Thousands attended the 2009 Amigo Airsho at Biggs Army Airfield over the weekend to see aerial demonstrations and static displays of military and civilian aircraft. New this year was an appearance by the F-22 Raptor, while the F-15 Strike Eagle performed high-speed maneuvers. Historic aircraft on display included the B-17 Flying Fortress and P-51 Mustang. Military vehicles and equipment were also shown. The airshow featured a variety of aerial acts, including a jet-powered school bus and wing-walking.

1. 14B • OCTOBER 8, 2009 • FORT BLISS MONITOR FORT BLISS MONITOR • OCTOBER 8, 2009 • 15B
Story and photos by Stephen Baack • Fort Bliss Monitor
Thousands of service- speed fly-bys. Though the the restored B-17 Flying a German Air Force fly, Paul Stender's jet-pow-
members, military retirees, F-22 is the Air Force's pre- Fortress “Sentimental Tornado jet, the UH-60 ered school bus took off just
family members and visi- miere fighter jet, the F-15 Journey” and the F-2 Black Hawk and others. as fast as any other aircraft
tors from Fort Bliss and Strike Eagle demo fighter Wildcat. Civilian demos also vis- at the Airsho, with its
throughout the El Paso showed up the Raptor with Though the F-16 Tomcat ited the sky, including Tim engine taken from an F-4
community came out to see the Strike Eagle's high- and the F/A-18 Super Weber's GEICO Extra Phantom.
the 2009 Amigo Airsho on speed maneuvers, close Hornet did not perform aer- 300S, John Klatt's 300- The Airsho also featured
and over Biggs Army passes and bright afterburn- ial demonstrations like they series aircraft, Greg Poe's an M 1A2 SEP Abrams
Airfield Saturday and ers. did last year, the F-16 and ethanol-powered Fagen tank, Army and Marine
Sunday. The F-15 also flew the A-10 Thunderbolt II MX-2 and K. Alan Russell's Corps Humvees with a vari-
New this year was the alongside the P-51 Mustang were both on the ground for antique biplane. Dave Dacy ety of weapons, American
Air Force's F-22 Raptor, during the USAF Heritage close-up viewing - as were a also wowed the crowd with and German air defense
one of which was on display Flight, with the Mustang slew of aircraft, including a wing-walking demo from equipment and a patriotic
at ground level and another being one of several other the C-5 Galaxy, NASA's his biplane. skydiving jump team.
that made several medium- older airplanes, including 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, And although it didn't
The B-17 Flying Fortress “Sentimental Journey” flies Saturday over Biggs Army An Air Force F-22 Raptor sits on the Biggs Army Airfield tarmac Saturday as a Spectators check out the Air Force’s X-1 Super An Air Force F-15 Strike Twelve-year-old Pablo tries his hardest to lock and load the M-2 .50-
Airfield. static display. Car Saturday at the Amigo Eagle “turns and burns” during a caliber machine gun Saturday while Marine Cpl. Travis Zurick of D
Airsho. demonstration Saturday at the Airsho. Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Division, gives instructions.
Paul Stender’s jet-
powered school bus U.S. Customs and Border Protection
unleashes a massive troopers wave to the crowd after a
flame from its F-4 rescue demonstration
Phantom engine Saturday at the
Saturday. Amigo Airsho.
Photo illustration by Katrina Chandler