry", C-17 "Globemaster III", AH-64 "Apache", T-1 "Jayhawk", T-6 "Texan II", F-15 "Eagle", CH-47 "Chinook" Helicopter, UH-60 "Black Hawk" Helicopter and the F/A-18 "Hornet". There were also a demonstration by a "crop-duster" Cessna and the Mercy Aircare Helicopter was on display. There were also a number of farm equipment and tractor-trailer rigs on display as well. The last time there was an air show in Sioux City was about 10 years ago. I hope it th enext one is much sooner then 10 years from now, especially with the new air museum that is going to be built soon.

One of the groups performing at the air show was the Commemorative Air Force, or CAF. The CAF was founded to acquire, restore and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the United States, and selected aircraft of other nations, for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans.

More than just a collection of airworthy warplanes from the past, the CAF's fleet of historic aircraft, known as the CAF Ghost Squadron, recreate, remind and reinforce the lessons learned from the defining moments in American military aviation history.

The main sponsor for the air show is the Iowa Air Nationmal Guard Unit, the 185th Air Refueling Wing based in Sioux City, Iowa. There were air craft from Air Force bases located all over the country. A truley impressive oppurtunity to tour and photograph these amazing air craft, some of which I photographed while in flight.

One of the most impressive things I saw at the air show was what is called the Heritage Flight. It included the P-51 Mustang, A-10 Warthog and F-16 Fighting Falcon. all 3 aircraft flew in formation with one another in honor and memory of all veterans, past and present and most especially to those who made the ultimate sacrice for this great country, The United States of America.

Web site links about the air show and the CAF.;
185th ARW 2009 Air and Ag Expo
CAF

Photos;