FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash -- Team Fairchild hosted the Inland Northwest Skyfest 2019 Open House and Airshow for more than 70,000 members of the Inland Northwest community at Fairchild Air Force Base on June 22, 2019.
Skyfest 2019 had the largest amount of visitors the base has seen in a decade. The event featured more than 13 aerial acts, 16 static display aircraft, and offered interactive experiences to showcase Pacific Northwest Airpower, including a performance by Team Fairchild’s Air Refueling Demo Team, the only demo team of its kind in Air Mobility Command.
“We created [AMC’s] first and only aerial refueling demonstration to show what Fairchild does to achieve Global Reach,” said Maj. Mark Watson, Skyfest 2019 airshow director.
“It was great to show the community a part of our job they normally don’t get to see,” said Staff Sgt. Nick Lichtenwalner, 384th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. “Usually, the closest they get is through a photo or video, so being able to display an up close and personal experience was awesome.”
Fairchild hosted over 20 interactive games and exhibits featuring a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics hangar, containing a variety Spokane community STEAM clubs and organizations provided by the community.
“We have a valuable relationship with the community,” Watson said. “The airshow was a great way to show our partnership with the Inland Northwest community while highlighting Air Force capabilities.”
Team Fairchild can only exist with the continual support from the Inland Northwest community, and Skyfest was another opportunity to maintain the strong partnership that enables Fairchild to remain the Air Force’s premier air refueling team supporting Global Reach.