Air Expo returns to Travis in October 15-16 with the Air Force's premiere aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds

Article Last Updated: Friday, Aug 26, 2005 - 10:58:56 pm PDT


Air Expo returns to Travis in October

By Ian Thompson

TRAVIS AFB - Heightened security at Travis Air Force Base means visitors to the upcoming Air Expo 2005 in October will have to be more careful about what they bring to the military open house.

The Air Expo, the first one Travis has held since 2000, will be Oct. 15-16 with the Air Force's premiere aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, as the headline act.

All visitors to the event will have to pass through a metal detector and will be unable to bring several items previously allowed into air shows held before the 9-11, terrorist attacks.

The banned items are chairs, backpacks or gym bags, Walkie-Talkies or HAM radios, coolers, glass bottles, motorized scooters, bicycles, roller blades, roller skates, skateboards or weapons of any type. Smoking, pets and alcoholic beverages are prohibited at the Expo.

Members of the Thunderbirds have already visited the base to examine airfield conditions and support services for the team's F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters. Travis is one of

74 appearances the Thunderbirds will make this year.

The expo will also feature performances by the US Air Force Academy's Wings of Blue skydiving team, an F-22 Raptor, and F-15 Eagle and several vintage aircraft dating back to World War II.

There will also be various military aircraft and vehicles from several services on display for visitors to get a first-hand look.

The base tried to put on an expo last year, but work redesigning and rebuilding the base's main and north gates forced that event's cancellation. Organizers said work on the gates won't affect this October's expo.

The gates open for the expo at 9 a.m. each day and close at

5 p.m. As the date for the expo gets closer, the base's public affairs office will release more details of the event.

Reach Ian Thompson at

427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.